Will AI replace Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?
AI can do 55% of the work Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 5 of their 35 tasks, while 11 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 18 still need a person.
AI is already doing this5 · 26% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.Mostly automated18% of time
- Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.Mostly assisted3% of time
- Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.Mostly assisted3% of time
- Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.Mostly automated1% of time
- Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.Mostly automated1% of time
AI could do this next11 · 29% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.8% of time
- Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.5% of time
- Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.5% of time
- Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.3% of time
- Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.3% of time
- Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.1% of time
- Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.1% of time
- Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.1% of time
- Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.1% of time
- Establish and supervise peer-counseling and peer-tutoring programs.1% of time
- Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.under 1% of time
Robots can technically do this1 · 1% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
Still needs a person18 · 44% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.8% of time
- Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.6% of time
- Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops, and serve on committees.5% of time
- Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.4% of time
- Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.3% of time
- Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.3% of time
- Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.1% of time
- Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.1% of time
- Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.1% of time
- Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.1% of time
- Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment.1% of time
- Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.1% of time
- Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.1% of time
- Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.1% of time
- Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.1% of time
- Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.1% of time
- Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.1% of time
- Refer students to outside counseling services.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 22 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.
What to do next
- Do the 5 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 11 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 1 physical task robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 18 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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