NOC 41320: Educational counsellors

What educational counsellors do

Educational counsellors advise current and prospective students on educational issues, career planning and personal development, and coordinate the provision of counselling services to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff. They are employed by school boards and post-secondary educational institutions.

Main duties

This group performs 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
• Coordinate co-op and school-to-work transition programs, and the provision of counselling and information services, such as career information, professional development sessions and exchanges with other educational institutions, to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff
• 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
• Administer and interpret standardized intelligence, personality, vocational, aptitude and interest tests
• Develop and coordinate study skills groups or workshops in high schools, colleges and universities on topics such as note-taking, test or examination anxiety and preparation strategies and time management skills
• Visit colleges and secondary schools to provide academic information to prospective students, their parents and educational counsellors
• Coordinate 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
• 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
• May supervise peer counselling programs in school settings
• May supervise field experience for graduate students in counselling
• May teach regular classes.
• Vocational counsellors in Quebec may also provide professional orientation to individuals with a mental illness, disabilities, and those with adaptation difficulties. Those with specific training may also perform certain mental health assessments.

Job titles under NOC 41320

33 job titles are classified here, including academic counsellor, career counsellor - education, Indigenous advisor - college.

• academic adviser
• academic counsellor
• academic skills counsellor
• career counsellor - education
• college counsellor
• co-op officer - schools
• co-op placement officer - school
• co-op program coordinator - school
• counselling intern
• counsellor for Aboriginal students
• education officer
• educational counsellor
• educational guidance director
• First Nations counsellor - education
• First Nations studies program academic adviser
• guidance counsellor - education
• guidance service head
• independent or applied studies officer
• Indigenous advisor - college
• international student adviser
• learning and study skills specialist
• personal academic counsellor
• personal counsellor - education
• school adjustment officer

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in counselling, career development, education or social sciences is required for counsellors in school settings.
• A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work is usually required.
• Educational counsellors in post-secondary settings require an undergraduate degree and may require a graduate degree. A particular academic specialization may also be required.
• In Quebec, membership in l'Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation is mandatory to use the titles ''vocational counsellor'', "guidance counsellor" and "vocational guidance counsellor".
• A teacher's certificate in the province of employment and some teaching experience is usually required for counsellors in school settings.
• Educational counsellors in colleges and universities may require licensing from a provincial regulatory body governing psychologists, educational counsellors or social workers.

Educational counsellors wages in Canada

Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).

Not in this group

Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:

• Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) (NOC 41321)
• School psychologist (NOC 31200)
• Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220)
• Social workers (NOC 41300)
• Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies (NOC 41301)

Frequently asked questions

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