Educational Counsellors
Formal Description
“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.” (NOC 2021).
[See also: 41321 – Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education)].
Sample Job Titles
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
Academic Advisor
Academic Skills Counsellor
Career Counsellor - education
Co-op Program Cooridinator
Guidance Counsellor
Indigenous Advisor - education
International Student Advisor
Student Employment Services Cooridinator
Typical Employment and Education Requirements
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
- “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.”
Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
- Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
- Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
- Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.
Related Sectors
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
Academic Program Connections
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:
Indigenous Studies Learn More
Indigenous Studies highlights the importance of building relationships and mutual respect, which are key for earning trust with students and their families.
Society, Culture & Religion Learn More
Studying societal and religious frameworks helps in understanding human struggles and moral dilemmas.
Social Psychology Learn More
Knowing how people think, feel, and behave enable students to support their clients effectively.
Sociology Learn More
A degree in Sociology is a solid basis for a career as an educational counsellor, as it provides valuable insights into human behaviour, social dynamics, and the factors that shape education.
