Professional Guidance Counsellor Education
On this page
Field of studies
- Professional Student Counsellor Education
- Teacher Education
Teaching language
- English
Type of education
- Professional Teacher Education Qualification
Academic level
- Teacher's Pedagogical Qualifications
Campus
- Online
Teaching format
- Online Learning
Become a Bettermaker – Get a guidance counsellor’s qualification!
In HAMK’s Professional Guidance Counsellor Education programme, you study flexibly online. The studies provide you with a broad foundation for study and career counselling and the qualification to work as a guidance counsellor at different levels of education.
During the studies, you will develop your professional identity and competence as a guidance counsellor. You will learn to examine, assess, and develop study and career counselling, and to work within national and international networks. Throughout the programme, you will develop your own approach to counselling and reflect on it in relation to your professional expertise and the wider society.
The programme is a continuing education programme for teachers, particularly aimed at those working in vocational institutions and universities of applied sciences.
Learn more about our programme below and apply! Welcome to HAMK, you’re here to make a change.
Content of the education
The Professional Guidance Counsellor Education focuses on current topics and developments in guidance counselling. During the studies, you will explore different phenomena related to guidance, learn from others and share knowledge through collaborative learning. You will also develop your own approach to counselling and reflect on it in relation to your professional expertise and the wider society.
The programme is delivered online and takes approximately 13 months to complete. The duration may vary depending on your previously acquired competence and personal study plan. The studies begin in May 2027 and include 12 online workshop days and two supervised small-group meetings. The workshop days and small-group meetings are held on weekdays between 9:00 and 16:00 Finnish time. Attendance at the online workshop days and small-group meetings is mandatory.
The studies combine online workshops, group and small-group work, independent study, written assignments and practical development tasks. You can study alongside work or study full-time.
Qualification provided by education
The programme provides you with broad qualifications for positions as a guidance counsellor in higher education, vocational education, upper secondary schools, and basic education. The programme also provides skills for entrepreneurship in career counselling.
Career opportunities
Professional guidance counsellor education graduates typically find employment in expert roles related to study and career counselling within educational institutions. As a guidance counsellor, you can also work in career counselling specialist roles or in human resources and development positions, including in the corporate sector. The education equips you with counselling skills suited for various roles in the education and employment sectors.
Apply to study
You can apply to the degree programme in HAMK's direct or joint application
Professional Guidance Counsellor Education
- Application begins:
- Application ends:
- Studies begin:Spring 2027
- Places of Study:55
Application info webinar
We will organise an application info webinar on 12 January 2027 at 16-17 for those interested in applying. Read more about the event:
Studying
We offer professional guidance counsellor education in English and Finnish. During the application stage you must choose which programme to apply for. Click here to read more about the programme in Finnish.
You can read more information about the practical study matters on the Student Pages:
Professional Guidance Counsellor Education is a continuing education programme for teachers. The entry requirement is a qualification as a teacher in vocational education in Finland.
Professional Guidance Counsellor Education online programme, 13 months (separate admission group)
The programme is recommended for individuals who have gained a teacher’s pedagogical qualification in Finland and wish to complete their professional guidance councellor education in English.
- Studies begin on 12 May 2027 and will end at the end of May 2028.
- The teaching language of the programme is English. Your English language proficiency should be at IELTS 6 / CEFR B2 level or higher.
- The studies include a total of 12 online workshop days and two supervised small group meetings, which will take place on weekdays between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM (Finnish time). All online meeting days for the group will be published in December 2026.
- Attendance at the online workshop days and small group meetings is mandatory. Learning together is an essential part of the studies.
In order to study online, you must have a computer equipped with a camera, a headset and a microphone combination, an active internet connection and master user rights to the computer or the employer’s IT support. The camera connection is important in online learning as all the meetings and lectures take place online. Online meetings are held in a secure Zoom environment. The learning environment is Moodle.
No teacher’s qualification yet?
If you do not yet have a teacher’s pedagogical qualification, we recommend applying first to our International Professional Teacher Education programme.
Also, if you have teacher’s pedagogical qualification completed abroad, and the recognition decision from Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus) requires you to complete supplementary pedagogical studies, you can complete those supplementary studies within the same programme.
