Educational, Vocational and School Counsellor
A School Counselor is a person who counsels and educates students from all grades to provide academic, career, college access, and personal or social competencies. Their counseling includes development of school, curriculum lessons and annual planning for every student, and group and individual counseling.
The largest accreditation body for Counselor Education or School Counseling programs is the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). International Counselor Education programs are accredited through a CACREP affiliate, the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP)
Key to Success
To be successful as an Educational, Vocational and School Counsellor you should have/ develop:
- A genuine interest in students, their behavior
- Patience
- Ability to work with all kinds of social or cultural and age groups
- Empathy for their problems
- Ability to understand people of very different backgrounds and upbringing.
Scope and Opportunities
Educational, Vocational, and School counselors’, counsel individuals and groups on career, personal, social and education. Besides counseling students, counselors work with other individuals and organizations to discuss the academic, career, personal, and social development of children and youth. School counselors help students to examine their abilities, interests, talents, and personalities to develop realistic academic and career goals by interviewing, counseling sessions, interest and aptitude assessment tests, etc. They often run career information centers and career education programs.
Lifestyle & Social Status
- This field doesn’t demand too much time
- Interacting with parents and students
- Being in education sector makes you feel young all the time
- Well paid
Job Profile
- Elementary school counselors provide individual, small-group, and classroom guidance services to students. In association with teachers and administrators, they monitor both academic and the developmental needs of students.
- School counselors at all levels help students to understand and deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems. These counselors focus on preventive and developmental counseling to sharpen students’ personal, social, and academic growth. Counselors provide special services, including alcohol and drug prevention programs and conflict resolution classes. They also solve cases of domestic abuse and other family problems that can affect a student’s development.
- High school counselors advise on colleges, eligibility for admission, entrance exams, financial aid, trade or technical schools, and apprenticeship programs. Develops job search skills, such as resume writing and interviewing techniques.
- Vocational counselors also called employment counselors or career counselors, usually provide career counseling outside the school setting. Vocational counselors explore and examine the client’s education, training, work history, interests, skills, and personality traits. Aptitude and achievement tests are conducted to help the client make career decisions.
Skill Set
- Good communication skills
- Listening patiently
- Asking pertinent questions
- Drawing out responses with tact
Work Value
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
Current Job Scenario
As numbers of counselors are on swing, they prefer self-employing and work in group practices or private practice. High profiles counselors are paid with good remuneration and have better opportunity to work with large organization and develop ones own profile.
Top Recruiters
Educational, Vocational and School Counselors are hired by most of the IB schools. They also work on free lance bases, visiting bases or set up their own consultancy.
Course Synopsis
| Course Options | B.A Psychology, BSW | M.A Counselling, Psychology |
| Academic Eligibility | 12th Pass in any discipline | B.A Sociology, Psychology + Entrance Exam |
| Fees | Rs. 7500/- to Rs.15000/- Per Annum | Rs. 10000 to Rs. 15000/- Per Annum |
| Expenditure in Metro and Tier-1 | Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 2.5 Lakhs | Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 2.5 Lakhs |
| Expenditure in Tier-2 | Rs. 1.25 – Rs. 1.75 Lakhs | Rs. 1.25 – Rs. 1.75 Lakhs |
| Duration | 3 Years | 2 Years |
| Mode | Regular | Regular |
| Approved | AICTE | AICTE |
| Affiliation | Respective Universities | Respective Universities |
| Entrance Exam | Institute Level Entrance Exams | |
| Education Loan | ||
| Scholarships |
Career Prospect
- Primary teacher
- Principal
- School teacher
- Tutor
Entrance Exam
- For BA / B.Sc Course Admission takes place on Merit basis in most of the college
- IIPR Entrance Test For Bachelors Degree
- For M.A / M.Sc – Top Institutes have their own exams
Some of the entrane exams for MA / M.Sc Psychology
- IIPR Entrance Exam
- DUET – Delhi University Entrance Test
- KUK Entrance Exam
- TISS-NET
Success Stories