Counsellor Education
SAC considers counsellor education as well as continual professional development important parts of the counselling ecosystem in Singapore. There are many institutions that offer counselling courses in Singapore. Institutions are welcome to submit suitably designed counselling courses they offer to formal reviews by SAC. However, these submissions are voluntary in nature.
SAC Counsellors Education Board conducts periodical review on postgraduate counselling programmes delivered in Singapore that prepares one to become a professional counsellor. Each of these programmes must offer a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of practicum with ten (10) hours of clinical supervision. Upon graduating from any SAC Recognised Programme, an individual who completes a minimum of six hundred (600) postgraduate clinical hours and sixty (60) supervision hours will qualify to apply for SAC Registered Counsellor status.
The validity of the course recognition period refers to the commencement date for the programme, i.e. students who commenced on the recognised programme during the recognition period will be considered to have completed a SAC recognised programme even if the completion/conferment date has passed the course recognition period.
Click here to download PDF copy of archived programmes
| NO. | COURSE PROVIDER | COURSE TITLE | RECOGNITION PERIOD | ||
| FROM | TO | ||||
| 1 | Asian Pastoral Institute (API) | Master of Arts in Counselling & Community Work | 29 Sep 2022 | 28 Sep 2024 | |
| 2 | College of Allied Educators Pte Ltd (CAE) | Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (previously known as Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology till 31 Oct 2019) |
2017 | 30 Jan 2025 | |
| 3 | Counselling and Care Centre (CCC) | Graduate Diploma in Counselling Practice | 2008 | 20 Mar 2025 | |
| 4 | Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd (ECTA) | Diploma in Holistic Counselling for Schools | 2007 | Jan 2012 | |
| 5 | Edith Cowan University at Academy of Human Development | Master of Social Science (Counselling and Psychotherapy) | 2007 | Jan 2012 | |
| 6 | Edith Cowen University at Academy of Human Development | Post-Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Counselling) | 2007 | Jan 2012 | |
| 7 | James Cook University (JCU) | Master of Guidance & Counselling | 2007 | 30 Apr 2025 | |
| 8 | Monash University | Post Graduate Diploma / Masters in Counselling combined course | 2006 | Jul 2007 | |
| 9 | Monash University | Masters in Counselling | Aug 2007 | 2017 | |
| 10 | Monash University (through Kaplan Singapore) |
Master of Counselling | 2017 | 31 Dec 2023 | |
| 11 | Nanyang Polytechnic | Advanced Diploma in Counselling | 2014 | 31 Oct 2019 | |
| 12 | Nanyang Polytechnic | Specialist Diploma in Counselling | 2006 | 2013/2014 | |
| 13 | National Chi Nan University | Master in Counselling (Mandarin) | Dec 2009 | 2013 | |
| 14 | National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University (NIE-NTU) | Master of Arts (Counselling & Guidance) | 2014/2015 | 30 Apr 2024 | |
| 15 | Singapore Bible College (SBC) | Master of Arts in Counselling (MAC) | Mar 2010 | 19 Apr 2026 | |
| 16 | Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) | Graduate Diploma in Counselling | 16 Mar 2017 | 30 Jun 2023 | *Following SUSS’ application for accreditation recission, the Graduate Diploma in Counselling will cease to be recognised with effect 01 July 2023. Students who have enrolled in the said programme before 01 July 2023 would still qualify to apply for the Provisional Clinical Membership upon successful graduation. |
| 17 | Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) | Master of Counselling | 16 Mar 2017 | 30 Apr 2025 | |
| 18 | State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo | Master of Education (Ed.M) in School Counselling | Mar 2010 | 2013 | |
| 19 | Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) | Graduate Certificate of Counselling | 9 Aug 2018 | 2019/2020 | |
| 20 | Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) | Graduate Diploma of Counselling | 9 Aug 2018 | 2019/2020 | |
| 21 | Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) | Master of Counselling (Advanced) | 2 Aug 2018 | 30 Apr 2024 | |
| 22 | Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) | Master of Social Science (Professional Counselling) | 2006 | 2 Aug 2018 | |
| 23 | TCA College | Post-graduate Diploma in Counselling | 27 Oct 2010 | 30 Jun 2020 | |
| 24 | TCA College | Master of Arts in Counselling | 16 Nov 2013 | 30 Apr 2025 | |
| 25 | UniSIM | Bachelor of Science in Counselling Programme leading to a Graduate Diploma in Counselling | 2006 | Mar 2010 | |
| 26 | UniSIM | Bachelor of Counselling cum Graduate Diploma in Counselling | Apr 2010 | Mar 2017 | |
| 27 | UniSIM | Master in Counselling and Graduate Diploma in Counselling | Apr 2010 | Mar 2017 | |
| 28 | University of South Australia | Master of Social Science (Counselling) | 2006 | Sep 2011 | |