The Central Board of Secondary Education has introduced an Online Remote Invigilation Examination for school counsellors, marking a significant step towards strengthening student support systems across its affiliated institutions. According to an official notification issued on March 20, 2026, the initiative will be rolled out in phases to assess and certify nearly 10,000 counselling and wellness teachers, also referred to as socio-emotional counsellors. The first phase of the assessment process commenced in February 2026.
The Board stated that the new assessment framework goes beyond conventional exams by focusing on counsellors’ practical competencies, ethical understanding, and their ability to effectively support students’ mental well-being. The exam will be conducted on an AI-enabled platform, DIGI-EXAM, designed to ensure a secure, transparent, and standardised evaluation process through remote proctoring.
Highlighting the broader objective, CBSE noted that the initiative aims to build a future-ready assessment ecosystem. It emphasises secure digital delivery, integrity in evaluation, and equitable access by enabling counsellors to participate remotely. The move is also aligned with national digital education goals and reflects global best practices in professional certification.
Schools affiliated with CBSE have been directed to ensure participation of their counsellors as and when nominated by the Board. These nominations will be based on data uploaded by institutions on the OASIS portal, with schools advised to keep counsellor information updated to facilitate smooth implementation.