Membership Categories & Criteria

Conferred through nomination and approval at the Annual General Meeting. Nomination must be made jointly by at least three Fellow, Master Clinical or Clinical members, and proposed as an agenda item at the AGM.

Requirements, all of which must be met:

• Be a member in good standing
• Have held Master Clinical Membership for a minimum of ten years
• Have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of counselling knowledge or practice, through research, teaching, publications or clinical work, such as published journal papers, chapters, books, conference presentations, established clinical practice or teaching awards
• Have performed distinctive service to the Association, through the Executive Committee, sub-committees, organising committees or standing committees

Fellow members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FSAC.

A $20 administrative fee applies to any refunds processed for member-initiated changes, including but not limited to withdrawals, cancellations, modifications, corrections, overpayments or accidental fee transfers, where a refund is applicable.

Granted through application to, and approval by, the Executive Committee. Apply via the online portal, supported by at least three Fellow, Master Clinical or Clinical members, and accompanied by documentary proof of the training and supervision hours you have conducted.

Requirements, all of which must be met:

• Be a member in good standing
• Have held Clinical Membership for a minimum of five years
• Have held registration on the SAC Register of Counsellors for a minimum of four years
• Have conducted 100 hours of training or supervision in counselling
• Pay the $50 non-refundable admin fee

Master Clinical members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters MMSAC.

A $20 administrative fee applies to any refunds processed for member-initiated changes, including but not limited to withdrawals, cancellations, modifications, corrections, overpayments or accidental fee transfers, where a refund is applicable.

Download the application formSubmit your application to the secretariat

Granted through online application and approval by the Executive Committee, supported by two character referees.

Requirements:

• Completed an SAC Recognised Programme or its equivalent
• Achieved 600 hours of counselling
• Completed 60 hours of clinical supervision

Hours must be clocked in one continuous block period within the most recent 36 months at the point of application or conversion. The date on the official certificate issued by the educational institution is the official start date.

Clinical members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters CMSAC.

Documents required, in PDF or JPG format:

• Payment of the $50 non-refundable admin fee
• Passport size photo
• Letter of current employment and corresponding job description (counselling related), or for private practitioners the ACRA business registration document. Both must be dated within three months of your application date.
• If you do counselling-related volunteer work, submit proof of engagement from the organisation, stating your volunteer status, start and end dates (or that the work is ongoing), roles and responsibilities.
• Official certificate and transcript from an SAC recognised programme
• Applicants from Monash University must provide official documentation indicating the campus of study, as SAC recognises only the Master of Counselling delivered through Kaplan Singapore.
• Documents (e.g. proof of qualification and/or enrolment letter) must clearly state that the programme was undertaken in Singapore.
• 600 hours of face-to-face counselling log sheets, acknowledged by the Head of Agency or equivalent
• 60 hours of clinical supervision supported by an SAC Registered Counsellor or Registered Clinical Supervisor

On the 600 hours. The intended registrant must complete 600 hours of counselling within a minimum of two years and a maximum of three. This need not begin immediately after graduation, but must be one continuous block completed within seven years of graduation, beyond which the Register of Counsellors Board has discretion to make recommendations case by case. Hours may be face-to-face or by video, with video not exceeding 300 hours. Recording begins only once coursework is complete, and only hours clocked within the most recent three years from the date of application are accepted. Text, phone and email counselling hours cannot and will not be accepted.

On supervision. A total of 60 hours of clinical supervision is required. Supervision must be provided by an SAC Registered Counsellor, Registered Clinical Supervisor or equivalent, at a rate of at least one hour of supervision for every ten hours of counselling practice. With effect from 1 January 2015, the ratio of group to individual clinical supervision is 70:30, that is a maximum of 42 hours of group supervision and a minimum of 18 hours of individual supervision.

Non-SAC registered supervisors. For hours clocked with a supervisor who is not an SAC RC or RCS, submit a copy of their CV together with the log sheets and the online application form. Approval is evaluated case by case. Applications must be submitted with all documents intact; CVs cannot be pre-approved by email. Approval of an external supervisor does not set a precedent for future applicants.

For non-SAC recognised programmes, also submit:

• SAC counselling log sheet documenting 100 hours face-to-face and 10 hours of clinical supervision achieved during the programme, broken down into individual sessions
• Detailed description of the programme, including but not limited to module descriptions and duration per module. This may be taken from the institution’s official website or your entry documents
• Evidence that the programme is recognised by the local counselling body

Your application will only be processed once both character referees have completed their endorsement. Ensure their email addresses are accurate, and ask them to check their spam folder in case the system email from support@sacsingapore.org lands there.

The first round of review is done by the secretariat to check documents are in place. It is then tabled for review, and if there are no further issues, tabled for approval before the SAC EXCO, after which an official invoice follows. The process generally takes one to two months.

A $20 administrative fee applies to any refunds processed for member-initiated changes, including but not limited to withdrawals, cancellations, modifications, corrections, overpayments or accidental fee transfers, where a refund is applicable.

Apply as a Clinical Member

Granted through application to, and approval by, the Executive Committee. Apply via the online portal, supported by two character referees.

