The definition of "School Counsellor" varies around the world. This article briefly summarizes differences in titles, qualifications, focus of work, and professional associations in 40 different countries. Although there is great variation in all these areas, School Counsellors are united their location within the school system and focus on directly supporting students' success and wellbeing. For instance, you may notice that all School Counsellors support students' academic and career journeys - an activity sometimes called "guidance". Furthermore, you may notice that all School Counsellors support students' emotional and mental wellbeing and/or personal development - an activity sometimes called "counselling" or "psychotherapy".
I used Chat GPT to generate lists of qualifications as it can do the research (and translation) much quicker than I can. ChatGPT also suggested which focus area to bold (signifying that this is the most heavily-weighted focus area for that region) based on the following criteria: cultural context, current events, educational policy, expert recommendations, professional standards, and research data. Please contact me if you find any errors in this article. Your feedback will help to make the content accurate and complete.
Argentina
Title: Orientador Escolar (School Counsellor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, education, social work; certification
Focus: academics, career, mental health, personal development, social skills
Association: Asociación de Profesionales de la Orientación de la República Argentina (Association of Guidance Professionals of the Argentine Republic) and Asociación Argentina de Counselors (Argentinian Association of Counsellors)
Further Reading: "Argentina’s Therapy Culture: Its Affect on School Counselling"
Australia
Title: School Counsellor, Guidance Counsellor
Qualifications: graduate diploma in counselling, master of counselling
Focus: academics, career, crisis intervention, mental health, social-emotional learning
Further Reading: "Collaborative Practices Among Australian School Psychologists, Guidance Officers and School Counsellors: Important Lessons for School Psychological Practice"
Bangladesh
Title: Guidance Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, counselling, social work; master's in counselling or education
Focus: academics, career, counselling, mental health, social skills
Brazil
Title: Orientador Educacional (Educational Advisor)
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology or education, specialization in educational psychology or counselling
Focus: academics, career, counselling, emotional support, social skills
Association: Conselho Federal de Psicologia (Federal Council of Psychology)
Further Reading: "O ORIENTADOR EDUCACIONAL NO BRASIL"
Bulgaria
Title: педагогически съветник (Pedagogical Counsellor), училищен психолог (School Psychologist), училищен консултант (School Consultant)
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, pedagogy, social work; master's in counselling or educational psychology
Focus: academics, career, crisis intervention, emotional support, social skills
Association: Bulgarian Psychological Society
Further Reading: "School Counseling: A Comparative Study in 12 Countries"
Canada
Title: School Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, counselling, or education; master's in counselling or school psychology; regional certification requirements (e.g. in BC, a teacher's qualification)
Focus: academics, career, counselling, crisis intervention, mental health, personal development
Association: Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) as well as provincial associations - BC School Counsellors Association, ATA Council of School Counsellors, Manitoba School Counsellors Association, Ontario School Counsellors Association, Ordre des conseillers et consillères d'orientation du Québec, Nova Scotia School Counsellors Association, Newfoundland and Labrador Counsellors and Psychologists Association, Prince Edward Island School Counsellors Association
Further Reading: "Guidance counsellors’ work as a transformative activity: supporting social justice through advocacy"
Chile
Title: Orientadore Escolare (School Counsellor), Psicólogo Educativo (Educational Psychologist)
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology or education; master's in educational psychology or counselling
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Colegio de Psicologos de Chile (Chilean Psychological Association)
Further Reading: "The Effect of School Psychologists and Social Workers on School Achievement and Failure: A National Multilevel Study in Chile"
China
Title: 学校辅导员 (School Counsellor), 学校心理学家 (School Psychologist)
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, education, or counselling; master's degree preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, social skills
Association: Chinese Psychological Society
Further Reading: "Counselling in China: Past, Present and Future" and "School-Based Counseling in Mainland China: Past, Present, and Future"
Colombia
Title: Orientador Escolar (School Counsellor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or education; specialization in counseling or educational psychology
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Unión Nacional Sindical de Educadores, Coordinadores y Orientadores de Colombia (National Union of Educators, Coordinators and Counselors of Colombia)
Further Reading: "PLAN NACIONAL DE ORIENTACIÓN ESCOLAR"
Finland
Title: Koulukuraattori (School Social Worker), Koulupsykologit (School Psychologist), Opinto-ohjaaja (Educational Counsellor)
Qualifications: master's in psychology, counseling, or a related field
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, social skills
Association: Finnish Guidance Counsellors - SOPO
Further Reading: "The professionalization of the counsellor role – a comparative study of Finland and Norway"
France
Title: Conseiller d'éducation (Educational Advisor), Conseiller d'Orientation (Guidance Advisor)
