What is ACA Provisional Membership?

Provisional is an ACA Membership open to graduates who had completed a non-ACA accredited Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 5 Diploma of Counselling that is Nationally Accredited and listed under the National Training Package.

ACA has intentionally not included this membership level within the Scope of Practice as the Scope is defined against skill levels that ACA is aware of.

Due to Provisional Membership being open for graduates of non-ACA accredited diplomas (AQF Level 5) this scope is unable to define against the ACA accreditation process what skills these graduates have.

Provisional is a non-voting ACA member level.

Provisional Membership will no longer be available to new applicants as of 1 July 2023

Any Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) that is not an ACA accredited course and not complete by 30 June 2023, will no longer be eligible for ACA Provisional Membership, as Provisional Membership will cease as of 1 July 2023.

If you have completed and graduated from a non- ACA accredited Diploma of Counselling by 30 June 2023, you can apply for Provisional Membership until 30 June 2023.

This will mean that new ACA Members applying from 1 July 2023 will be required to have completed an ACA-accredited course in Counselling. 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.

What does this mean for current Provisional Members?

As a current ACA Provisional Members, will have two years to upgrade to Level 1 Membership, which requires having completed 25 hours of documented Supervision and be more than 12 months post-qualification in supervised practice.

Why is Provisional Membership being ceased?

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.

ACA is the only Nationally recognised registration body that accepts and recognises the Diploma of Counselling for membership.

If my course is not listed as ACA-accredited, can I ask ACA to accredit it?

Any non-ACA accredited Diploma of Counselling will no longer be eligible for ACA membership unless the course provider chooses to have their course accredited with ACA. A student cannot have a course accredited only the training provider can apply for accreditation.

How do I know if my course is ACA-Accredited?

Click here to view ACA-accredited courses. You must apply by the 30 June 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.

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.

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.