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 REMARKS
1 College of Allied Educators Pte Ltd Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
(previously known as Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology till 31 Oct 2019)
9 July 2017 – 30 Jan 2023
31 Jan 2023 – 30 Jan 2025
 
2 Edith Cowen University at Academy of Human Development Master of Social Science (Counselling and Psychotherapy) 2007 – Jan 2012  
3 Edith Cowen University at Academy of Human Development Post-Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Counselling) 2007 – Jan 2012  
4 Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd (ECTA) Diploma in Holistic Counselling for Schools 2007 – Jan 2012  
5 Monash University Post Graduate Diploma / Masters in Counselling combined course 2006 – Jul 2007  
6 Monash University Master in Counselling Aug 2007 – 2017  
7 Nanyang Polytechnic Advanced Diploma in Counselling 2014 – 31 Oct 2019  
8 Nanyang Polytechnic Specialist Diploma in Counselling 2006 – 2013/2014  
9 National Chi Nan University Master in Counselling (Mandarin) Dec 2009 – 2013  
10 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.
11 State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo Master of Education (Ed.M) in School Counselling Mar 2010 – 2013  
12 Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) Graduate Certificate of Counselling 9 Aug 2018 – 2019/2020  
13 Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) Graduate Diploma of Counselling 9 Aug 2018 – 2019/2020  
14 Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) Master of Counselling (Advanced) 2 Aug 2018 – 30 Apr 2024  
15 Swinburne University of Technology (ECTA – Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd) Master of Social Science (Professional Counselling) 2006 – 2 Aug 2018  
16 TCA College Post-graduate Diploma in Counselling 27 Oct 2010 – 30 Jun 2020  
17 UniSIM Bachelor of Science in Counselling Programme leading to a Graduate Diploma in Counselling 28 Jun 2006 – Mar 2010  
18 UniSIM Bachelor of Counselling cum Graduate Diploma in Counselling Apr 2010 – Mar 2017  
19 UniSIM Master in Counselling and Graduate Diploma in Counselling Apr 2010 – Mar 2017  
20 University of South Australia Master of Social Science (Counselling) 2006 – Sep 2011