Qualifications: master's in psychology or educational science; specialization in school counselling preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: L’Association des Psychologues et de Psychologie dans l'Education nationale (The Association of Psychologists and Psychology in National Education)
Further Reading: "A Model of the Well-Being among French School Counselors: effects of personal and psychosocial variables"
Germany
Title: Beratungslehrer (School Counsellor), Schulpsychologe (School Psychologist)
Qualifications: master's degree in psychology, education, or counselling; specialization in school counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, counselling, emotional support, social skills
Association: Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologinnen und Psychologen (Professional Association of German Psychologists)
Further Reading: "How schools in Germany shape and impact the lives of adolescent refugees in terms of mental health and social mobility"
Greece
Title: Σύμβουλος Σχολείου (School Counselor), σύμβουλος σχολικής ψυχολογίας (School Psychology Counsellor), δάσκαλος καθοδήγησης (Guidance Teacher)
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, education, or social work; master's in counseling or school counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, counselling, emotional support, social skills
Association: Panhellenic Association of School Counsellors
Further Reading: "The role of guidance and counselling in minimising risk factors to
India
Title: Guidance Counsellor, School Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, education, or social work; master's in counselling psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: School Counsellor Association of India
Further Reading: "Role of School Role of School Counselors and the Factors that Affect their Practice in India"
Indonesia
Title: Konselor Sekolah (School Counsellor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or counselling; master's degree is preferred
Focus: academics, career, counselling, mental health, social skills
Association: Network of Indonesian School Counselors
Further Reading: "School Counsellor Needs for Competency Enhancement"
Italy
Title: Insegnante di Sostegno (Support Teacher), Consulente Scolastico (School Consultant)
Qualifications: master's degree in psychology or education; specialization in counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Associazione Italiana Psicologia Scolastica (Italian Association of School Psychology)
Further Reading: "School psychology in Italy: A mixed-method study of actual and desired roles and functions"
Japan
Title: スクールカウンセラー or 学校カウンセラー (School Counselor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or social work; master's degree in school counselling or psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Japanese School Psychology Association
Further Reading: "School Counselling in Canada and Japan"
Kenya
Title: Guidance and Counselling Teacher
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, counselling, or education; master's degree is preferred
Focus: academics, career, counselling, emotional support, mental health
Association: Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors
Further Reading: "Kenyan Professional Counsellors’ Role Perceptions and Responsibilities"
Malaysia
Title: Kaunselor Sekolah (School Counsellor)
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology, counselling, or education; master's degree in counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, social skills
Association: International Counseling Association of Malaysia (warning: link plays music)
Further Reading: "Challenges of School Counselling in Malaysia" and "Malaysian School Counsellors’ Challenges in Job Description, Job Satisfaction and Competency"
Mexico
Title: Orientador Escolar (School Counsellor)
Qualifications: bachelor's in psychology or education; master's degree in counseling or educational psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Asociación Mexicana de Orientación Psicológica y Psicoterapia (Mexican Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
Further Reading: "Overview of Mexican Counselor's Functions"
Namibia
Title: School Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, counselling, or education; master's degree is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Namibian Counselling Association (no link available)
Further Reading: "School Counselling Programme and Students’ Academic Development"
Netherlands
Title: Schoolmaatschappelijk Werker (School Social Worker),
Qualifications: master's degree in psychology, pedagogy, or education with specialization in counselling or psychology
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, social skills
Association: Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (Netherlands Institute of Psychology)
Further Reading: "Can Schools Reduce Adolescent Psychological Stress? A Multilevel Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of School-Based Intervention Programs"
New Zealand
Title: School Guidance Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology or education; master's degree in counselling or educational psychology is often required
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: New Zealand Association of Counsellors
Further Reading: "Exploring counselling outcomes in New Zealand schools"
Nigeria
Title: Guidance Counsellor, School Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, counseling, or education; master's degree in counselling psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Counselling Association of Nigeria
Further Reading: "Guidance & Counseling Services in Nigerian Public Primary Schools: Challenges and the Way forward"
Pakistan
Title: Guidance Counsellor, School Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or social work; master's degree in counselling or clinical psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Pakistan Psychological Association
