Genetic Counsellor
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Genetic Counsellors assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. They provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions, and advise individuals and families to support informed decision making and coping methods for those at risk. They may also help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling. (O*NET Online)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- Career Mentor Program profile - Genetic Counsellor, University of Manitoba alumnus
- U of M Career Spotlight - Career Services interview with genetic counsellors at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre
- Sokanu - occupational information and videos
- Overview: Genetic Counselors - ExploreHealthCareers.org
- How Do Genetic Counselors Integrate into the Healthcare Team? - NSGC video
- Article: A Genetic Counsellor Shares the Highs and Lows - The Toronto Star
- Career Profile: Genetic Counsellors - MB Association of Health Care Professionals
- Article: Genetics: Fluent in DNA - profile of genetic counseling profession from Nature
- Discover your Future in Healthcare: Genetic Counsellor - University of Manitoba
Education
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
Exploring Other Education Options
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- Collective Agreements (see Salary Schedule A - Health Sciences Centre) - Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals
- Professional Status Survey Report from NSGC - view Executive Summary (pdf) for Canadian and U.S. demographic - includes salary, position and other information
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Regional Health Authorities - Province of Manitoba
- Health Regions in Canada - listings and maps from Statistics Canada
- Clinic Search - from the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors
- Canadian Genetics Clinics - list from the GEC-KO
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience:
- University of Manitoba Undergraduate Leaders in Healthcare - campus student group
- Rady Faculty of Health Science Community Mentorship Program
- Article: As DNA’s secrets are revealed, genetic counsellors interpret results - Maclean'smagazine
- Genetic Counsellors - By Specialty - National Society of Genetic Counselors (information for physicians but demonstrates variety and scope of practice for GCs)
- Article: Why Canada Needs More Genetic Counsellors - from HealthyDebate.ca
- Article: Genetic counseling: A growing area of opportunity - Science Careers magazine
- Genetics Education Canada - Knowledge Organization (GEC-KO)
- Genomics by Industry: Health - from Genome Canada, non-profit for genomic-based tech development in Canada
- Health Data & Reports - Canadian Centre for Health Information
- Health Care Career Guide - from TalentEgg.ca