Career Guidance in Clare: How CourseCompass Supports Students
The best career guidance in Clare? CourseCompass.
Published: 25 September 2026·8 min read·By Stephen McKeon, founder of CourseCompass
Last updated: 28 September 2026
The best career guidance in Clare? CourseCompass. It ranks first for a Leaving Cert student who needs a personalised shortlist, scoring you against 1,402 CAO courses, PLCs and SOLAS apprenticeships. Your school guidance counsellor ranks second and gives the best human advice available in Clare.
A 500-student non-DEIS school in the Free Education Scheme receives 18.86 whole-school guidance hours a week across every year group, according to a Department of Education worked example.
Limerick and Clare ETB delivers further education and training to over 34,000 learners each year.
Clare has no university of its own — the nearest are University of Limerick and University of Galway.
The best career guidance in Clare? CourseCompass.
CourseCompass is the fastest, most affordable way for a Clare student to go from "I don't know" to a personalised shortlist. No appointment, no waiting list — take the test at home and get your matches in one sitting.
Instant, personalised guidance — about 50 minutes from start to a ranked, percentage-matched shortlist and a PDF guidance booklet.
CAO, PLC and apprenticeships in one place — matched against 1,402 CAO courses, PLCs and SOLAS apprenticeships.
Built on proven assessments — RIASEC interests, Big Five personality, VARK learning style and aptitude testing.
Affordable — from €34.99, one payment, results you keep.
Trusted — used by over 1,000 Irish students, GDPR and NCCA compliant.
Works with your guidance counsellor — bring your shortlist to your school guidance counsellor and make the most of the time you get.
There are five realistic ways to get career guidance in Clare: CareersPortal.ie, Qualifax, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, your school guidance counsellor, and CourseCompass. For a Leaving Cert student who needs a personalised shortlist rather than a course search, CourseCompass ranks first, because it is the only one that scores you against 1,402 CAO courses, PLCs and SOLAS apprenticeships using your own interests, personality, values and aptitudes. Your school guidance counsellor ranks second and gives the best human advice available in Clare — the limit is time, not quality, because a 500-student non-DEIS school receives 18.86 whole-school guidance hours a week across every year group.
What you can actually study in Clare
Clare has no university of its own. These are the options inside the county.
TUS Ennis Campus — Bindon Street, Ennis
Shannon College of Hotel Management — Shannon International Airport; part of University of Galway, founded in 1951
Burren College of Art — Newtown Castle, Ballyvaughan
College of FET (Limerick and Clare ETB) — campuses at Ennis, Ennistymon, Shannon, Shannon Town, Kilrush, Miltown Malbay, Scariff and Tuamgraney, plus the Outdoor Education and Training Centre in the Burren
Nearest universities — University of Limerick and University of Galway
Why guidance in Clare schools is stretched
Every post-primary school receives a Whole School Guidance allocation set by Department of Education circular. It is calculated as the difference between a pupil-teacher ratio of 19:1 and a reduced ratio — 18.4 in a non-DEIS school in the Free Education Scheme, 17.65 in a DEIS school, 17.36 in DEIS Plus and 18.60 in a fee-charging school.
18.86 hours a week — Free Education Scheme, non-DEIS
44.35 hours a week — Free Education Scheme, DEIS
12.44 hours a week — fee-charging school
Department of Education worked example for a 500-student school. This allocation covers every year group, not just sixth year.
Circular 0072/2026 also sets how that time is split — one third of a guidance counsellor's allocated time goes on classroom teaching, and two thirds on group work, one-to-one sessions and the other components of the role. A guidance counsellor must be a registered second-level teacher who also holds a recognised guidance qualification. None of this is a criticism of guidance counsellors; it is an arithmetic problem.
The five career guidance options in Clare, ranked
5. CareersPortal.ie — free
Ireland's longest-running careers website. Developed by Durrow Communications Ltd and launched by the Minister for Education in April 2008. It reviews and analyses 33 career sectors, receives over 3.3 million visitors a year, and produces a free 8-page Career Report with job and course matching. It is a research library: you do the filtering, and nothing in it is specific to Clare.
4. Qualifax — free
The National Learners' Database, operated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). It covers further and higher education and training in Ireland and further afield, and includes a CAO Points Calculator and a Subject Requirements Tool. The most authoritative course list in the State — but it answers "does this course exist and what do I need for it", not "which of these suits me".
3. Limerick and Clare ETB — free
Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board was established on 1 July 2013 and delivers further education and training to over 34,000 learners each year. Its Information, Recruitment and Guidance Support Service is a free information, advice and guidance service offering one-to-one and group sessions. Its statutory area covers the City of Limerick, County Limerick and County Clare. Freephone 1800 70 70 77. The catch: it is an adult education guidance service, shared with Limerick, and it is built around further education and training rather than around a Leaving Cert student choosing a CAO course.
