Frequently Asked Questions

Apply through the online membership portal at member.sacsingapore.org. There are five categories open to direct application: Student, Associate, Allied, Provisional Clinical and Clinical Member. Check which you are eligible for on the Membership Categories page.

The one-time non-refundable admin fee is $50, applicable to first-time applicants and membership conversions.

Annual dues are $100 for all categories except Student Members, who pay $50. Dues are valid for one calendar year, 1 January to 31 December, and are pro-rated in the first year: January to March $100, April to June $75, July to September $50, October to December $25. For Student Members the pro-rated amounts are $50, $37.50, $25 and $12.50.

Registered Counsellor registration is $200, valid for two years, with renewal requiring 400 clinical hours and 50 CPD hours. Registered Clinical Supervisor is $100, valid for two years.

Professional Indemnity insurance is SGD 100 plus 9% GST, totalling SGD 109, for one year from 1 July to 30 June.

Full details are on the Membership Fees page.

Post-nominal titles for Fellow, Master Clinical and Clinical members, voting rights, the right to hold office, networking opportunities, special rates for SAC workshops, access to job opportunities and events, free subscription to SAC publications, and opportunities to publish and contribute to the profession. See Membership Benefits for the full breakdown by category.

To become a Registered Counsellor you must first qualify as a Clinical Member. Once you qualify as a Registered Counsellor, you can then apply to be a Registered Clinical Supervisor. Criteria are set out on Becoming a Registered Counsellor and Becoming a Registered Clinical Supervisor. Registered Clinical Supervisor applications are submitted by email rather than through the portal.

Yes, you can apply to be a Student Member.

Yes. You can apply to be a Provisional Clinical Member and continue working towards Clinical Member and Registered Counsellor. Otherwise you may apply as an Associate Member, or an Allied Member if you work in the field of mental health.

Yes. Laypeople interested in supporting counselling can become an Associate Member.

If you graduated from an SAC recognised programme, you can start clocking hours after the course has ended. The date on the official certificate is the start date. Training and practicum hours cannot be counted. Apply to be a Provisional Clinical Member first and begin accumulating hours. You need at least 600 hours of clinical work and 60 hours of clinical supervision before you qualify as a Clinical Member and subsequently a Registered Counsellor. Hours must be clocked in one continuous block within the most recent 36 months at the point of application or conversion, as set out in the Constitution.

The EXCO meets every two months to review applications. Upon approval you will be notified by email to make online payment, and an official letter is emailed once payment is made.

Under Clause 5.2.2(iv) of the Constitution, the intended registrant must complete 600 hours of counselling within a minimum of two years and a maximum of three. This need not start 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. Supervision must be provided by an SAC Registered Counsellor, Registered Clinical Supervisor or equivalent, at one hour of supervision for every ten hours of 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. Clock your hours with an SAC Registered Counsellor or Registered Clinical Supervisor where possible, at one hour of supervision for every ten hours of practice. Log sheet templates are available under Useful Forms and Guides and should be submitted in PDF with your application.

If your supervisor is not registered with SAC, approval is evaluated case by case and a copy of their CV must be submitted together with your application. CVs cannot be pre-approved by email.

SAC allows a maximum three-month extension on a case-by-case basis. Email the Register of Counsellors Board to seek approval. Failing that, your name will be removed from the Register if you do not renew.

With competence and professionalism comes responsibility. As with other international counselling associations of standing, recognition means a high volume of counselling work, and with it the responsibility to protect the interests of the client, the practitioner and the practice. Professional indemnity also protects the member if they work overseas or on international platforms for counselling, consultation, clinical supervision or training.

Yes, provided you are a Provisional Clinical, Clinical, Master Clinical or Fellow member. Email admin@sacsingapore.org with your full name and SAC member number, and you will be included in the next batch for invoicing. Payment must be made promptly to activate coverage, and the policy schedule is issued once payment is received.

Your organisation’s group policy will cover the requirement if you are a Registered Counsellor. However, we recommend purchasing your own, as the organisation’s policy will no longer cover your practice once you leave. Clients you counselled during your employment can still pursue legal action after you resign, and you may have to handle that without coverage. If you do not wish to purchase, complete the exemption form and email it to admin@sacsingapore.org.

Log in to the membership portal and go to Conversion to complete the online application form.

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Yes. If you have been a Clinical Member and received accreditation previously, you can remain a Clinical Member even if you no longer renew your accreditation, subject to payment of membership fees.

Membership lasts for a lifetime, subject to payment of membership fees renewed each year through the annual declaration and opt-in. Members must write to admin@sacsingapore.org to resign. If prompt payment for renewal or registration is not received, membership and registration status may be automatically cancelled.