41321 – Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education)
Lead statement
Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) provide assistance and information to job seeker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. Supervisors of career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) are included in this unit group.
Main duties
- Interview clients to obtain employment history, educational background and career goals
- Identify barriers to employment and assist clients with such matters as job readiness skills, job search strategies, writing résumés and preparing for job interviews
- Assess need for assistance such as rehabilitation, financial aid or further training and refer clients to the appropriate services
- Provide established workers with information and strategies for maintaining a job or moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction, making mid-career changes and adjusting to workplace transitions
- Collect labour market information for clients regarding job openings, entry and skill requirements and other occupational information
- Advise employers on human resource and other employment-related issues
- Provide consulting services to community groups and agencies, businesses, industry and other organizations involved in providing community-based career planning support or resources
- May administer and interpret tests designed to determine the interests, aptitudes and abilities of clients
- May provide advocacy and adjudication services related to employment legislation or contractual agreements
- May arrange for, or conduct physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients' needs and to developing employment and rehabilitation plans.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or in a related field, such as human resources development, psychology, education or social services is required.
- A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work may be required.
- Vocational rehabilitation professional certification may be required by employers.
- In Quebec, membership in l'Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation du Québec is mandatory to use the titles ''vocational counsellor'' and “vocational guidance counsellor”.
- In New Brunswick, membership in the College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick is mandatory to use the title “Licensed career counsellor”.
- In Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, Certified Career Development Professional/Practitioner (CCDP) certification may be required by employers.
Example job titles
outplacement counsellor · relocation counsellor · employment counsellor · job counsellor · employment counsellor - government services · job counsellor - government services · employment services officer · employment consultant · employment group counsellor · outplacement consultant · relocation consultant · employment outreach counsellor · employment outreach program counsellor · employment outreach program coordinator · career development counsellor · career development practitioner · career development facilitator · career group facilitator · career resource centre coordinator · employment services assessment officer · employment services group counsellor · job search trainer · labour market information consultant · workforce adjustment officer · workforce development officer · career coach · Aboriginal employment developer · Aboriginal employment officer · Aboriginal employment worker · career counsellor (except education) · employment assistance officer · rehabilitation counsellor · vocational rehabilitation counsellor · vocational rehabilitation consultant · vocational evaluator · vocational rehabilitation professional · vocational rehabilitation specialist · vocational guidance counsellor (except education) · vocational counsellor (except education) · guidance counsellor (except education)
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $22.56 | $29.95 | $43.41 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.67 | $33.00 | $53.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $21.75 | $27.20 | $43.08 |
| New Brunswick | $24.75 | $35.25 | $45.00 |
| Quebec | $25.02 | $30.53 | $41.03 |
| Ontario | $21.33 | $29.23 | $45.00 |
| Manitoba | $20.00 | $28.57 | $43.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.00 | $27.85 | $40.00 |
| Alberta | $21.00 | $26.44 | $43.59 |
| British Columbia | $25.00 | $29.30 | $41.83 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.