1. VET guidance in Romania
History
Legal
framework/
Legislation
Activities Providers
Examples of good
practices
The beginning of career counseling in
Romania was set by the foundation of the
Institute for Experimental, Compared and
Applied Psychology in Cluj in 1922 and by the
activities of the first Psycho technical Laboratory
within the Tram Company in Bucharest in 1925.
As compared to career counseling for adults,
school and professional guidance (seen as a
process of general formation – by means of
information, assistance and self-knowledge – of
young people’s preferences and aspirations
related to their desired schooling and
professional itinerary) which takes place in
schools to the students’ best interest, has had a
rather delayed beginning.
After the 50s there is evidence of serious
concern with school counseling and guidance,
with an uncertain evolution by 1989.
After this date, a new institutional mechanism
- the Psycho pedagogical Assistance Centers - is
founded in order to extend the activity of the
former laboratories and offices of school and
professional guidance, as well as to approach
other types of problems experienced by
students, parents or teachers.
During the last decade of the 20th century,
The following
pieces of legislation
govern the
students’ school
and professional
guidance activities:
- LAW NO. 1/2011OF
THE ROMANIAN
NATIONAL
EDUCATION;
- THE ORDER OF THE
MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION,
RESEARCH, YOUTH
AND SPORTS NO.
5555/2011- The
regulation related to
the organization and
functioning of the
county centers for
resources and
educational
assistance and for
Within the Romanian
educational system
school and professional
counseling and
guidance is an
educational activity
performed:
1. Within the
curriculum, by main
teachers during their
counseling and
guidance classes;
2. In the psycho-
pedagogical assistance
offices in schools, by
means of individual or
group counseling
performed by the
- The Ministry of
Education by
means of its
County Psycho-
pedagogical
Resources and
Assistance Centers/
County Psycho-
pedagogical
Assistance Offices/
school Psycho-
pedagogical
Assistance Offices;
- The National/
County
Employment
Agency;
- Different NGOs.
Examples of good
practice
-”Informing and
counseling high-school
students as for their
career”, a project
coordinated by the Dolj
County Center for
Educational Resources and
Assistance.
- “ Job Shadow Day”, a
project aimed at students
in the final years of high
school, coordinated by
Junior Achivement
Romania, the Dolj County
School Inspectorate and
other local, national and
multinational companies;
-“ CONSEL– counseling
students for an easier

2. school and professional guidance has been
influenced by:
- The re-foundation in 1990 of the Institute for
Educational Sciences, which is involved in
various research activities related to this
domain;
- The creation in 1995 of the National Agency for
School and Professional Guidance;
-The establishment of Information and
Professional Guidance Offices by the National
Employment Agency in every county;
- The creation in 1999 of the National Center for
Resources in Professional Guidance.
In 1997 the Romanian Government started a
project related to career information and
counseling, aiming at the following:
- The elaboration of occupational profiles;
- The organization of various courses in order to
train school counselors and other people in
charge of career counseling and guidance;
- The adaptation of psychological instruments
related to school and professional guidance;
- The endowment of specialized career guidance
offices with various specific equipment;
- The issue of informative magazines related to
school and professional guidance.
The year 2005 witnessed the creation of the
County Centers for Psycho pedagogical
Resources and Assistance, which took over the
County Centers for Psycho pedagogical
Assistance, which in their turn coordinated the
Psycho pedagogical Assistance Offices
functioning in some schools.
the similar center in
Bucharest;
- THE ORDER OF THE
MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION,
RESEARCH, YOUTH
AND SPORTS NO.
6552/2011 related to
the assessment,
psycho-educational
assistance, school
and professional
guidance for
children, students
and young people
with special
educational needs;
- LAW No.76/2002
related to the system
of unemployment
insurances and
stimulation of the
work force
school counselors.
3. In career information
and counseling centers,
other than those
enlisted by the
educational system,
such as the National
Employment Agency,
the County
Employment Agency,
etc;
4. Within specific
projects involving the
support of the local
community aiming at
counseling their young
members as for their
own career.
transition from school to an
active life”, a project which
was co-financed by the
European Social Fund
POSDRU