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Educational Counsellors (4143)

Job titles

Nature of work

Educational counsellors advise current and prospective students on educational issues, career planning and personal development and co-ordinate the provision of counselling services to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff. They are employed by school boards, universities and colleges, technical institutes, correctional facilities and government agencies.

Fields of interest

  • Counseling, helping others
  • Teaching, educating
  • Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

  • Educational counsellors perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Counsel students regarding educational issues such as course and program selection, time tables and scheduling, school adjustment, attendance problems and study skills
  • - Counsel students regarding career or vocational issues including career exploration and planning, résumé preparation, job interview skills and job search strategies and make available to them a wide range of educational and occupational information
  • - Counsel students regarding personal and social issues such as substance abuse, depression, sexuality, eating disorders, anxiety, self-esteem, family problems, relationship and interpersonal skills and anger management
  • - Counsel students in crisis situations such as dealing with the death of a friend or family member, suicidal tendencies and abuse situations
  • - Consult with teachers and parents or faculty and other professionals such as psychologists, speech therapists and social workers regarding various issues and concerns, and with administrators and community agencies regarding programs and referrals
  • - Co-ordinate co-op and school-to-work transition programs, and the provision of counselling and information services to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff such as career information services, professional development sessions and interactions with other educational institutions
  • - Supervise peer counselling programs in school settings
  • - Administer and interpret standardized intelligence, personality, vocational, aptitude and interest tests
  • - Develop and co-ordinate study skills groups or workshops in colleges and universities on topics such as note-taking, test or examination anxiety and preparation strategies and time management skills
  • - Co-ordinate or participate in student orientation programs in colleges or universities
  • - Arrange for employers to recruit graduating college and university students, and students for co-op education work terms
  • - Visit colleges and secondary schools to provide academic information to prospective students, their parents and educational counsellors
  • - May supervise field experience for graduate students in counselling
  • - May teach regular classes.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Educational Counsellors (4143)

Employment requirements

  • * A bachelor's degree in social sciences or education is required for counsellors in school settings.
  • * A master's degree in counselling or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work is usually required.
  • * Academic counsellors in post-secondary settings require an undergraduate degree and may require a graduate degree. A particular academic specialization may also be required.
  • * A teacher's certificate from the province of employment and some teaching experience is usually required for counsellors in school settings.
  • * In Quebec, membership in the professional association is mandatory for counsellors in school settings.
  • * Educational counsellors in colleges and universities may require licensing from a provincial regulatory body governing psychologists, guidance counsellors or social workers.

Skill type

  • Occupations in social science, education, government service and religion

Skill level

  • Professional

More information

  • * Elementary school counsellors generally provide more social and personal counselling whereas vocational and academic counselling is provided more by high school counsellors.
  • * Educational counsellors in colleges, universities and other settings may specialize in academic counselling, personal or social issues/problems counselling or career/vocational counselling.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere

Professional associations

  • Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec
  • 1600, boul. Henri-Bourassa Ouest, bureau 520
  • Montréal, QC
  • H3M3E2
  • Toll free: 1-800-363-2643
  • Phone: 514-737-4717
  • Fax: 514-737-2172
  • Email: ordre@orientation.qc.ca