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