What ACA accreditation means for counsellors in Australia

If you’re thinking about a career in counselling, you’ll come across three letters again and again: ACA. It stands for the Australian Counselling Association, and for anyone training to become a counsellor, it’s worth understanding early. Here’s some good news to start with: Hader Institute of Education’s CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is now ACA-accredited, which changes what your study counts towards from the day you enrol.

This guide explains what the ACA is, what accreditation means, and what it opens up for you both while you study and after you graduate.

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What is the ACA, and what does ACA accreditation mean?

The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) is one of the two main professional bodies for counsellors in Australia, alongside PACFA. It maintains a register of practising counsellors, sets professional and ethical standards, and runs a public Accredited Course Finder so people can check which qualifications it recognises.

Our Diploma of Counselling is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). ACA accreditation means the course has been independently assessed and recognised as meeting the professional education standards required by the counselling profession. As a graduate of an ACA accredited course, you are eligible to apply for ACA Level 1 Registered Counsellor membership, providing a recognised pathway into professional counselling practice. ACA registration demonstrates to employers and clients that you have completed training that meets nationally recognised industry standards and are committed to ethical practice and ongoing professional development.

Why ACA accreditation matters

Counselling isn’t a protected title in Australia. Unlike psychologists, counsellors aren’t registered through AHPRA, and there’s no law that says you must belong to the ACA to call yourself a counsellor. So why does accreditation matter? Because in a self-regulated profession, your credibility comes from the standards you choose to meet, and employers, clients, and supervisors look for exactly that signal.

Studying an ACA-accredited course removes any guesswork about where your qualification stands. You know it’s recognised by the profession’s main body, you know you’ll be eligible to register when you finish, and you can show that to an employer with confidence. Since 2023, accreditation has carried more weight for people entering the field, so starting with a recognised course is a practical advantage from the outset.

What ACA accreditation means while you study

Many people miss this: you don’t have to wait until graduation to benefit. Because Hader’s Diploma is ACA-accredited, you can join the ACA as a student member for free while you’re still studying, and the ACA notes this is a way for students to “stand out to future employers.”

Student membership connects you to the profession before you’ve even finished. You start building a professional identity, you can show employers you’re committed to the field’s standards, and you step into your first role already part of the community you’ll work in. It’s a small thing to set up, and it gives you a head start.

What it means when you graduate: the ACA registration ladder

When you complete an ACA-accredited Diploma of Counselling, you’re eligible to apply for Level 1 registration with the ACA, the entry tier for practising registered counsellors. The ACA’s registration categories run from Level 1 to Level 4, and you move up as you gain experience and supervision over your career.

The ladder works like this:

The important thing for a Diploma graduate: Level 1 is your starting point, and Level 2 is reachable from a Diploma with experience and supervision, so you don’t necessarily need a degree to progress. Your registration grows with your career.

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Progressing to ACA Level 2 Membership

Graduates of our ACA-accredited Diploma of Counselling are eligible to apply for ACA Level 1 Registered Counsellor membership. To progress to Level 2, graduates must complete a minimum of 12 months of post qualification counselling practice and 50 hours of post qualification clinical or workplace supervision with an eligible supervisor. As part of their application, they will need to provide evidence of their counselling qualification, academic transcript and documentation from their supervisor verifying the completion of the required supervision and post-qualification experience. Once these requirements have been met and approved by the ACA, graduates may apply to upgrade to Level 2 Registered Counsellor status.

What paths does ACA registration open?

ACA registration is the credential that lets you practise as a recognised counsellor in community organisations, health and welfare services, schools, employee assistance programs, or your own private practice. It’s the difference between “I studied counselling” and “I’m a registered counsellor,” and that distinction matters to employers and clients.

A few things registration opens up:

• Private practice. Once registered, you can set up as a self-employed counsellor. The ACA requires you to hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance if you do, which is the standard foundation for practising independently.
• Professional community and development. Registration keeps you connected to ongoing professional development, supervision, and a code of ethics that backs your practice.
• A pathway to specialise and progress. From Level 1, you can build towards higher registration tiers or focus on areas like relationships, grief, or trauma-informed counselling as you gain hours.

One note on funding, because it’s a common question: counsellors aren’t covered by Medicare rebates under the Better Access initiative. That scheme covers psychologists, eligible occupational therapists, and accredited mental health social workers, not counsellors. What can help is private health cover: some health funds recognise ACA-registered counsellors for extras rebates, so clients with the right cover may be able to claim a portion of their sessions.

ACA vs PACFA: what’s the difference?

The ACA and PACFA (the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) are both recognised professional bodies for counsellors. They do similar work — registering practitioners, setting standards, and accrediting courses — but they have different membership structures, fee levels, and qualification requirements. Many counsellors register with one based on which body recognises their qualification and best fits their practice. Neither is “better” in the abstract; what matters is that you hold a qualification a recognised body accredits, which an ACA-accredited Diploma gives you.

Frequently asked questions

What is ACA accreditation?
ACA accreditation means the Australian Counselling Association has reviewed a counselling course and confirmed it meets its professional standards: a government-regulated provider, a counselling focus, and evidence-based therapeutic content. Graduates of an ACA-accredited Diploma of Counselling are eligible to apply for Level 1 registration with the ACA.

What accreditation should a counsellor have in Australia?
Counselling is self-regulated, so there’s no single legal requirement. In practice, the recognised standard is to hold a qualification accredited by a professional body such as the ACA or PACFA, and to register with that body. Hader’s CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is ACA-accredited.

How do I become a registered counsellor in Australia?
Complete a recognised counselling qualification — such as an ACA-accredited Diploma of Counselling — then apply to a professional body for registration. With an ACA-accredited Diploma like Hader’s, you’re eligible to apply for ACA Level 1 registration, the entry tier for practising counsellors. See our guide on how to become a counsellor in Australia.

Do counsellors need to be registered in Australia?
Not by law: counselling isn’t a protected title and counsellors aren’t registered through AHPRA. But registration with a body like the ACA is the recognised professional standard, and most employers and clients look for it as a sign of credibility and ethical practice.

Can you claim Medicare for seeing a counsellor?
No. Counsellors aren’t eligible providers under Medicare’s Better Access initiative. Some private health funds, however, recognise ACA-registered counsellors for extras rebates, so clients with the right cover may be able to claim part of the cost.

Can you join the ACA while you’re still studying?
Yes. If you’re enrolled in an ACA-accredited course, you can join the ACA as a free student member while you study, a useful way to start building your professional profile before you graduate.