Reception, Referral, Counselling and Support Services (SARCA)

Reception, referral, counselling and support services (SARCA) offer support during undertakings associated with an academic, career or personal educational path. They are offered by school services centres (SSC), English school boards (SB) and special-status school boards (SSSB).

SARCA-related tasks make it possible to develop a project and an action plan based on your objectives and needs. Projects are worked out mainly on the basis of your knowledge, strengths, training and experience, as well as on the educational resources available and current workplace data.

Each approach varies with each individual’s objectives and availability.

You can benefit from SARCA if you:

• are 16 years old or over
• wish to define your career or training objective
• want to take stock of your current situation
• are going back to school
• wish to obtain information on training programs, trades and occupations
• wish to explore the options regarding the recognition of acquired competencies
• need to obtain qualifications in order to improve your job situation
• would like to find out about the various alternatives and services in the community available to meet your needs

You do not have to be currently studying to benefit from SARCA.

SARCA staff members help adults to gain a better understanding of themselves and their potential, abilities and aspirations in order to determine their career or academic goals. For more information on SARCA in your region, please contact the school services centre or school board of your choice  (in French only).

SARCA is composed of services and staff that can support you in planning and carrying out your education or career plan. SARCA interventions involve five services:

• SARCA welcomes you and takes the time to discuss your needs and refer you to the proper resources.
• SARCA can inform you about programs of study, occupations, trades, the world of work, the resources of the educational institution and the various services offered in the community.
• You can also contact a SARCA in order to obtain an analysis of your school and extracurricular record in order to situate your prior learning. They can, if necessary, refer you to services that deal with the recognition of acquired competencies in adult general education and vocational training, so that you can find out the steps needed to carry out your career or training plans.
• They can offer you career counselling services to help you evaluate, adapt or make career choices based on your specific situation, experience and aspirations and the world of work.
• Whatever services you have received, SARCA staff can offer you support in developing your project. This support also enables you to receive the assistance and advice you need throughout the process, even after you have enrolled in a training program. To learn more about SARCA services, watch this explanatory video  (in French only).

For more information and tools to support you in your academic or career planning, the regional round tables on career guidance have developed online resources you can use to help you find the organizations available in your region:

• Montérégie, Estrie, Centre-du-Québec, Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean and Les Laurentides
  • Your path, your choices 
• Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean
  • TRCOP  (in French only)
• Abitibi-Témiscamingue
  • Boussole du renard futé  (in French only)
• Bas-St-Laurent
  • COSMOSS  (in French only)
• Capitale-Nationale
  • Carte interactive Avenir  (in French only)
• Montréal
  • Your path, your career 
• Outaouais
  • TOPOQC 
• Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
  • Orientation Gaspesie Sud  (in French only)
• Chaudière-Appalaches
  • Je me trouve  (in French only)

Various services are available to help you carry out your academic, career and personal plans. They include:

• Educational path 
• Recognition of acquired competencies
• Student assistance services (learning, wellness and student life)