Curriculum
The Professional Guidance Counsellor Education curriculum is competency-based. During the studies, you will build your own guidance counsellor identity and expand your professional skills as a guidance counsellor. The studies consists of the following modules and courses:
Professional Competence of a Study Counsellor (5 ECTS)
- Self-knowledge, guidance counsellor identity and professional ethics, 5 credits
Study and Career Guidance Competence (20 ECTS)
- Guidance and career theory competence, 10 credits
- Guidance methodology skills, 10 credits
Guidance Counsellor’s Operational Environment Competence (23 ECTS)
- Education, social and working life competence, 5 credits
- Communication, profiling and marketing skills in digital guidance environments, 5 credits
- Educational institution competence in guidance counselling, 8 credits
- Networking competence, 5 credits
Guidance Leadership, Organisation, and Development Competence (12 ECTS)
- Competences in managing, organising and developing guidance processes, 12 credits
More detailed curriculum will be available through the following link:
Three reasons to study the Professional Guidance Counsellor Programme!
You will find truly individual and flexible study paths with us. We focus on personalized guidance.
You can study the whole programme online.
Our programme is based on current topics related to guidance, examining phenomena, learning from others, and sharing knowledge collaboratively.
Contact information
If you have questions and cannot find the answer on the website, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Ask about applying
Admission Services of Professional Guidance Councellor Education
opehaku@hamk.fi
ask about study matters
Student Services
aokk-opintotoimisto@hamk.fi (Service Ticket will be issued)
Eligibility criteria
The eligibility criteria for the Professional Guidance Counsellor Programme is a teacher qualifications for teaching vocational or common study units in vocational education. This means that you must have completed
- teacher’s pedagogical studies (60 ECTS) at a professional teacher education institution or as part of university studies.
- degree required for eligibility
- work experience required for eligibility.
The eligibility criteria must be met by the end of the application period.
If you have completed your teacher’s pedagogical studies at a university, you may need to verify your work experience in the field. The work experience is required if your degree’s major is vocational. Those who have completed teacher’s pedagogical studies at a professional teacher education institution have had their work experience checked when applying to the professional teacher education studies.
Teachers of vocational units are required to have a minimum of 3 years of work experience that corresponds to the content of their degree. Teachers in the field of social services and health must have a minimum of 3 or 5 years of work experience, depending on their degree. Professional work experience is not required of teachers of common units.
Work experience can be verified if necessary during the student selection process.
Those, who aim for student counselling positions at primary schools or uppder secondary schools can also apply for the Professional Guidance Counsellor Education Programme, if their education and work experience meet the eligibility criteria.
Admission criteria
Please acquaint yourself with the admission criteria and other essential information before applying.
Admissions to professional guidance counsellor education programme is based on admission criteria jointly agreed by the professional teacher education institutions.
The selection procedure is based on national selection criteria agreed on and used by all professional teacher education institutions participating in the joint application process. The professional teacher education institutions involved are Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), JAMK University of Applied Sciences and Oulu University of Applied Sciences, but only HAMK offer the programme in English.
Students are selected for study places in the order of their admission points within a specific admission group. No entrance exam is used in the student selection.
In 2027, a total of 55 new students will be selected for professional guidance counsellor education, and the study places are divided between the Finnish and English speaking programmes. Those applying to English-speaking study group will form a separate selection group, and students will be selected in order of application points.
| Study places in 2027 | |
| Professional Guidance Counsellor Education (in English) | 12 |
| Ammatillinen opinto-ohjaajankoulutus (in Finnish) | 43 |
Admission criteria for 2027:
Studies in guidance and career counselling since 1 January 2020
Studies completed since 1 January 2020 when the scope of an individual course is at least 1 ECTS, 1 competence point or 27 hours
| Sum of completed credits | Points |
| Less than 1 ECTS | 0 points |
| 1 to 3 ECTS | 1.5 points |
| 4 to 7 ECTS | 2 points |
| 8 to 11 ECTS | 2.5 points |
| 12 to 15 ECTS | 3 points |
| 16 to 19 ECTS | 3.5 points |
| 20 to 23 ECTS | 4 points |
| 24 to 27 ECTS | 4.5 points |
| 28 ECTS or more | 5 points |
Full-time work experience as a guidance or career counsellor in a Finnish vocational institution and/or University of Applied Sciences
| Duration of Experience | Points |
| less than 3 months | 0 points |
| 3 to 6 months | 6 points |
| over 6 to 12 months | 7 points |
| over 12 to 18 months | 8 points |
| over 18 to 24 months | 9 points |
| over 24 months | 10 points |
Full-time work experience as a guidance or career counsellor in other Finnish educational institutions
| Duration of experience | Points |
| less than 3 months | 0 points |
| 3 to 6 months | 3 points |
| over 6 to 12 months | 4 points |
| over 12 to 18 months | 5 points |
| over 18 to 24 months | 6 points |
| over 24 months | 7 points |
Part-time work experience in guidance or career counselling in Finnish vocational institution, University of Applied Sciences and/or university
| Duration of experience | Points |
| less than 3 months | 0 points |
| 3 to 6 months | 1 point |
| over 6 to 12 months | 2 points |
| over 12 to 18 months | 3 points |
| over 18 to 24 months | 4 points |
| over 24 months | 5 points |
Part-time work experience in guidance or career counselling in Finnish comprehensive schools, general upper secondary schools and/or liberal adult education institutions
| Duration of experience | Points |
| less than 3 months | 0 points |
| 3 to 6 months | 0.5 points |
| over 6 to 12 months | 1 point |
| over 12 to 18 months | 2 points |
| over 18 to 24 months | 3 points |
| over 24 months | 4 points |
Guidance and counselling work related to education and career pathways outside educational institutions
Guidance and counselling work carried out in a place other than an educational institution. Guidance and counselling must be aimed at those over the age of compulsory education.
