What is Provisional Membership?
Please note: From 1 July 2023, Provisional Membership will no longer be available to new applicants.
This category of membership enables graduates from Diploma of Counselling CHC51015 from a Non-ACA Accredited provider to gain ACA membership. ACA is closing this membership category to strengthen industry standards and ensure consistent ACA educational standards for practising levels.
New applications: apply by 30 June 2023 for Provisional Membership here.
If you have completed, or will complete by 30 June (30/06/2023), a non-ACA-Accredited Diploma of Counselling, then please apply for provisional membership on, or before, 30 June (30/06/2023). No applications will be approved after this date.
How do I know if my course is ACA-Accredited?
ACA Accredited courses can be found here https://www.theaca.net.au/careers-and-study.php. You must apply by the 30 June (30/06/2023) deadline to ensure you obtain ACA Provisional Membership.
If my course is not listed as ACA-Approved, can I ask ACA to accredit it?
Only training providers can seek course accreditation with ACA. For example, training providers of the Diploma of Counselling CHC51015 must apply for accreditation to ACA via our formal process. Students are not able to directly engage with ACA to seek course accreditation.
Does this impact current Provisional Members?
Existing ACA Provisional Members will be communicated to shortly, and given adequate notice (around a two-year timeframe) to ensure they meet and can upgrade to an ACA Level 1 Membership.
What happens if I graduate from a non-ACA Accredited course AFTER 1 July 2023?
ACA will only accept graduates from the Diploma of Counselling CHC51015 courses that also meet industry standards, and ACA criteria for Level 1 Membership.
ACA is the only Nationally-recognised counselling and psychotherapy registration body that accepts and recognises the Diploma of Counselling for membership.
In instances where an applicant has used recognition of prior learning (RPL) to gain credit towards their qualification, ACA will accept a maximum of 40% RPL otherwise the qualification will not be recognised.