Further Reading: "Exploring the Importance of Career Counseling at Grade-12 Level at a Public Sector School in Sindh, Pakistan"
Peru
Title: Orientadore Escolare (School Counsellor), Psicólogo Educativo (Educational Psychologist)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology or education; master's degree in counselling or educational psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Peru Psychological Association
Further Reading: "Peru: A Wholesale Reform Fueled by an Obsession with Learning and Equity"
Philippines
Title: Guidance Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or social work; master's degree in counselling or educational psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Philippine Guidance and Counselling Association
Portugal
Title: Orientadore Escolare (School Counsellor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology or education; master's degree in educational psychology or counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (Portuguese Psychological Association)
Further Reading: “The Worst Part Was Coming Back Home and Feeling Like Crying”: Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Students in Portuguese Schools"
Russia
Title: социальный педагог ("Social Educator", School Counsellor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology or education; master's degree in counselling or educational psychology is often required
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Russian Psychological Society
Further Reading: "The Development of the Institution of School Counselors in Rural Russia"
Saudi Arabia
Title: مرشد طلابي (Student Counselor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, counselling, or education; master's degree is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: no known formal association
Further Reading: "The New Educators: The Reasons for Saudi Arabia to Invest More in Student Counseling Programs"
Singapore
Title: School Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, counselling, or education; master's in counselling or educational psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Singapore Association for Counselling
Further Reading: "The Paradoxes of Student Well-being in Singapore"
South Africa
Title: School Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology or education; master's degree in psychology or educational psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: South African Council for Counsellors
South Korea
Title: 학교 상담교사 (School Counselling Teacher)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, counselling, or education; master's degree in school counselling or psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Korean Counselling Association (no live link), Korea International School Counselor Association
Further Reading: "Five Dimensions of School-Based Counseling Practice: Factor Analysis
Spain
Title: Orientador Escolare (School Counselor)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology or education; master's degree in educational psychology or counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: there are 51 Associations of psychotherapy in Spain
Further Reading: "Cultural diversity in secondary school: the response to immigrant students in Spain from a counselling perspective"
Sweden
Title: Vägledare (Guidance Counsellor), Skolkuratorer (School Curator)
Qualifications: master's degree in psychology or education; specialization in school counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Sveriges Vägledarförening (Swedish Association of Guidance Counsellors) and Sveriges Skolkuratorers Förening (Sweden's Association of School Curators)
Further Reading: "On the Professionalism and Professionalisation of Career Guidance and Counselling in Sweden"
Thailand
Title: แนะแนว (Guide), ที่ปรึกษา (Consultant)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or counselling; master's degree in counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Thai Psychological Association
Further Reading: "Current situation and comparison of school mental health in ASEAN countries"
Turkey
Title: Rehber öğretmen (Guidance Teacher), Rehberlik öğretmeni (Guidance Educator)
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, guidance and counselling, or education; master's in counselling or educational psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Derneği (Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Association)
Further Reading: "An examination of the ethical dilemmas of school counsellors: opinions and solution recommendations"
Uganda
Title: Guidance Counsellor
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or social work; master's degree in counselling or educational psychology is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Association: Uganda Counselling Association (no live link)
Further Reading: "Stakeholder Perspectives on School-Based Guidance and Counseling in Uganda: Emerging Priorities for Student Support and Teacher Training"
United Kingdom
Title: School Counsellor, School Therapist
Qualifications: bachelor's degree in psychology, counselling, or education; master's degree in counselling, educational psychology, or school counselling is preferred
Focus: academics, career, emotional support, mental health, personal development
Further Reading: "School counselling in England campaign"
United States of America
Title: School Counselor
Qualifications: master's degree in counselling, psychology, or social work; specific degree in school counselling is often preferred, depending on state
Focus: academics, career, crisis intervention, mental health, social and emotional learning
Association: American School Counselor Association
Further Reading: "Staffing Schools to Support the Classroom: Examining Student-to-School-Counselor Ratios and Academic Student Outcomes in Texas" and "The Impacts of School Counselor Ratios on Student Outcomes: A Multistate Study"
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