National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 41320: Educational counsellors
Educational counsellors advise current and prospective students on educational issues, career planning and personal development, and coordinate the provision of counselling services to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff. Below are the main duties, all 33 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 41320?
NOC 41320 is the code for educational counsellors in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include academic counsellor, career counsellor - education, Indigenous advisor - college and school counsellor. It is a TEER 1 occupation (usually a university degree), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $40.84 an hour.
- NOC code
- 41320
- TEER
- 1: University degree
- Broad category
- Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $40.84 an hour
Job titles under NOC 41320
Educational counsellors advise current and prospective students on educational issues, career planning and personal development, and coordinate the provision of counselling services to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff. They are employed by school boards and post-secondary educational institutions.
Main job titles
- academic counsellor
- career counsellor - education
- Indigenous advisor - college
- school counsellor
- student services counsellor
All 33 job titles in the NOC index
academic adviser, academic counsellor, academic skills counsellor, career counsellor - education, college counsellor, co-op officer - schools, co-op placement officer - school, co-op program coordinator - school, counselling intern, counsellor for Aboriginal students, education officer, educational counsellor, educational guidance director, First Nations counsellor - education, First Nations studies program academic adviser, guidance counsellor - education, guidance service head, independent or applied studies officer, Indigenous advisor - college, international student adviser, learning and study skills specialist, personal academic counsellor, personal counsellor - education, school adjustment officer, school counsellor, school guidance department head, student affairs and employment officer, student counsellor, student employment services coordinator, student services counsellor, university counsellor, vocational counsellor - education, vocational guidance counsellor - education.
Also included in this group
- student employment services coordinator
Main duties of NOC 41320
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Counsel students regarding educational issues such as course and program selection, time tables and scheduling, school adjustment, attendance problems and study skills
- Counsel students regarding career or vocational issues including career exploration and planning, résumé preparation, job interview skills and job search strategies and make available to them a wide range of educational and occupational information
- Coordinate co-op and school-to-work transition programs, and the provision of counselling and information services, such as career information, professional development sessions and exchanges with other educational institutions, to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff
- Consult with teachers and parents or faculty and other professionals such as psychologists, speech therapists and social workers regarding various issues and concerns, and with administrators and community agencies regarding programs and referrals
- Administer and interpret standardized intelligence, personality, vocational, aptitude and interest tests
- Develop and coordinate study skills groups or workshops in high schools, colleges and universities on topics such as note-taking, test or examination anxiety and preparation strategies and time management skills
- Visit colleges and secondary schools to provide academic information to prospective students, their parents and educational counsellors
- Coordinate or participate in student orientation programs in colleges or universities
- Arrange for employers to recruit graduating college and university students, and students for co-op education work terms
- Counsel students regarding personal and social issues such as substance abuse, depression, sexuality, eating disorders, anxiety, self-esteem, family problems, relationship and interpersonal skills and anger management
- Counsel students in crisis situations such as dealing with the death of a friend or family member, suicidal tendencies and abuse situations
- May supervise peer counselling programs in school settings
- May supervise field experience for graduate students in counselling
- May teach regular classes.
- Vocational counsellors in Quebec may also provide professional orientation to individuals with a mental illness, disabilities, and those with adaptation difficulties. Those with specific training may also perform certain mental health assessments.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in counselling, career development, education or social sciences is required for counsellors in school settings.
- A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work is usually required.
- Educational counsellors in post-secondary settings require an undergraduate degree and may require a graduate degree. A particular academic specialization may also be required.
- In Quebec, membership in l'Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation is mandatory to use the titles ''vocational counsellor'', "guidance counsellor" and "vocational guidance counsellor".
- A teacher's certificate in the province of employment and some teaching experience is usually required for counsellors in school settings.
- Educational counsellors in colleges and universities may require licensing from a provincial regulatory body governing psychologists, educational counsellors or social workers.
Additional information
- Elementary school counsellors generally provide more social and personal counselling whereas academic counselling is provided more by high school counsellors.
- Educational counsellors in colleges, universities and other settings may specialize in academic, career or personal issues counselling.
Is NOC 41320 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 1 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 41320 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not a listed trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 41320 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $23.25 | $40.84 | $53.57 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.38 | $43.96 | $71.23 |
| Prince Edward Island | $31.05 | $42.55 | $56.27 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.09 | $41.91 | $50.48 |
| New Brunswick | $22.77 | $43.27 | $55.38 |
| Quebec | $28.00 | $44.00 | $50.56 |
| Ontario | $22.00 | $40.00 | $55.63 |
| Manitoba | $22.00 | $36.72 | $52.88 |
| Saskatchewan | $23.25 | $40.51 | $49.06 |
| Alberta | $26.12 | $39.76 | $54.89 |
| British Columbia | $23.00 | $37.69 | $51.32 |
| Yukon | $34.73 | $53.53 | $72.02 |
| Nunavut | $39.03 | $51.50 | $69.70 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 41320 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 41320 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
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Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for a academic counsellor?
NOC 41320, Educational counsellors, a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 41320?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 41320 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 1 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 41320 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 41320 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $40.84 an hour, with most wages between $23.25 and $53.57. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 41320 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.