Welcome to the NSGC Student Corner! This is a dedicated space to support and empower students in their genetic counseling training programs. Whether you are just starting your journey or looking to deepen your understanding of this rapidly evolving profession, our goal is to provide you with the resources you need to thrive.
NSGC Membership Benefits for Students
As a member of NSGC, you will gain access to continuing education opportunities, professional resources and more. These opportunities include:
- Access to more than 5,000 members through our online discussion forums in NSGCommunities.
- Joining Special Interest Groups (SIGs) such as our Student/New Grad SIG to connect with genetic counselors with similar interests.
- Volunteering with one of NSGC’s many committees to support NSGC’s mission and gain professional volunteer experience.
- Applying for NSGC’s student-focused grants and awards.
- Finding mentorship from members across all career stages, positions, and specialties through NSGConnect.
- Access to view jobs, a full suite of career resources and easy application tracking within the NSGC Career Center.
- Discounted registration rates to attend the NSGC Annual Conference, our premier event that focuses on the latest in genetic counseling and brings together the genetic counseling community.
Learn more about the additional benefits of becoming an NSGC member.
NSGC Student Membership Types
NSGC offers two membership types for current students in genetic counseling training programs and recent graduates from genetic counseling training programs.
Student Member - $50
Special membership for students currently enrolled in an ACGC-accredited genetic counseling training program. Student Members receive all the same privileges as Associate Members, with the exception that Students may not vote or access the Journal of Genetic Counseling.
New Genetic Counselor Membership - $220
Discounted membership for genetic counselors who graduated from an ACGC-accredited genetic counseling program within the last two years. New Genetic Counselor Members receive all the same member benefits as Full Members, but are eligible for a discounted membership fee for up to two years as a newly graduated genetic counselor.
Special membership for individuals currently enrolled in a graduate-level genetic counseling training program that is not accredited by ACGC and who reside outside of the United States and Canada. Please note that the NSGC Executive Office will need to approve your membership prior to collecting your first dues. If you have questions on becoming an International Genetic Counselor Student member, please contact the NSGC Executive Office at nsgc@nsgc.org.
International Genetic Counselor Student members receive all member benefits and can serve on committees, but do not have voting rights, cannot hold office and may not apply for NSGC awards, scholarships or grant opportunities.
Join NSGC Today
NSGC memberships are based on the calendar year/NSGC’s fiscal year, January 1 – December 31. All new memberships (except students) will incur a one-time only, non-refundable application fee of US $15.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
For students, SIGs offer more than networking — they’re pathways to mentorship, learning, and contribution. SIGs provide unique insights into areas of specialty to support learning during clinical rotations, early career and beyond.
All NSGC memberships now include access to all SIGs, which enables members to join at any time throughout the year, aligning with clinical rotations or as interests arise.
Within a SIG, you can:
- Learn from seasoned professionals through webinars and discussions
- Contribute to national projects and advocacy efforts
- Discover where your interests align within the diverse world of genetic counseling
- Volunteer to gain visibility and experience in SIG initiatives
Learn more about the Student/New Grad SIG.
Student Research Survey Distribution
The Student Research Survey Program is designed to provide students currently in genetic counseling training programs access to NSGC members for research purposes at a discounted rate. This opportunity is designed to increase student survey results and to provide exposure to a variety of genetic counselors. NSGC's Student Research Survey emails are sent out on Wednesdays, and content is due by Friday of the prior week.
Purchase a Student Research Survey listing
Grants, Awards and Scholarships
NSGC promotes research, continuing education and professional development to genetic counselors through various sponsored fellowships and grant awards.
JEMF Student Research Award
The JEMF Student Research Award is intended for students who are enrolled in an ACGC-accredited genetic counseling training program. These funds should be used to support research done while the applicants are enrolled in their training program. Applicants will be required to submit a written proposal that describes their project's aims, objectives/hypothesis, statement of need, and methodology. Learn more
Student Research Scholarship
The NSGC Awards Committee is excited to award a $200 scholarship to three genetic counseling students who are conducting thesis research related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion or cultural humility issues in the genetic counseling profession. Learn more
The Lauren Ryan Genetic Counselor Access Memorial Award
The mission of the Lauren Ryan Genetic Counselor Access Memorial Award is to increase access to the profession of genetic counseling for traditionally underrepresented or minority populations by providing financial support to current genetic counseling students. Learn more
SIG Research Grant Funding
SIG Research Grants are small grants (<$2,500) that are awarded to research projects that further the goals of NSGC SIGs. Applications will undergo a two-step review by SIG Leaders and the Research Quality and Outcomes Committee (RQO). Learn more
Board Certification
Certification in genetic counseling is offered by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) through an examination administered annually. To be eligible for the examination, applicants must be graduates of a Master's-level program that has been accredited by the ACGC at the time the applicant was accepted to the program.
Certification for genetic counselors demonstrates accountability to the public through advanced training in medical genetics and counseling to guide and support patients. Most employers require their genetic counselors to be certified, and some insurance companies will require people to have genetic counseling by a CGC prior to genetic testing as a condition of coverage. Learn more about the importance of certification.
Visit the ABGC website for more information on certification, including eligibility requirements and application instructions, fees, application deadlines, exam reference resource, the CGC Candidate Guide and the CGC Exam Study Gude.
Employment Resources
As you transition into the genetic counseling workforce, there are several good places to look for jobs, including NSGC's Career Center, regional and national genetics meetings, bulletin boards, networking with other NSGC members and word of mouth. If you see an opportunity and you have the initiative, you may also attempt to create a new job for yourself using the Business Case Toolkit.
As an important first step, you should prioritize the various aspects of a job that are most meaningful to you. Key points to consider could include location, type of position, specialty and more.
The NSGC Professional Status Survey (PSS) offers an inside view of the profession, including salary ranges, benefits, work environments, and job satisfaction. The PSS is a great resource that students can use to understand genetic counselor workforce trends and utilize during salary negotiations, discussions of benefits and more.
To learn more about what the PSS has to offer and how to utilize the data provided by the PSS, register to view this webinar recording. Full PSS reports are available to NSGC members free of charge. If you are interested in utilizing data from the PSS for research purposes, please view the PSS Data Access Policy.
In 2025, the Student/New Member SIG revised a comprehensive Job Search Toolkit. This toolkit provides general templates for the multiple aspects of the job search, including tips on applying for jobs, as well as tips on general professionalism and etiquette.