National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline opens 22 August at 10am
- Published on: 18 August 2025
- Last updated on: 18 August 2025
The National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline and text support service opens Friday, 22 August 2025.
This free service offers vital support to Leaving Certificate students and their parents and guardians during the critical period when exam results and CAO offers are received.
This year, students and parents/guardians can phone or text the helpline to get in touch with an experienced guidance counsellor who will provide live, person-centred support.
Helpline guidance counsellors can provide support for issues including: calculating CAO points, rechecking examination results, accepting or deferring an offer, and what to do if a subject is failed. They can also offer guidance about repeating exams and viewing scripts, understanding course information and preference orders, and exploring all pathways including apprenticeships, private colleges, and UCAS/UNICAS applications. Additionally, the helpline provides support on CAO procedures, registration fees, gap years, and further education and training options.
The service is funded by the Department of Education and Youth, coordinated by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, and supported by the National Parents Council Post-Primary and the Irish Second Level Students’ Union. It is sponsored by Trinity College Dublin.
Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, said:
“The National Parent and Student Helpline is a hugely valuable service for students and their families at a time of important decisions and change. This helpline connects families with expert guidance counsellors, providing reassurance and clarity. I would like to sincerely thank all those involved in delivering this service again this year.”
To connect with a guidance counsellor, you can call the Leaving Cert Helpline on 1800 265 165, or text GUIDANCE to 086 1800 685.
All calls are free of charge. Standard message rates apply The helpline will be open from 10am to 5pm on weekdays (22nd, 25th–29th August) and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays (23rd and 30th August). Text replies will be sent during helpline opening hours.
The Leaving Certificate Helpline team is committed to protecting the privacy of anyone who gets in touch looking for support. Any personal information that is shared will be handled in accordance with GDPR guidelines.