School Counsellor
Provides academic, career and social-emotional guidance to students through a school counselling programme.
Overview
A School Counsellor is a professional who works in primary schools or secondary schools to provide academic, career, college access/affordability/admission, and social-emotional guidance to all students through a school counseling program. A School Counselor's role can be specific, i.e., related to only middle school, primary school, or high school. It can also be general, related to all the students.
Where they work
- Public and Private Schools across the country
- Healthcare and Social Assistance Organisations in the Public, Private, and Volunteer or Non-Profit Sectors
Work environment
You will have to interact with students and staff. They often have to supervise a team. Working hours are regular school hours. Shifts may be available.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have excellent communication skills
- You are interested in studying about human behaviour
- You pay attention to details
- You like helping people
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree preferably in Psychology (B.A. Psy/B.Sc. Psy) followed by Master's degree in Psychology (M.A Psy/M.Sc. Psy)
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree preferably in Psychology (B.A. Psy/B.Sc. Psy) followed by PG Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree preferably in Psychology (B.A. Psy/B.Sc. Psy) followed by Master's degree in Psychology (M.A Psy/M.Sc. Psy) and then opt for a Diploma
- 2For admissions, you must qualify one of the entrance examinations such as NEET, LPU NEST, AP EAMCET, NMIMS NPAT, UPSEE
Forms, exams and applications
Entrance examinations such as NEET, LPU NEST, AP EAMCET, NMIMS NPAT or UPSEE, depending on the institute. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Arts/Science.
Government institutes
- National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), New Delhi
- Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
- National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi
- University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Hindu College, New Delhi
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, New Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Fergusson College, Pune, Maharashtra
- Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab
- Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
- Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Assistant Counsellor
- 2Counsellor
- 3Head Counsellor/School Leadership Team
- 4Vice Principal
- 5Principal
Related careers to explore
Career Counsellor
Guides students and professionals to understand themselves and the world of work, and reach their career goals.
School Teacher
Guides and nurtures children in schools, teaching academic and practical knowledge.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Arts.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Amrita Singh — An expert and well-known counsellor in New Delhi who works persistently to help students realize their dreams. She holds a PhD and MA in Psychology along with being a Green Belt Certified Global Career Counsellor from the University of California, Los Angeles Extension (UCLA Extension) & Univariety. Amrita has 11+ years of experience in the field of Guidance and Counselling and alongside being a career counsellor, coach, mentor and psychologist, she is also an entrepreneur. Ms. Amrita Singh has taken her passion to the next step with 'Edu Career wise', her own setup which allows her to cater to all types of students from different backgrounds and age groups.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 293 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Skill=Counseling/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.