This is an exciting time to train as a counsellor. As counselling emerges as a profession in its own right, both public and private providers have established dedicated courses in Universities and Colleges.  These courses offer training for different approaches to therapy, for working with a variety of issues, and at a range of conceptual levels. 

In this climate PACFA has developed a document on professional training standards and reached consensus on appropriate training for inclusion on the PACFA register of practitioners.

 

Criteria for Professional Membership

In line with the PACFA Training Standards and CASA policy, training is acceptable at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels in the university system, or with an equivalent qualification from other organisations. 

Training courses at postgraduate (typically course work Master Degrees or Postgraduate Diplomas) need to include at least 200 contact hours over 2 years. 

Training courses at undergraduate level in whatever system need to be at least 350 hours over 3 years full time study, i.e. a Bachelor Degree or its equivalent. 

Note that these are hours of counselling and counselling related subjects.  In particular, at least 100 hours of the training must be experiential.  The training must also provide students with the opportunity to complete a clinical placement involving a minimum of 40 hours of direct client contact and 10 hours of associated supervision.  This will not be covered in most programs in other disciplines such as social work, social science or psychology.

 

Required Professional Experience for Professional Membership

Professional Membership of CASA requires supervised experience in addition to the course work described above. An additional 160 hours of counselling involving direct client contact and its associated 40 hours of supervision is necessary, i.e. a total of 50 hours of supervision relating to 200 hours of direct counselling with clients must have been logged to be eligible for Professional Membership.

 

Other Pathways

Experienced applicants with other than conventional training may apply for CASA membership under the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Please refer to the PACFA Training Standards document on the web site www.pacfa.org.au for more information about the required content of training courses, and policies about selection, assessment, supervision, and trainer credentials.