Genetic Counseling

There are many pieces to the genetic counseling application, including your GPA, GRE score, personal statement, list of experiences, letters of recommendation, and biographical information. Use the navigation below to explore each aspect of preparing for genetic counseling programs.

• What is a genetic counselor?

• Genetic counselors help people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. 

  Genetic counselors are employed in many settings such as medical centers, physician offices, health maintenance organizations, advocacy organizations, governmental agencies, public health departments and biotechnology companies.

  Those in clinical practice provide education and counseling in areas including reproductive genetics, infertility and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, pediatric genetics, newborn screening follow-up, cancer genetics, neurogenetics, and cardiovascular genetics. 

  Read more details about the scope of practice here.

• Becoming a Genetic Counselor

• Obtain an undergraduate degree (4 years)

  Earn a master's degree at an accredited program

  Get certified/licensed by The American Board of Genetic Counselors

• Genetic Counseling Prerequisites

• Genetic Counseling Prerequisites	Courses to Take at UC Davis
  Most schools require:
  General Biology	BIS 2ABC
  General Chemistry	CHE 2ABC or CHE4ABC
  Biochemistry	BIS 102 & 103*
  Genetics	BIS 101
  Psychology	PSC 1
  Statistics	STA 13 OR STA 100
  Some schools also require:
  Human Development	any HDE courses
  Organic Chemistry	CHE 8AB OR CHE 118ABC
  Ethics/Bioethics	PHI 15 OR PHI 117
  Interpersonal Communication	CMN 3
  Abnormal Psychology	PSC 168
  Physiology	NPB 101 OR NPB 110C
  Medical Terminology	* Course not offered at UC Davis
  Embryology	* Course not offered at UC Davis
  Social Science & Humanities	any ANT, SOC, OR HUM courses
  Epidemiology	GDB 101 OR SPH 102
  Calculus	MAT 16ABC, MAT 17ABC, OR MAT 21ABCD
  Human Anatomy	EXB 106 & EXB 106L OR CHA 101 & CHA 101L

  * Check your major requirements before choosing classes.
  * If you have already taken BIS 105, we encourage having the syllabus ready to share with schools. Applicants don’t necessarily need to take additional classes before they apply. Requirements vary by school. Please call HPA’s Express Advising for questions.​ Updated 2/2023.
  
  See the Genetic Counseling Program Prerequisite Chart for a sample list of genetic counseling programs and their requirements.
  
  Note: The above courses are only suggested, not absolute. 
  
  You can choose any major and apply to schools. If you choose a non-science major, you still have to take the science prerequisites required by schools. 

  HPA recommends that students maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, although many schools will have GPA averages above this minimum.

  Each school has different prerequisites. Check each school's prerequisites before applying. 

• Graduate Records Examination (GRE)

• The GRE is available on a continuous basis throughout the year. Register for the GRE here.

  The exam includes three sections:
  Verbal Reasoning
  Quantitative Reasoning
  Analytical Writing

  The exam cost $205 each time you take it.  You are only allowed to take the GRE every 21 days after your previous exam.

  The GRE is not a course-dependent test, meaning there are no specific UCD courses you need to take to prepare. The best way is to give yourself time to study the test by buying test prep books or taking a test prep course.

  Whatever you do, do not take the test without preparing! Click here to register for the GRE.

   

• Experiences

• It is important to intern/volunteer/shadow and speak to a genetic counselor to show you have explored the field and have a clear understanding of the profession.

  Meaningful experiences toward genetic counseling can come from a variety of settings. Programs put a high value on "one-on-one" experiences that include strong advocacy and support services and the development of interpersonal relationships.
  
  Programs generally recommend the following areas:

  Peer counseling/Resident advisor
  Crisis/Suicide hotline
  Domestic violence shelter
  Pregnancy/Family planning center
  Social worker
  Homeless shelter
  Disability support services

• Applying to Genetic Counseling Programs

• Personal Statement

  Your personal statement should describe your reason for applying to the program, your research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background that will aid the review committee in their evaluations. Length requirement varies by program; check each program to which you wish to apply.

  Some questions to consider when writing your personal statement (from CSU Stanislaus):

  How did you decide to become a genetic counselor? Of the various aspects of genetic counseling, discuss those that particularly interest you.

  What is it about you, in terms of personality, work history, family, and life experience that would assist you to become a genetic counselor?

  Which personal assets would facilitate—and which might hinder—your effectiveness as a genetic counselor?

  What experiences have you had with chronic illnesses or genetic diseases and what impact did these have on your life?

  What other things should we know about you to assist us in evaluating your application

  Letters of Recommendation

  An average of three letters of recommendation is generally required by genetic counseling programs. Letters should come from professors, employers, and/or supervisors/mentors that know you well and can provide evidence of your academic abilities, maturity, and interpersonal skills. Letters are generally submitted online or sent directly to the program.

  Interviews

  Invitations for interviews are sent after all application materials have been reviewed. Qualified students will be contacted with an invitation for an interview with program faculty.

  Choosing Programs

  There are 37 ACGC-accredited programs in the nation with three in California.

  California programs include:

  UC Irvine - M.S. in Genetic Counseling

  UC San Francisco - M.S. in Genetic Counseling

  Stanford - M.S. in Human Genetic and Genetic Counseling

  As long as the program holds any accreditation status at the time of entry, you will be eligible to sit for the American Board of Genetic Counseling’s Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC) certification examination. 

• Frequently Asked Questions
• More questions?  Visit our FAQ page or schedule an appointment with an advisor!