| Duration of experience | Points |
| less than 6 months | 0 points |
| 6 to 12 months | 1 point |
| over 12 to 18 months | 2 points |
| over 18 to 24 months | 3 points |
| over 24 months | 4 points |
The required attachments must be attached to the online application the latest by 28 January 2027 at 15.00 (EET). The applicant is responsible for attaching the documents on time and ensuring that they function properly.
Attachments required for eligibility
- Degree on which the application is based
The certificate must indicate the title of the degree, major subject or orientation, date of completion, the scope of the degree and the name of the educational institution which awarded it. - Further clarification by the educational institution
If your application is not based on a tertiary level degree and you are already working as a teacher of vocational study units in vocational education in Finland, a form titled Further clarification by the educational institution must be attached with the application documents. - Decision on recognition
If the degree on which the application is based has been completed abroad, a decision on recognition from the Finnish National Agency for Education is required. See detailed admission criteria for more information. - Teacher’s pedagogical studies
The certificate must indicate the scope of the studies, the educational institution and the year of completion of the qualification - Work experience required for eligibility
Attach to the application copies of work certificates verifying the work experience required for eligibility. If work experience is not required for your eligibility, you do not need to attach work certificates.
Attachments awarding admission points
- Studies in guidance and career counselling since 1 January 2020
The certificate must indicate the studies completed, their content, scope, the date of completion and the educational institution - Full-time work experience as a guidance or career counsellor in a Finnish vocational institution and/or University of Applied Sciences
The signed certificate must indicate the employer, job duties, whether the employment was full-time, and the duration of the employment. - Full-time work experience as a guidance or career counsellor in other Finnish educational institutions
The signed certificate must indicate the employer, job duties, whether the employment was full-time, and the duration of the employment. - Part-time work experience in guidance or career counselling in a Finnish vocational institution, University of Applied Sciences and/or university
The signed certificate must indicate the employer, job duties and the duration of the employment. - Part-time work experience in guidance or career counselling in Finnish comprehensive schools, general upper secondary schools or liberal adult education institutions
The signed certificate must indicate the employer, job duties and the duration of the employment. - Guidance and counselling work related to education and career pathways outside educational institutions
The signed certificate must indicate the employer, the duration of the employment, job duties related to study and career counselling, and the number of working hours spent on guidance activities.
More detailed information on the admissions criteria and point scoring system guidelines can be found on Studyinfo:
Further information about applying
Fill out the online application form during the application period in the Opintopolku service.
The next application period is from 7 to 21 January 2027.
- Submit online application by 21 January 2027, 23:59 (EET)
- Results of the student selection will be published in My Studyinfo on 24 March 2027 at the earliest
- Accepted students must confirm their study place by 6 April 2027, 23:59 (EEST)
- Studies begin in May 2027.
The admission process to professional guidance counsellor education is part of a national joint application process of professional teacher education institutions. With one application, you can apply to two professional teacher education institutions but please note that HAMK is the only institution that offers this programme in English!
Below you will find the number of applicants and the point limits for the Professional Guidance Counsellor Education from recent years. The programme was available in English for the first time in 2025.
