In a move that puts student well-being firmly in focus, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has amended its Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018. As per the latest notification, all CBSE-affiliated schools will now be required to appoint Counselling and Wellness Counsellors as well as Career Counsellors.
The decision reflects a growing recognition that academic success alone is not enough. Today’s students also need emotional support, guidance, and clarity about their future paths.
Why CBSE Made Wellness and Career Counsellors Mandatory?
Academic pressure, exam stress, emotional challenges, and confusion about career choices are increasingly common among school students, especially in secondary and senior secondary classes. Recognising this reality, CBSE’s latest decision seeks to move beyond academics and focus on the overall well-being of students.
By making counsellors mandatory, the Board is encouraging schools to create safer, more supportive environments where students feel heard, guided, and prepared for life beyond the classroom.
CBSE Counselling and Wellness Teachers are Now Mandatory
Every Secondary and Senior Secondary CBSE-affiliated school must appoint a separate Career Counselling and Wellness Teacher (Socio-Emotional counsellor).
- Schools must maintain a 1:500 counsellor-to-student ratio.
- Schools with fewer than 300 students are allowed to appoint counsellors on a part-time basis.
- These counsellors will focus on students’ mental health, emotional well-being, and socio-emotional learning (SEL), helping them navigate stress, personal challenges, and school-related pressures.
Who Can Be Appointed as CBSE Wellness Counsellor?
CBSE has clearly defined eligibility, which includes professionals with:
- A Master’s degree in Psychology (Clinical, Counselling, Applied, or Educational), or
- A Master’s in Social Work (Mental Health or Counselling), or
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a Diploma in School Counselling, Child Guidance, or Guidance and Counselling.
In addition, counsellors must complete 50 hours of CBSE-approved capacity-building programmes, ensuring they are trained in areas such as mental health identification, confidentiality, and parent-teacher sensitisation.
Requirements for Career Counsellors
CBSE has also made it mandatory for schools to appoint Career counsellors for students from Classes 9 to 12, again following a 1:500 student ratio.
Career Counselling will no longer be an occasional session before Board exams. Instead, it will be an ongoing process that helps students:
- Understand their interests and strengths
- Explore higher education options in India and abroad
- Make informed career choices aligned with real-world opportunities
Career counsellors should have qualifications in Humanities, Science, Education, or Psychology, along with training or experience in career guidance. Like wellness counsellors, they must also complete 50 hours of CBSE-preferred training programmes.
When Do Schools Need to Comply?
CBSE has given schools a two-academic-year window to implement these changes.
Schools that already have teachers handling counselling responsibilities can continue, provided those teachers complete the required training and qualifications within the stipulated time.
What This Means for Schools and Students
For schools, this amendment is a call to build stronger support systems, not just academic frameworks.
For students, its means better emotional support during crucial academic years, access to reliable career guidance, and a safer, more supportive school environment.
Source
Official Circular by CBSE, 19 January, 2026: click here to read.
Kindly note that any and all information is subject to change as per the CBSE, Education Ministry, and Government of India.
