A new Competence Profile of “Career Guidance Counsellor” accredited in Greece

Author: Dimitrios Gaitanis, Head of Career Guidance Directorate, Euroguidance and Europass Project Manager, EOPPEP. 

The National Organisation for the Certification of Qualifications and Career Guidance (EOPPEP), a public body supervised by the Greek Ministry of Education, Religions and Sports has accredited the updated Competence Profile of Career Guidance Counsellor. This update, finalised in October 2024, aligns with EOPPEP’s legal responsibility to certify Career Guidance Services and Counselors and maintain National Registers according to the Greek Law 4115/ 2013.  

The key reasons for updating 

The previous profile, accredited in 2014, needed revision due to new developments in lifelong career guidance at both national and European levels. Key reasons for the update include: 

• New legal frameworks in Greece such as the establishment of a Register of Career Counsellors and the co-ministerial decision No. 13173 setting the procedure for the certification of career guidance counselors  

• European policies such as the new Skills Agenda, emphasizing social rights, education, training, and qualifications. 

• Growing demand for digital career guidance services, international mobility and support for diverse groups, including refugees and low-skilled workers. 

• The need for career guidance to integrate closely with education, social policies, and labour market strategies. 

Organisations involved in the development of the new profile were the Labor Institute of the Greek General Confederation of Labor (INE GSEE) and the Greek Trade and Entrepreneurship Development Center of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (KAELE ESEE) under the supervision of EOPPEP. 

What is new? 

The new profile defines the responsibilities and competencies required for career guidance professionals. It details the knowledge, skills and qualifications needed for accreditation at two levels – superior level ‘A’ and basic level ‘B’. Each level describes the learning outcomes, educational paths, the work conditions, the employment opportunities and the future perspectives of the job positions. 

A key improvement in the new profile is the introduction of minimum internship requirements for career guidance candidates, ensuring practical experience before accreditation. Additionally, specific academic subjects must now be included in career guidance programs to be officially recognized as specialization programs. 

The profile can be used as a competence standard by both national and private organizations interested in hiring, employment and continuous evaluation of accredited professionals and by academic institutions offering training programs for career guidance counselors.  

Professionalisation of guidance professionals 

In this regard, it consists of a necessary step for two additional legal actions that are necessary to be taken for the further upgrade of the quality of career guidance services provision in Greece, 1) the establishment of a license to practice the profession of career guidance counsellor and 2) the accreditation of organisations offering career guidance services.  

By establishing clear competence standards, the new profile contributes to both the professionalisation and the quality assurance of the career guidance services provision in Greece and safeguards the interests of career guidance stakeholders and the society as a whole. 

For more information about the profile, go to: https://ergonesti.eoppep.gr/prof-outlines/symvoulos-stadiodromias-epangelmatikou-prosanatolismou/