Requirements:

• Completed an SAC Recognised Programme
• A declaration of intent, made on the portal, to work towards registration on the SAC Register of Counsellors within three years from the date of membership approval

Documents required, in PDF or JPG format:

• Payment of the $50 non-refundable admin fee
• Passport photo
• Letter of current employment and corresponding job description (counselling related), or for private practitioners the ACRA business registration document. Both must be dated within three months of your application date.
• If you do counselling-related volunteer work, submit proof of engagement from the organisation, stating your volunteer status, start and end dates (or that the work is ongoing), roles and responsibilities.
• Signed acceptance of admission or enrolment letter
• Official certificate and transcript from an SAC recognised programme, or a letter of completion issued by the institution together with an unofficial transcript from the student portal
• Practicum log sheets covering 100 clinical and 10 supervision hours clocked as part of an SAC recognised programme
• Applicants from Monash University must provide official documentation indicating the campus of study, as SAC recognises only the Master of Counselling delivered through Kaplan Singapore.
• Documents (e.g. proof of qualification and/or enrolment letter) must clearly state that the programme was undertaken in Singapore.

Important. Refer to Article 5.2.2 of the Constitution on working towards Registered Counsellor status. Recording of hours may commence once coursework is complete, and should be completed within three years from the date of approval as a Provisional Clinical Member. With effect from 1 January 2015, the ratio of group to individual clinical supervision is 70:30, a maximum of 42 hours group and a minimum of 18 hours individual.

Your application will only be processed once both character referees have completed their endorsement. Ensure their email addresses are accurate, and ask them to check their spam folder in case the system email from support@sacsingapore.org lands there.

The first round of review is done by the secretariat to check documents are in place. It is then tabled for review, and if there are no further issues, tabled for approval before the SAC EXCO, after which an official invoice follows. The process generally takes one to two months.

A $20 administrative fee applies to any refunds processed for member-initiated changes, including but not limited to withdrawals, cancellations, modifications, corrections, overpayments or accidental fee transfers, where a refund is applicable.

Apply as a Provisional Clinical Member

Granted through application to, and approval by, the Executive Committee. Apply via the online portal, supported by two character referees.

Requirements, both of which must be met:

• Holds an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Counselling, Human Services, Psychology, Social Work or its equivalent
• Is working in a counselling-related position

Documents required, in PDF or JPG format:

• Payment of the $50 non-refundable admin fee
• Passport photo
• Certificates and corresponding transcripts
• Letter of current employment and corresponding job description (counselling related), or for private practitioners the ACRA business registration document. Both must be dated within three months of your application date.
• If you do counselling-related volunteer work, submit proof of engagement from the organisation, stating your volunteer status, start and end dates (or that the work is ongoing), roles and responsibilities.

Your application will only be processed once both character referees have completed their endorsement. Ensure their email addresses are accurate, and ask them to check their spam folder in case the system email from support@sacsingapore.org lands there.

The first round of review is done by the secretariat to check documents are in place. It is then tabled for review, and if there are no further issues, tabled for approval before the SAC EXCO, after which an official invoice follows. The process generally takes one to two months.

A $20 administrative fee applies to any refunds processed for member-initiated changes, including but not limited to withdrawals, cancellations, modifications, corrections, overpayments or accidental fee transfers, where a refund is applicable.

Apply as an Allied Member

Open to any person with a keen interest in counselling who holds a qualification at tertiary level. Overseas and international practitioners may apply to this category. Granted through online application to, and approval by, the Executive Committee, supported by two character referees.

Documents required, in PDF or JPG format:

• Payment of the $50 non-refundable admin fee
• Passport photo
• Certificates and corresponding transcripts
• Letter of current employment and corresponding job description, or for private practitioners the ACRA business registration document. Both must be dated within three months of your application date.
• If you do counselling-related volunteer work, submit proof of engagement from the organisation, stating your volunteer status, start and end dates (or that the work is ongoing), roles and responsibilities.

Your application will only be processed once both character referees have completed their endorsement. Ensure their email addresses are accurate, and ask them to check their spam folder in case the system email from support@sacsingapore.org lands there.

The first round of review is done by the secretariat to check documents are in place. It is then tabled for review, and if there are no further issues, tabled for approval before the SAC EXCO, after which an official invoice follows. The process generally takes one to two months.

A $20 administrative fee applies to any refunds processed for member-initiated changes, including but not limited to withdrawals, cancellations, modifications, corrections, overpayments or accidental fee transfers, where a refund is applicable.

Apply as an Associate Member

Granted through application to, and approval by, the Executive Committee. Apply via the online portal, supported by two character referees. Student members must be undertaking an SAC Recognised Programme at the time of application, and the application must be accompanied by a Letter of Acceptance from the educational institution.

Documents required, in PDF or JPG format:

• Payment of the $50 non-refundable admin fee
• Passport photo
• Signed letter of offer or contract from the institution
• An official Enrolment Verification and Student Status document issued by your institution confirming active enrolment in an SAC recognised programme, stating the commencement date, duration of programme, expected completion date, and whether part-time or full-time
• Applicants from Monash University must provide official documentation indicating the campus of study, as SAC recognises only the Master of Counselling delivered through Kaplan Singapore.
• Documents (e.g. proof of qualification and/or enrolment letter) must clearly state that the programme was undertaken in Singapore.

Your application will only be processed once both character referees have completed their endorsement. Ensure their email addresses are accurate, and ask them to check their spam folder in case the system email from support@sacsingapore.org lands there.

The first round of review is done by the secretariat to check documents are in place. It is then tabled for review, and if there are no further issues, tabled for approval before the SAC EXCO, after which an official invoice follows. The process generally takes one to two months.

A $20 administrative fee applies to any refunds processed for member-initiated changes, including but not limited to withdrawals, cancellations, modifications, corrections, overpayments or accidental fee transfers, where a refund is applicable.

Apply as a Student Member