Family planning counsellor

About this occupation

Family planning counsellors provide support and counselling to adults and adolescents on issues such as reproduction, contraceptive methods, pregnancy or termination of pregnancy, in compliance with the legislation and practices. They also provide information about maintaining optimum health practices, sexual disease prevention and treatment recommendation referrals, working in collaboration with the professional doctors.

A specialisation of social counsellor.

• Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
• Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
• Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
• Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
• Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
• Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.

Typical education (US)

Doctoral Degree

Preparation

Job Zone 5 of 5

Interests

Social, Investigative, Conventional

Top skills: Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Active Learning

US median pay: US$244,180 a year (2025), 107,510 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Subjects this work relies on

How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).

• English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageExtremely important (4.7)
• PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (4.5)
• BiologyO*NET: BiologyVery important (4.5)
• Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.4)
• Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.3)
• SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.1)
• Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.1)

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Preparation needed

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Most common education (US)

Doctoral Degree

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.