Guidance counselling as a career

Fabio

Hi all,
I have always enjoyed working with people, both young and old, in an educational context. I have experience with teaching people in universities and in doing one-to-one mentoring of college students and also of secondary school students. I've also done group with with primary school students in the past.

However, I have never made a career out of it despite my range of experiences. It might be because I lack a professional qualification in the area (although I do hold an MA but not specifically in education).

My query is - is it possible to become a guidance counsellor in the Irish education system without having a teaching subject as well? Are there any "pure" guidance counsellors?

I am thinking of doing a Masters in Guidance Counselling at UCC but have not got a teaching qualification under my belt (though I did both history and sociology in my degree), thus my query.

Thanks very much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate any and all help!

mtoutlemonde

Fabio wrote: »

Hi all,
I have always enjoyed working with people, both young and old, in an educational context. I have experience with teaching people in universities and in doing one-to-one mentoring of college students and also of secondary school students. I've also done group with with primary school students in the past.

However, I have never made a career out of it despite my range of experiences. It might be because I lack a professional qualification in the area (although I do hold an MA but not specifically in education).

My query is - is it possible to become a guidance counsellor in the Irish education system without having a teaching subject as well? Are there any "pure" guidance counsellors?

I am thinking of doing a Masters in Guidance Counselling at UCC but have not got a teaching qualification under my belt (though I did both history and sociology in my degree), thus my query.

Thanks very much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate any and all help!

I may be wrong but I think you have to have a teaching subject to work as a career guidance in schools. A few years ago it may have been possible but the government changed that a few years because guidance counsellors had to teach their other subjects. The Teaching Council requirements for getting registered as a career guidance counsellor are non existent and a colleague told me that guidance counselling doesn't even appear on their teaching cert. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Fabio

That's very useful information, thanks a million. If anyone has any more information I'd be delighted to see/read it!

Notorious

Fabio wrote: »

That's very useful information, thanks a million. If anyone has any more information I'd be delighted to see/read it!

I was only discussing this with a colleague recently.
Without a teaching degree you wouldn't be able to work in a secondary school (as you need a teaching council number), but you would be able to apply to a College of Further Education.

Fabio

Thanks very much. Seems like a real shame - you need two years to complete the PME and, essentially, another two to do the MA in Guidance. All of that on top of an undergrad too!