Guidance counsellors in basic and upper secondary education and training help pupils or students to choose courses and subjects. They also help with any possible learning problems. A considerable part of their work involves co-operation with pupils and students, teachers, staff in pupil and student welfare services and parents. Guidance counsellors also deal with contacts in working life by organising study visits and workplace guidance periods for pupils.

The qualification requirements for guidance counsellors are a Master’s degree and guidance counsellor studies. The scope of these studies is 60 ECTS credits and it provides qualifications to work in counselling assignments in basic education, general upper secondary education, and vocational education and training.

Vocational teacher education institutions organise student counsellor education with a scope of 60 ECTS credits, which qualifies teachers to work as student counsellors at vocational institutions.

Counsellors in training familiarise themselves with the underlying social factors involved in student counselling, and with various types and methods of counselling both within their own institutions and in co-operation with other organisations.