CBSE mandates full-time career and wellness counsellors ahead of board exams

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a new directive aimed at ensuring the mental wellbeing of students by requiring all affiliated schools to appoint both a Counsellor and Wellness Teacher (Socio-Emotional Counsellor) and a Career Counsellor on a full-time basis.

The directive comes soon after the release of Class 10 and 12 admit cards for the board exams which begin on February 17. CBSE had also invited applications for the Direct Recruitment Quota examinations (DRQ2026) to various posts in December, with the advance information slip regarding the allotment of city being released on January 17. 

Previously, schools were only required to appoint a Counsellor and Wellness Teacher, with no mandate for a Career Counsellor. The revised guidelines also update the qualification criteria and staffing norms for these roles. The move aims to enhance psycho-social support, career guidance, and overall student well-being across CBSE-affiliated institutions.

Also Read | CBSE Class 10 & 12 board exams 2026: Complete revised schedule and subject-wise dates 

Updated staffing requirements

Under the new rules, secondary and senior secondary schools must appoint:

• One Counsellor and Wellness Teacher for every 500 students
• One Career Counsellor for every 500 students in Classes 9 to 12
• Schools with fewer than 300 students remain permitted to appoint a Counsellor and Wellness Teacher on a part-time basis.

Qualifications and competencies

Appointed Counsellors and Wellness Teachers must hold one of the following qualifications:

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (Clinical, Counselling, Applied, or Educational),
• Master’s degree in Social Work (Mental Health or Counselling), or
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any subject, supplemented by a diploma in School Counselling or Child Guidance and Counselling.

They must also demonstrate competencies in social-emotional learning (SEL) delivery, crisis intervention, identifying mental health concerns, parent and teacher sensitisation, and confidentiality management.

Both Counsellors and Career Counsellors will be required to complete 50 hours of Capacity Building Programmes (CBPs) prescribed by CBSE. Schools may also adopt the CBSE Counselling Hub and Spoke School Model to strengthen student well-being and counselling services.