HOW TO BECOME A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN INDIA
RADHIKA MARATHE
Every child is different. Their skills, understanding, grasping speed, talents vary from each other. The question is how to understand these variances and cater to them accordingly? That is where a School Counsellor comes into the picture. School counseling is a comparatively new field in India, which is still in its growing phases.
A school counselor sometimes referred to as a guidance counselor, plays a crucial role in Public as well as Private schools. They provide students with academic, career, and socio-emotional guidance. Their job is to guide students and help them function at their optimum academic and personal levels. Individual or group counseling is used to achieve that. They also assist parents and teachers in dealing with the child's special needs.
Every child is different. Their skills, understanding, grasping speed, talents vary from each other. The question is how to understand these variances and cater to them accordingly? That is where a School Counsellor comes into the picture. School counseling is a comparatively new field in India, which is still in its growing phases.
WHO IS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR?
A school counselor sometimes referred to as a guidance counselor, plays a crucial role in Public as well as Private schools. They provide students with academic, career, and socio-emotional guidance. Their job is to guide students and help them function at their optimum academic and personal levels. Individual or group counseling is used to achieve that. They also assist parents and teachers in dealing with the child's special needs.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A SCHOOL COUNSELOR?
In India, one must have a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology to become a school counselor. Most Public and Private Schools prefer a candidate with a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Guidance and Counseling. Some of the schools accept a Master's Degree, along with proper work experience in the field.
WHY THE DIPLOMA?
In a Bachelor's or Master's, there are various subjects, and the scope is vast. The Diploma is specific to school Counselling. It is significant for aspiring school counselors because:
- It trains them to cater to Primary School, Middle School, and High School children.
- It helps them to understand the issues that school children face and come up with models to overcome those.
- It teaches them how to handle children with special needs and help them academically and socio-emotionally.
- It trains them in assessment techniques and tools required in school counseling.
INSTITUTES
- Jamia Milia Islamia University – Advanced Diploma in Counseling Psychology
- NCERT – Diploma Course in Guidance and Counseling (DCGC)
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) – Career Counselling Diploma
- Amity University – Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
- NIPCCD – Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counseling (ADCGC)
The Diploma offered by NIPCCD is RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) approved. Although it is not mandatory to have an RCI approved Diploma, it would give an edge over the others. Some of these institutes offer the Diploma in the distance as well as regular form. To pursue these, Candidates must have a master's degree in psychology or allied fields. Each institute has its method of selection.
To know more about PG Diplomas, please read Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
ROLE OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR
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. They work in tandem with Special Educator, who has academic responsibilities. A school counselor is responsible for;
- Creating a proper educational planning and goal setting for the students, teachers and parents.
- Organizing Personal as well as group sessions for students based on their needs.
- Creating a Performa and circulating it for the identification of children with special needs.
- Assessment and diagnosis of disabilities using proper tools and planning and referrals to overcome those.
- Maintaining proper written records of all the sessions and getting signed by the teachers, parents, and counselors themselves.
Every child is different. Their skills, understanding, grasping speed, talents vary from each other. The question is how to understand these variances and cater to them accordingly? That is where a School Counsellor comes into the picture. School counseling is a comparatively new field in India, which is still in its growing phases.
A school counselor sometimes referred to as a guidance counselor, plays a crucial role in Public as well as Private schools. They provide students with academic, career, and socio-emotional guidance. Their job is to guide students and help them function at their optimum academic and
WHO IS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR?
A school counselor sometimes referred to as a guidance counselor, plays a crucial role in Public as well as Private schools. They provide students with academic, career, and socio-emotional guidance. Their job is to guide students and help them function at their optimum academic and
personal levels. Individual or group counseling is used to achieve that. They also assist parents and teachers in dealing with the child's special needs.
In India, one must have a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology to become a school counselor. Most Public and Private Schools prefer a candidate with a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Guidance and Counseling. Some of the schools accept a Master's Degree, along with proper work experience in the field.
In a Bachelor's or Master's, there are various subjects, and the scope is vast. The Diploma is specific to school Counselling. It is significant for aspiring school counselors because:
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A SCHOOL COUNSELOR?
In India, one must have a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology to become a school counselor. Most Public and Private Schools prefer a candidate with a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Guidance and Counseling. Some of the schools accept a Master's Degree, along with proper work experience in the field.
WHY THE DIPLOMA?
In a Bachelor's or Master's, there are various subjects, and the scope is vast. The Diploma is specific to school Counselling. It is significant for aspiring school counselors because:
- It trains them to cater to Primary School, Middle School, and High School children.
- It helps them to understand the issues that school children face and come up with models to overcome those.
- It teaches them how to handle children with special needs and help them academically and socio-emotionally.
- It trains them in assessment techniques and tools required in school counseling.
INSTITUTES
- Jamia Milia Islamia University – Advanced Diploma in Counseling Psychology
- NCERT – Diploma Course in Guidance and Counseling (DCGC)
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) – Career Counselling Diploma
- Amity University – Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
- NIPCCD – Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counseling (ADCGC)
The Diploma offered by NIPCCD is RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) approved. Although it is not mandatory to have an RCI approved Diploma, it would give an edge over the others. Some of these institutes offer the Diploma in the distance as well as regular form. To pursue these, Candidates must have a master's degree in psychology or allied fields. Each institute has its method of selection.
To know more about PG Diplomas, please read Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
ROLE OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR
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. They work in tandem with Special Educator, who has academic responsibilities. A school counselor is responsible for;
- Creating a proper educational planning and goal setting for the students, teachers and parents.
- Organizing Personal as well as group sessions for students based on their needs.
- Creating a Performa and circulating it for the identification of children with special needs.
- Assessment and diagnosis of disabilities using proper tools and planning and referrals to overcome those.
- Maintaining proper written records of all the sessions and getting signed by the teachers, parents, and counselors themselves.
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