Professional Guidance Counsellors are required to demonstrate a thorough understanding of labor market trends, community and government resources, mental health providers and addiction support providers, and privacy legislation in their careers. They must also demonstrate both a comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge of counseling practice and psychotherapeutic methods.  
   
To practice professionally, Guidance Counsellors may need to complete their Teaching Certificate and a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Counselling, School Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Education, or any other related discipline. Certifications in Social-Emotional Assessment in Schools or Functional Assessments of Behavior are definite assets in this field. Comprehensive knowledge of resume writing is also helpful to assist students seeking employment or when completing college applications.  
   
Most Guidance Counsellor positions require a minimum of 0 to 5 years of educational counseling or teaching experience, including a minimum of 2 years of successful classroom teaching experience or a minimum of 3 years of experience working in mental health, community healthcare, or in a post-secondary setting. 

What can help you become a Guidance Counselor

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and assessment skills to communicate clearly and confidently with students, parents, and faculty members 
• Express a genuine interest in another person’s thoughts, opinions, and background 
• Active listening skills and displaying a keen sense of empathy and compassion  
• Solid rapport-building skills and an inherent ability to make others feel cared for and heard 
• Analytical, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills 
• The ability to translate ideas into practical goals  
• Creative and imaginative skills to develop new insights and to apply innovative solutions to problems 
• Handle potentially adversarial situations using a calm, tactful, discreet, and practical approach that promotes peer mediation and conflict resolution 
• Intuition and decision-making skills 
• Exercise sound judgment and redirect students to appropriate resources as needed 
• Organizational and time management skills 
• Provide a strategic approach to counseling, structuring, and customizing as needed 
• Prioritize work activities to use time efficiently while managing a high volume, diverse workload  
• Exceptional professionalism and strong work ethic 
• Being trustworthy enough to handle sensitive/confidential information 
• Optimistic, with a can-do attitude and a strong ability to motivate others.