Number of applicants
| Year | Number of applicants |
| 2025 | 98 |
| 2026 | 62 |
Lowest accepted scores
| Year | Score threshold |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 7,5 |
Source: Studyinfo 2025-2026
The results of the student selection process will be published at the My Studyinfo service (www.opintopolku.fi) according to the schedule set in the admission criteria. Applicants will also be notified of the results by email.
Each student offered a study place must confirm the study place by the due date using the My Studyinfo service. When you log in to My Studyinfo service, you need Finnish online banking credentials, a mobile certificate or a microchip identity card. If you cannot confirm the study place in the service, you must confirm the study place in writing (for example by email) by the deadline. If you don’t confirm the acceptance of the study place by the deadline, the study place offer will automatically be withdrawn.
All eligible applicants who have not been offered a study place will be placed on a waiting list. If you applied to two institutions, you will be placed on waiting lists at both institutions. Supplementary selections will take place if vacancies arise due to approved candidates rejecting the offer of a study place. If a study place becomes available, the institution will contact the applicant at the top of the waiting list.
The application period takes place annually in January. You can order a reminder to your email when the next application period starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the Professional Guidance Counsellor Education programme!
For eligibility, you must have a teacher’s pedagogical qualification that is recognised in Finland. This can be obtained through two options:
- You have obtained the qualifications in Finland, for example in our International Professional Teacher Education programme,
or - You have a decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education that recognises your foreign qualification to be equivalent to Finnish qualifications.
If you have a decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education that requires you to complete supplementary studies, you need to complete the supplementary studies before you can be eligible for the Professional Guidance Counsellor Education. You can complete the supplementary studies in our International Professional Teacher Education.
If your foreign qualification is fully recognised, you can directly apply for our programme.
The eligibility criteria must be met by the end of the application period. If you finish your pedagogical studies after the application period has ended, you cannot be considered eligible.
To determine the eligibility, it is relevant to know what subjects are taught as vocational subjects and what are taught as general subjects in vocational education in Finland. Also, the field of education in which you have completed your higher education degree affects the criteria.
If your field is taught as a vocational subject in Finnish vocational education, you need professional work experience for eligibility. If you have completed Professional Teacher Education in Finland, the work experience has been checked when you applied for the teacher’s pedagogical studies.
If you are a general subjects and common units teacher, you can be eligible to apply when you have a master’s degree and have completed your teacher’s pedagogical qualification.
If you are teaching biology and/or geography, you are considered a teacher of vocational units as these subjects are taught as vocational units in FInland’s vocational education system. In this case, you would need 3 years of professional work experience along with a higher education degree. The required work experience should be other than teaching experience.
The number of applicants vary each year, which can affect the score thresholds. There are also occasional changes made to the admission criteria, meaning the score thresholds from previous years are not entirely comparable. Therefore, it is recommended to apply for the programme to receive confirmed information about your application score. If you do not get a study place, it will be easier to plan what you need to do to secure a place the following year.
Admission points can also be obtained from experience other than guidance counselling, but the admission criteria have been revised for 2027. Therefore we cannot yet say what scores will be give admission to the programme. The admission criteria and scores from previous years are no longer comparable.
You may receive application points if your work has included guidance counselling duties, career counselling duties, or a combination of both. For work experience to be accepted, the employment certificate must clearly indicate guidance work relating to students’ education, studies and career paths. Student guidance that forms part of a teacher’s core duties, e.g. supervision of course units, theses and placements, is not considered for scoring.
Once you have submitted your application, you should receive a confirmation email. This email will contain a link that allows you to make changes to your application during the application period. If you used your Finnish ID credentials to log in to the Studyinfo portal (My Studyinfo), you can also modify your application by logging in and accessing your application there. You can modify your attachments for 7 days after the application period has ended.
Unfortunately, you can’t. The waiting list is for those who have not received any study places.
Graduate faster?
Are you already familiar with the field by previous higher education studies and have gained expertise through work? For students who are independent learners and have great studying skills, we offer opportunities alongside traditional studies that allow you to accelerate your study progress.
24 / 7 – Fast tract for studies
If you have competence that corresponds to the competence objectives of the courses, you can apply for the recognition of prior learning (RPL). This way, you don’t have to re-learn the same thing you already know and have the opportunity to progress your studies faster than the group programme. In professional teacher education studies, recognition of prior learning can be applied for either through credit transfer or skills demonstrations. Before starting the RPL process, discuss with your tutor teacher. More detailed information about the RPL process can be found on the Student page.
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