Educational counsellors advise students on educational, personal and career-related issues and co-ordinate counselling services for students, parents and teachers.

Educational counsellors include school guidance counsellors who work in elementary, junior and senior high schools, and university and college counsellors who work in post-secondary institutions such as universities, colleges and technical institutes.

Educational counsellors work with individual students and groups of students. In general, they:

• counsel students who are experiencing personal, social, educational or behavioural problems
• provide career or vocational counselling services which may include administering tests and inventories to help students identify their interests, aptitudes and abilities
• collect and make available a wide range of educational and occupational information (for example, information about awards, scholarships and financial assistance programs)
• establish and supervise peer counselling and peer tutoring programs
• act as a resource for teachers and faculty members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities
• present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning
• help students improve their study habits
• assist students interested in travel and study programs
• refer students to appropriate services and agencies when required.

School guidance counsellors also help students select appropriate courses, schedule subjects and choose educational programs. They may have additional teaching duties. They also may be involved in advocating for students, evaluating the impact of the services they offer, and developing new programs related to student development.

Counsellors in secondary and post-secondary institutions may supervise work experience programs for students.

Educational counsellors work closely with a variety of other professionals. School guidance counsellors work with teachers, speech therapists, school psychologists, social workers and public health nurses. University and college counsellors work co-operatively with instructors and personnel from the Registrar's Office, work experience programs and placement services.

Educational counsellors usually work standard school or office hours but may spend additional evening and weekend hours supervising extra-curricular activities, attending meetings, advocating for students, developing workshops or other programs, and planning for their interactions with clients or other professionals. They usually work in office and classroom environments. The work can be emotionally demanding and stressful, particularly when caseloads are high.

Educational counsellors need a master's degree in educational psychology, applied psychology or counselling.

In Alberta, the following institutions offer related master's degree programs:

• Athabasca University offers a Master of Counselling degree program with specializations in counselling psychology and school counselling.
• University of Alberta in Edmonton offers a Master of Education degree program in educational psychology. In addition to a 3.0/4 grade point average in the last two undergraduate years, a valid teaching certificate and teaching experience are required. St. Stephen's College, affiliated with the University of Alberta, offers a Master of Arts degree program in pastoral psychology and counselling. 
• University of Calgary offers Master of Education and Master of Science degree programs available on campus, in applied psychology with a specialization in counselling psychology. There also is a Master of Counselling degree program offered through a distributed learning format with specializations in school counselling, career counselling, special education or educational assessment.
• University of Lethbridge offers an M.Ed. program with a specialization in counselling psychology. There also is a Master of Counselling degree program offered through a distributed learning format with a specialization in school counselling.

Post-secondary institutions throughout Alberta offer suitable four year bachelor's degree programs and university transfer programs. Entrance requirements vary depending on the program but, in general, include a competitive average (ranging from 60 to 80 per cent depending on the institution and program) in English Language Arts 30-1 and four other approved or specified Grade 12 subjects (for example, 30 level courses in social studies, sciences, math or a language other than English). Admission to Athabasca University is open to residents of Canada who are at least 16 years of age.

For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Educational counsellors who have related master's degrees may become registered psychologists (for more information, see the Psychologist profile). Career advisors who work in educational settings do not require a related master's degree (for more information see the Career Development Professional occupational profile). 

Educational counsellors work for:

• schools and post-secondary institutions
• correctional facilities
• government agencies
• private practices.

Advancement opportunities to administrative positions vary depending on the size and nature of the employing organization, and the counsellor's qualifications.

In Alberta, over 95 per cent of people employed as educational counsellors work in the Educational Services industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Educational Services industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next ten years.

Salaries for educational counsellors vary considerably depending on the employing organization and the counsellor's qualifications.

According to the 2007 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Educational Counsellors occupational group working part-time or full-time earned from $35,600 to $85,600 a year. The average salary was $49,500 a year. 

Counsellors who have teaching certificates are paid according to the same salary grid as elementary and secondary school teachers in their school jurisdictions.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) website: www.teachers.ab.ca

The Guidance Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association website: www.guidancecouncil.ca

Canadian Counselling Association (CCA) website: www.ccacc.ca