Guidance Counselor

Description and Responsibilities

Guidance counsellors guide individuals in selecting a career and studying to prepare for their chosen career. They provide them with coaching to facilitate their integration into the school environment or workplace, particularly through (individual and group) counselling interviews and using psychometric test results. They participate in case studies in a multidisciplinary team.

Education and Training Requirements

Guidance counsellors must have a master’s degree in guidance, guidance sciences or career counselling. These programs are offered at the following institutions:

• Université de Sherbrooke  (in French only)
• Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)  (in French only)
• McGill University 
• Université Laval  (in French only)

They must also be members of the Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation du Québec (OCCOQ) (in French only).

Required Interests, Skills and Personality Type

• Must enjoy working in a team with colleagues and other professionals
• Must know how to observe and analyze situations
• Must love contact with the public

Personality Type (RIASEC)

ISE

• I - Prefers studying, understanding and solving problems
• S - Prefers to be in contact with people and to help them
• E - Prefers supervising, making decisions and managing, influencing and persuading others

Work Environment

Guidance counsellors can work in the integrated health and social services centres (CISSS) and integrated university health and social services centres (CIUSSS) (in French only).

Useful Links

• Parcours d'admission pour devenir membre de l’OCCOQ (orientation.qc.ca)  (in French only)
• Services d'orientation scolaire et professionnelle spécialisés à Montréal (cenop.ca)  (in French only)