List of SAC Recognised Programmes
Postgraduate counselling programmes delivered in Singapore that have been reviewed and recognised by the SAC Counsellors’ Education Board.
The Singapore Association for Counselling has temporarily put on hold the processing of all new course recognition applications, pending an ongoing review to enhance and align the SAC Course Recognition requirements with current professional and educational standards.
Applications for re-recognition will continue to be accepted and processed as usual.
Further information on the revised requirements and the resumption of new applications will be shared in 2026.
Counsellor Education
SAC considers counsellor education, as well as continual professional development, important parts of the counselling ecosystem in Singapore. There are many institutions that offer counselling courses in Singapore. Institutions are welcome to submit suitably designed counselling courses they offer to formal reviews by SAC. However, these submissions are voluntary in nature.
The SAC Counsellors’ Education Board conducts periodical review on postgraduate counselling programmes delivered in Singapore that prepare one to become a professional counsellor. Each of these programmes must offer a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of practicum with ten (10) hours of clinical supervision. Upon graduating from any SAC Recognised Programme, an individual who completes a minimum of six hundred (600) postgraduate clinical hours and sixty (60) supervision hours will qualify to apply for SAC Registered Counsellor status.
The validity of the course recognition period refers to the commencement date for the programme. Students who commenced on the recognised programme during the recognition period will be considered to have completed a SAC recognised programme, even if the completion or conferment date has passed the course recognition period.
The full list of our recognised programmes is reproduced below, current as of 2 August 2026. Individuals who are interested can approach the institutions directly for more information.
Master of Arts in Counselling & Community Work
Asian Pastoral Institute
Recognised since Sep 2022
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
College of Allied Educators Pte Ltd
Previously known as Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology until 31 Oct 2019
Graduate Diploma in Counselling Practice
Counselling and Care Centre
Recognised since Mar 2008
Master of Counselling
Flinders University through Executive Counselling and Training Academy Pte Ltd (ECTA)
Recognised since 2024
Master of Guidance and Counselling
James Cook University Singapore
Recognised since 2007
Master of Counselling
Monash University through Kaplan Singapore
Recognition extends to cohorts that enrolled from Jan 2024 onwards
Master of Arts (Counselling and Guidance)
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Recognised since 2015
Master of Arts in Counselling (MAC)
Singapore Bible College
Recognised since Mar 2010
Master of Arts in Counselling (Chinese Programme)
Singapore Bible College
Recognised since Feb 2024
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling (Pergas)
Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association (Pergas)
Recognised since Sep 2023
Master of Counselling
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Recognised since Nov 2018
Master of Arts in Counselling
TCA College
Recognised since Nov 2013
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling
The School of Positive Psychology
Programme recognition to be extended to students who enrolled from November 2023
Master of Arts in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
University of Roehampton, London via Aventis Graduate School
Recognition is granted to a specific programme, not to an institution as a whole. Confirm with the institution that the programme you intend to enrol in is the one listed here, and that its recognition period covers your commencement date.
Thinking About Which Programme To Take?
A programme on this list, or a qualification assessed as equivalent, may support an application for Registered Counsellor status. Registration carries further requirements beyond the qualification itself, set out on Becoming a Registered Counsellor.