This presentation was done in an international exchange about guidance counselling organized by The Academia programme in Spain.

1. GUIDANCE COUNSELLING IN
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Guidance Counselling in a
Vocational Training School
Integrated Centre of Vocational Training

2. POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION
With Compulsory Secondary Education
Qualification
(2 years)
(16-18 Years)
INTERMEDIATE VOCATIONAL
TRAINING
(16-18 years)
University Entry
Exam
Without
Qualificatión
Preparation course
Entry Exam
A-Levels
UNIVERSITY
Entry Exam
(+25/40/45)
Entry Exam
(+17)
HIGHER VOCATIONAL
TRAINING (+18)
LABOUR MARKET
Entry Exam
(+19)
VOCATIONAL
WORKSHOPS
(Different types)

3. Vocational Training Levels
TWO LEVELS
Intermediate Vocational Training Cycles
The Compulsory Secondary Education Qualification is the principal entry requirement
Leaving Certificate: “Technician”
Higher Vocational Training Cycles
With A-Level equivalent as the principal requirement
Leaving Certificate: Higher Technician
After completing a Higher Vocational Training Cycle, students are entitled to
direct entry to University degree courses.

4. VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROFESSIONAL FIELDS
There are 26 professional fields with different qualification levels of intermediate or
higher
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Physical and Sporting Activities
Administration and Management
Agricultural Work
Graphic Arts
Arts and Crafts
Marketing and Commerce
Building and Construction
Electricity-Electronics
Water and Energy
Mechanical Manufacturing
Catering and Tourism
Personal Image
Image and Sound
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Food Manufacturing
Mining
Information Technology
Installations and Maintenance
Woodwork and Furniture making
Fisheries
Chemistry
Enviromental Health and Safety
Health
Social cultural and Community
Services
 Textile Manufacturing
 Transport and Vehicle maintenance
 Glass and Ceramics
Professional fields are developed by the Autonomous Communities depending on the economic
needs of the sectors of the region. 20 Professional Fields have been developed in Navarra.
Vocational Training sillabus is frequently updated to fulfil the labour market requirements.

5. VOCATIONAL TRAINING CYCLES
 Last from 1,400 to 2,000 training hours including a compulsory period of
in-company training.
 The contents of learning are both theoretical and practical.
 Students must have succesfully passed their exams in Vocational Training
as a requirement to start the in-company training period.
 Every Vocational Training College co-operates with local enterprises to
place students in companies with the in-company training program.
 The External Relationships Department is in charge of the in-company
training placement and organises guidance meetings for students too.
 Students can apply for an in- company training program abroad through
the International Exchange Programs : Erasmus and Leonardo Da Vinci.

6. VOCATIONAL WORKSHOPS
 For students under the age of 21 who have not obtained the Compulsory
Secondary Education Qualification.
 Different types depending on the students´ needs and requirements.
 The main purpose is to improve the students’ personal development as well
as their future possibilities in the labour market.
 The learning contents consist of mainly practical work in workshops, in a
wide range of professional vocations.
 These courses generally last between one and two years.
 Vocational Workshops for students with special needs due to mental
disability last three or four years.

7. PREPARATION COURSE
ENTRY EXAM TO HIGHER VOCATIONAL TRAINING
 Guidance and tutorials play an important role in order to motivate students
to make a continuous effort to succeed while trying to avoid drop-outs.
 Academic guidance is organised in the beginning of the second term so that
students can get a completely information about Vocational Training cycles
before making their decisions.
 Academic guidance meetings are organised by the guidance counsellor in
every group class time.
 Professional Departments co-operate in academic guidance meetings.
 Students and families can ask for an appointment with the guidance
counsellor if necessary.

8. GUIDANCE PROVISION
 Guidance is an individual right and is offered at school in all educational levels.
 The guidance counsellor runs the Guidance Department and is a member of the
Educational Commitee of the school.
 Guidance counsellors must have a university degree in Psychology or Pedagogical
Sciences.
 The guidance counsellor-student group ratio is about 1 guidance counsellor to 35
student groups in Vocational Training schools dependent on the Education
Department.
 Guidance counsellors dependent on The Education Department have a
co-ordination meeting monthly.

9. GUIDANCE ORGANISATION
THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT GUIDE LINES FOR
WORK
1.- Advising and supporting the teaching team of Vocational
Workshops for students with specific needs.
2.- Support Tutorials: Advising tutors in dealing with students
and families.
3.- Designing academic and career guidance plans with other
Departments of the school: The Labour Guidance
Department and The External Relationships Department.

10. 1.- Advising and supporting Vocational
Workshops
Guidance counsellor duties towards
the teaching staff
Guidance counsellor duties towards
students and families
 Counselling the teaching team in
psychological and pedagogical aspects and
tutorial management.
 Evaluation and guidance of students with
special needs, learning difficulties,
behavioural problems, et.
 Designing personal academic plans
related to students who have special
needs, in connection with The Special
Education Resource Centre.
 Designing prevention plans and activities
with external services (Health and Social
Services).
 Advising students with personal, social or
academic problems.
 Advising families in dire need of external
support to deal with difficult situations.
 Co-ordination with External Services
(Social Services, Health Centres, Familiy
Guidance Services)

11. 2.- Supporting Tutorials
Guidance counsellor duties towards
tutors and teaching staff
Guidance counsellor duties towards
students and families
 Advising and helping tutors in dealing
with students and families.
 Advising students and families with
personal or social problems.
 Counselling teaching teams in
psychological and pedagogical
aspects and class management.
 Giving information about the
student´s difficulties and needs and
suggesting academic measures.
 Evaluation and guidance of students
with learning difficulties, behavioural
problems, or specific needs due to
illness, sight or hearing problems.
 Advising students and families about
academic options providing with help in
the decision-making process.

12. 3.- Organising academic and career guidance
plans
Guidance counsellor duties towards
the teaching staff
Guidance counsellor duties towards
students and families
 Designing academic guidance plans
and career guidance plans with the
teaching staff.
 Advising students groups about
academic options providing with help
in the decision-making process.
 Designing labour guidance activities
with The Labour Guidance
Department.
 Advising students and families
individually if required.
 Coordinating job seeking activities
with external services (FOREM, UGT).
 Career guidance coordinated with
Universities.

13. EXTERNAL GUIDANCE SERVICES
 Information Offices at Universities
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Admission requirements. National University Entry Exam.
Information about University studies: Degree, Master Degree, PhD.
Internships, International exchanges, Grants.
University Services: Accommodation, Leisure activities and Sports, Cultural
activities, Foreign Languages School.
 Labour guidance at Employment Offices depending on The
Employment Service (Ministry of Labour)
 Social and family guidance at Social Services depending on the
Welfare Department
 Mental counselling in Health Centres depending on The National
Health System