Last Updated On 11 Jun, 2020
An Education Counsellor is the professional who is responsible for providing counselling and career advice to the students in order to help them choose the right course, tackle the different academic challenges and help them reach their academic goals. The major responsibilities of an Education Counsellor are to assist students in terms of course & program selection, school adjustment, class scheduling, and career planning. Moreover, an Education Counsellor is also responsible for helping students overcome their personal, social, or behavioural problems that may affect their academic performance.
The candidates who wish to pursue their career as an Education Counsellor must fulfil the given below eligibility criteria:
The candidate must have passed a Master’s degree in M.Ed/MA/M.Phil/Counselling or an equivalent from a recognised institution.
Some states also require the candidate to have a working experience of at least 1-2 years as a Teacher/ counsellor.
The candidates can also go for certification and specialised counselling course to get high paying career options.
When and Where to Start
After completing class 12th in any stream, the candidates will have to go for a Bachelors degree. The candidates can pursue their Bachelors in Education in any of the stream (B.Ed, B.El.Ed, etc.).
After completing Bachelor’s, the candidate will have to pursue their Master’s degree in Education or counselling from a recognized university. The candidates will also have to attend an internship in the last year of their Master’s degree.
After completing the Master’s degree, the candidates can either go for PhD or they can directly apply for the post of an Education Counsellor in preferred school/college.
If the candidates want to go for a PhD, they will have to choose a specific area of specialization in the course and apply for a job in Universities after completing their PhD.
Elementary School Counselor: An Elementary school counsellor is a person who is responsible for providing education counselling to the students at Elementary Schools. These professionals are also responsible for meeting with the parents of the students and understanding their concern to counsel them.
Middle School Counselor: A Middle School Counselor is the person who is responsible to organise council meetings with the school authorities and oversee the academics regulations conducted for students. They also provide improvement suggestions to the authorities for the betterment of students.
Secondary School Counselor: Secondary School Counsellors are the professional who provides career assistance to the students who are in secondary schools. These professionals are responsible for helping the students choose their career path, higher education course and right college.
Career Coach: A Career Coach is a professional who understands the career goals of the students and provides them with suggestions and career guidance through which they can meet their career goals.
Some of the popular employment sectors or industries where Education Counsellors are recruited are listed below:
The top recruitment companies/agencies/organisations for an Education Counsellor are listed below:
The pay scale for an Education Counsellor depends upon the type of School and experience of the professional. The average pay scale for an Education Counsellor on the basis of experience level is given in the table below:
Job Role | Starting Salary Package (INR) | Mid Level Salary Package (INR) | Senior Level Salary Package (INR) |
Elementary School Counselor | 44,900 | 1,57,100 | 3,10,700 |
Secondary School Counselor | 71,000 | 1,07,000 | 1,59,000 |
Middle School Counselor | 1,12,000 | 3,58,000 | 1,04,100 |
High School Counselor | 1,01,000 | 7,88,000 | 15,48,000 |
Career Coach | 1,51,000 | 3,14,000 | 7,26,100 |
Note: The salary structure mentioned above is indicative only and is subject to change unconditionally.
Some of the popular books and study material for an Education Counsellor are given below:
CliftonStrengths for Students: Your Strengths Journey Begins Here by Gallup
Guidance and Counselling for Children and Adolescents in Schools (India) by Namita Ranganathan and Toolika Wadhwa
Guidance and Counselling by H.S.Sidhu and Nisha Duggal
The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology, Counseling, and Related Professions by Patricia Keith-Spiegel and Michael W. Wiederman
Lower salary at starting
High-pressure job
Requires high specialisation and experience
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