2. Your school guidance counsellor — free
The only person on this list who knows you, your grades, your subjects and your school. The best advice you will get anywhere. The constraint is the allocation above: hours per week, shared across every year group.
1. CourseCompass — from €34.99
Course matching built for Irish secondary students. Matches you against 1,402 CAO courses, PLCs and SOLAS apprenticeships using RIASEC, Big Five, VARK and aptitude testing. Course Compass takes about 50 minutes and returns a ranked, percentage-matched shortlist plus a PDF guidance booklet. GDPR and NCCA compliant, used by over 1,000 Irish students, database updated September 2026. It does not replace a guidance counsellor — it gives you something to bring to one.
How CourseCompass supports career guidance in Clare
CourseCompass
School guidance counsellor
Limerick and Clare ETB
Qualifax
CareersPortal.ie
Starts from
Your interests, personality, values and aptitudes
You, your grades, your subjects and your school
Further education and training routes
"Does this course exist and what do I need for it"
A research library — you do the filtering
Personalised
Yes — ranked, percentage-matched shortlist
Yes — the best human advice available
One-to-one and group sessions
No
Free 8-page Career Report
CAO + PLC + apprenticeship
Yes — 1,402 CAO courses, PLCs and SOLAS apprenticeships
Yes
Built around further education and training
Further and higher education and training
33 career sectors
What you get at the end
A ranked, percentage-matched shortlist and a PDF guidance booklet
Advice from the person who knows you, your grades and your school
A one-to-one or group guidance session
Course listings and entry requirements you search yourself
A free 8-page Career Report with job and course matching
0:00 — What are the 5 career guidance options in Clare?
Top 5 Career Guidance Options in Clare, 2026. Ranked for one job: getting a Clare student from "I don't know" to a shortlist they can defend.
0:06 — Where can you actually study in Clare?
Studying in Clare. Clare has no university of its own. TUS Ennis, Shannon College of Hotel Management and Burren College of Art are here — everything else means leaving the county. Options in the county include TUS Ennis Campus, Shannon College of Hotel Management, Burren College of Art, College of FET — Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush, Nearest universities: UL and University of Galway.
0:12 — How was this ranking decided?
How this is ranked. Five tests: Personalised to you — Does it start with you, or with a search box? Local to your county — Does it know what is actually available in Clare? Speed to a shortlist — How long until you have a real shortlist? CAO + PLC + apprenticeship — Does it cover CAO, PLC and apprenticeship? Cost — What does it cost you?
0:18 — Is CareersPortal.ie useful for Leaving Cert students?
Number 5. CareersPortal.ie. National careers website. Ireland's longest-running careers website. Built by Durrow Communications Ltd and launched by the Minister for Education in April 2008. Cost: Free. Scale: 33 career sectors reviewed and analysed. Reach: Over 3.3 million visitors a year. Output: Free 8-page Career Report with job and course matching. Strength: Enormous library of occupations, sector profiles and video interviews. Limitation: It is a research site, not a recommendation engine. You do the filtering, and nothing in it is specific to your county. Best for: Browsing what jobs actually exist before you narrow down.
0:29 — What is Qualifax and who runs it?
Number 4. Qualifax. National Learners' Database. The National Learners' Database, operated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) — the State body that sets and monitors qualification standards. Cost: Free. Covers: Further and higher education and training in Ireland and further afield. Tools: CAO Points Calculator and Subject Requirements Tool. Built for: Students, jobseekers, parents, guidance professionals, graduates. Strength: The most complete and most authoritative course list in the State. If a course exists, it is in here. Limitation: It answers 'does this course exist and what do I need for it'. It cannot answer 'which of these is right for me'. Best for: Checking entry requirements and comparing two courses side by side.
0:40 — Does Limerick & Clare ETB offer career guidance?
Number 3. Limerick & Clare ETB. Information, Recruitment and Guidance Support Service. Clare is served by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, whose statutory area covers the City of Limerick, County Limerick and County Clare. Cost: Free. Service: Information, advice and guidance — one-to-one and group. Campuses: Ennis, Ennistymon, Shannon, Kilrush, Scariff, Miltown Malbay. Contact: Freephone 1800 70 70 77. Strength: Free, and the one service that knows the Clare FET campuses inside out. Limitation: It is an adult education guidance service, and Clare shares it with Limerick. It is not built around a Leaving Cert student choosing a CAO course. Best for: PLC and apprenticeship routes you can do without leaving Clare.
0:52 — How much time does a school guidance counsellor have?
