How recent do my qualifications need to be?

We understand that life, and other career priorities, may get in the way of immediately becoming a Registered Counsellor. However, we have a Recency requirement to ensure the contemporary and high standard of ACA Registered Counsellors.

Recency Requirements

ACA requires that, ideally, an applicant should hold qualifications in counselling that are less than five (5) years old.

Qualifications in counselling that are less than five (5) years old will still hold relevance to the current, and growing, body of knowledge in counselling.

Professional practice in counselling should include ongoing professional development and clinical supervision.

What happens if I do not have recency of qualifications?

Applicants to the ACA with counselling qualifications older than five (5) years and no evidence of clinical supervision, professional development or experience in a relevant industry may not be suitable for ACA membership.

Applicants holding formal counselling qualification older than ten (10) years without professional development, clinical supervision and relevant professional practice may not be eligible for ACA membership.

New applicants with qualifications over ten (10) years old with no supervised practice, professional development, or practice in a related field must complete current formal counselling qualifications.

Applicants for ACA membership must provide formal evidence of professional development, clinical supervision, and professional practice in circumstances of recency matters.

All applications facing recency matters will be examined on a case-by-case basis by ACA Senior Membership Officer.