Occupation
Guidance counsellor
Helps students with course selection, post-school planning, and the personal or social difficulties that get in the way of their learning. Runs individual and group sessions, and refers students on to psychologists, health services, or child protection agencies when a need goes beyond the school's remit.
Also known as: School counselor · Student services counsellor · School guidance teacher
Occupation content
Part of Education and training
What the work involves
- Meet students individually about course choices and post-school options
- Run group sessions on study skills, applications, and transitions
- Screen presenting concerns and refer students to specialist services
- Support students through conflict, bullying, or family disruption
- Keep confidential case notes within school and legal policy
- Coordinate with teachers, families, and outside agencies
How people commonly enter
- Teaching qualification plus postgraduate study in counselling or guidance
- Master's degree in school counselling or a related counselling field
- Supervised counselling practice as part of the qualifying program
- Certification or registration with the counselling or teaching regulator where one applies
Typical training: Postgraduate or professional degree
Licensing: Regulated in most jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Typical work context
Public facing · Team based · High responsibility · Desk based · Quiet focus
Related interests
Social (helping) · Investigative (analytical)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Education and training.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- UK National Careers Service — Careers adviser · United Kingdom
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- O*NET OnLine — Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (21-1012.00) · United States
Link checked
- Canada Job Bank — Career planning (Employment and Social Development Canada) · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Education and training in Canada, not a figure for Guidance counsellor. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Education and training family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: education pathways
Some roles in Education and training may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)