Using in-depth interview and a survey study, the current study was attempted to explore college counselors’ current work status and professional competences needed to be a college counselor. Ten college counselors participated in the in-depth interview, and 77 college counselors participated in the survey research. The findings of the study are as follows: (a) College counselors are expected to play multiple roles, including being counselors, teachers, consultants, coordinators, initiators, and school psychologists; (b) Challenges that most college counselors are facing include lack of supervision, lack professional competence needed to college students, and the ambiguity of the role they have to carry; (c) The core professional competencies an effective college counselor needs include: counseling competence, school administration competence, competence for self growth and competence for crisis management. Data collected with the survey questionnaire show competences in crisis management, self awareness, career counseling, communicating and coordinating competence, and skills to promote clients’ expression, exploration, and change are the most fundamental competences needed for effective counseling. Implications and application of the research finding in counseling are also discussed.