What is a Genetic Counselor? 7 Facts You Should Know About the Profession

Melanie W. Hardy, MS, MS, LCGC

As a genetic counselor, it’s very common to get confused looks from people when I try to describe to them what I do for a living.  At jscreen, genetic counselors are a vital part of the carrier screening process to help ensure accurate, appropriate testing for program participants.  Beyond testing, we play a key role in patient advocacy, helping people understand their results and the medical options they have for the future. To help you get to know the profession a bit more, here is a short list of fun facts about the genetic counseling profession:

1. Genetic counselors receive specialized training, a Master’s degree, in both medical genetics and counseling services.

To help people navigate a new diagnosis or understand their risks for inherited genetic conditions, genetic counselors must be experts in the science and the human element. The counseling training is just as important as the technical genetics training.

2. All genetic counselors are trained to serve patients in a variety of “traditional” areas like pediatrics, cancer, and prenatal services. However, after graduation, most genetic counselors will work in a job where they specialize in a single area.

While most genetic counselors begin in "traditional" areas like prenatal, cancer, and pediatric genetics, the field is expanding rapidly. As personalized medicine advances, genetic counselors are moving into high-tech specialties, including:

• Cardiovascular Genetics and Neurogenetics
• Pharmacogenomics (how DNA affects medication response)
• Genomic Technologies and Biotech Industry roles
• Telehealth services, making at-home genetic testing and counseling accessible worldwide

3. Genetic Counseling is a rapidly growing career. 

As of 2025, there were about 7,000 genetic counselors in the United States, more than ever before. The genetic counseling profession has grown by over 100% in the last decade and is projected to grow another 100% within the next 10 years. In fact, the field is growing so quickly that more and more genetic counseling training programs are starting up each year to try to meet demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to project growth that is "much faster than average" compared to other occupations, driven by the rise of preventative health screening.

4. There are more genetic counseling training programs than ever.

The first class of genetic counselors graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1971 with only 8 students. Today, the landscape has changed:

• There are now over 60 accredited genetic counseling programs across the U.S. and Canada.
• While programs remain competitive and keep class sizes on the smaller side (typically 8–15 students) to ensure high-quality clinical training, the number of available spots is increasing every year.

5. Most genetic counselors are board-certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). 

This certification signifies that the counselor has passed a rigorous exam covering medical genetics and counseling ethics. It also requires continuing education, ensuring your genetic counselor stays informed and aware of the ever-changing genetics landscape.

6. The gentic counseling field reports high job satisfaction and evolving demographics

8 out of 10 genetic counselors report being satisfied with their jobs. Helping patients and medical professionals understand genetic information and test results is a rewarding job!

While the field is currently about 90% female, there are major national initiatives to increase diversity within the profession to better reflect the populations genetic counselors serve.

7. Don't forget to celebrate Genetic Counselor Appreciation Day

Genetic Counselor Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on the second Thursday of November (November 12, 2026). This event highlights the compassion and expertise genetic counselors bring to the healthcare team. If you’ve ever benefitted from these services, send your counselor a quick “Hello” in November!

*All of the numbers in this article courtesy of NSGC resources (nsgc.org)

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Melanie is the Assistant Director of Genetic Counseling Services for the Jscreen program.  She received a Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2011 and was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2012.  Her professional interests include community outreach and education, mentorship of young professionals, provision of telehealth, and enhancement of the healthcare experience.

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