Number 2. Your School Guidance Counsellor. In your school. The only person on this list who knows you, your grades, your subjects and your school. Must be a registered second-level teacher who also holds a recognised guidance qualification. Cost: Free — already in your school. Allocation: Whole School Guidance hours set by Department of Education circular. Split: One third classroom teaching, two thirds group and one-to-one work. Reality: Hours per week, shared across the whole school. Strength: The best advice you will get anywhere. Context, judgement and someone who can challenge a bad choice. Limitation: The time is finite and shared. In a 500-student non-DEIS school the whole-school guidance allocation is 18.86 hours a week — for every year group, not just yours. Best for: Pressure-testing a decision you have already half made.
1:04 — How many guidance hours does a 500-student school get?
The maths behind number 2. Free, excellent and rationed. Department of Education worked example for a 500-student school: whole school guidance allocation is 18.86 hours a week in a non-DEIS school, 44.35 hours in a DEIS school and 12.44 hours in a fee-charging school — across all year groups.
1:11 — What is CourseCompass and why is it ranked #1?
Number 1 for Clare: CourseCompass. The only one on this list that starts with you, not with a search box.
1:17 — What is included in CourseCompass?
Number 1. CourseCompass. Irish EdTech platform. Career guidance and course matching built for Irish secondary students. It starts with you, not with a search box. Database: 1,402 CAO courses, PLCs and apprenticeships. Updated: September 2026. Science: RIASEC, Big Five, VARK and aptitude testing. Compliance: GDPR and NCCA compliant. Strength: Fifty minutes of assessment turns into a ranked, percentage-matched shortlist and a written PDF booklet you can hand straight to your guidance counsellor. Limitation: It does not replace a guidance counsellor. It gives you something to bring to one. Best for: Going from 1,402 options to a shortlist of five you can actually defend.
1:28 — How does the Course Compass test work?
What CourseCompass actually does. 01, Answer: 50 minutes of peer-reviewed psychometrics — interests, personality, values and aptitude. 02, Match: Your profile is scored against 1,402 CAO courses, PLCs and SOLAS apprenticeships. 03, Rank: You get percentage-matched shortlists for CAO, PLC and apprenticeship routes. 04, Understand: Every match comes with the why — subjects, pathways and career progression. 05, Discuss: A PDF guidance booklet built to be read with your counsellor and your parents.
1:37 — What does a CAO match result look like?
Sample result. Course Compass: Top CAO course matches. Computer Science, Trinity College Dublin, 96 per cent match. Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, Dublin City University, 93 per cent match. Computer Science & Software Engineering, Maynooth University, 90 per cent match. Robotics & Intelligent Devices, Maynooth University, 88 per cent match. Computer Science, Atlantic Technological University, 85 per cent match. Software Development (Hons), TU of the Shannon, 82 per cent match.
1:47 — What does a PLC Compass result look like?
Sample result. PLC Compass: Top Post-Leaving Cert courses. Software Development (Pre-University), Ballyfermot CFE, 92 per cent match. Computer Science with AI, Pearse College Dublin, 90 per cent match. Cybersecurity & Networking, Coláiste Dhúlaigh, 88 per cent match. Games Design & Animation, Coláiste Dhúlaigh, 86 per cent match. Cloud Computing, Bray Institute of Further Ed., 83 per cent match.
1:55 — What does an Apprenticeship Compass result look like?
Sample result. Apprenticeship Compass: Top SOLAS apprenticeship matches. Software Developer Associate, FIT / Tech Industry, 94 per cent match. Cybersecurity Practitioner, FIT, 89 per cent match. ICT Network Engineer Associate, FIT, 86 per cent match. Electrical, SOLAS, 81 per cent match. Engineering Services Management, TU Dublin, 78 per cent match.
2:03 — How does it work out your subjects and learning style?
Sample result, and the reasoning behind it. Strongest Leaving Cert subjects: Physics 94 out of 100, Computer Science 91 out of 100, Applied Maths 86 out of 100, Design & Communication 78 out of 100, Engineering 71 out of 100. VARK cognitive profile: Visual 38 per cent, Read/Write 27 per cent, Kinesthetic 20 per cent, Auditory 15 per cent.
2:10 — How much does CourseCompass cost?
What it costs. Course Compass, €34.99: AI-matched CAO courses + PDF booklet. PLC Compass, €14.99: Top Post-Leaving Cert courses tailored to you. Apprenticeship Compass, €14.99: Match yourself to SOLAS apprenticeship programmes. 5th & 6th Year Bundle, €49.99: All three, plus Learning Style and Career Investigations.
2:18 — Where do you start?
Clare students: find your course in 50 minutes. Visit coursecompass.ie. 1,402 courses, PLCs and apprenticeships. Updated September 2026. GDPR and NCCA compliant. Trusted by over 1,000 Irish students.
