PACFA Register Requirements
Provisional Registrants must demonstrate:
(i) Undergraduate degree or equivalent
Three years of Psychotherapy or Counselling training at undergraduate level or equivalent
in terms of level and depth of training, as defined by the Australian Qualification Framework
www.aqf.edu.au comprising a total of 350 hours.
50 hours of supervision linked to 200 hours of client contact hours must be completed to
gain Provisional registration. 10 hours of supervision linked to 40 hours of client contact
hours must be completed during training.
(ii) Postgraduate degree or equivalent
A relevant undergraduate degree, as defined by the Registrant’s Member Association,
plus two years minimum Psychotherapy or Counselling training at postgraduate level
or equivalent in terms of level and depth of training as defined by the Australian
Qualification Framework www.aqf.edu.au comprising a total of 200 hours.
50 hours of supervision linked to 200 hours of client contact hours must be completed
to gain Provisional registration. 10 hours of supervision linked to 40 hours of client contact
hours must be completed during training.
Clinical Registrants must demonstrate:
Either (i) or (ii) above, plus an additional 750 hours client contact linked to a further 75
hours post training supervision accumulated over a minimum period of two years.
Third Pathway for Eligibility for Listing on the PACFA Register
Recognition of Prior Learning
Where applicant's professional training and development does not fit the above, but is based
on extensive training, practice and supervision over several years, they may be listed on the
Register through recognition of their prior learning (RPL). The PACFA Professional Training
Standards are the guide in determining training equivalence. Higher hours of client contact
hours and post training supervision are required for RPL applications.
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Annual Professional Development Requirements for Registrants
Registrants must demonstrate annually that they have met the Register requirements for ongoing
professional development and supervision.
Professional Development
The professional development requirement is intended to support the obligation of professional
counsellors and psychotherapists to maintain currency with their profession and new developments
in clinical practice. Registrants must undertake a minimum of 15 hours per year of involvement in
training courses or workshops, which may include distance education, and attendance at
conferences and seminars. Most Registrants exceed 15 hours.
Guidelines for Content of Professional Development
1. Material should be relevant to ongoing clinical practice as a counsellor or psychotherapist.
2. Material should be relevant to the core competencies of psychotherapy and counselling
practice.
Supervision
Registrants must have undertaken 10 hours of formal supervision linked to their practice in the
previous 12 months.
Other requirements
As part of the annual renewal process, Registrants are also required to:
(i) Complete a signed agreement to adhere to the PACFA Code of Ethics and Complaint
Procedures
(ii) Demonstrate current membership of a PACFA Member Association
(iii) Provide evidence of continuing Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Registrants and applicants for registration with PACFA are able to appeal against:
1. Assessment by the Register Committee or the Registrar that the Register requirements for
Clinical or Provisional listing have not been met and that the applicant cannot be listed on
the PACFA Register at this time.
2. Assessment by the Register Committee or the Registrar that the registrant or applicant has
not met the Register requirements for Clinical listing and will be listed as a Provisional
registrant.
3. Assessment by the Register Committee or the Registrar that the registrant has not met
Register renewal requirements.
Appeals must clearly state the grounds for appeal in relation to the Register requirements listed
above.
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Appeal process
1. Initially the registrant or applicant is required to contact the Register Committee Chair as a
first step to resolve the issue. natreg@pacfa.org.au
The Register Chair will convene a meeting of the Register Committee and minute the
recommendation of the committee. The recommendation will be communicated to the
registrant or applicant in a timely manner.
2. If the registrant or applicant is not satisfied with the recommendation made by the Register
Committee, a formal appeal can be made in writing to the President by stating the grounds
for appeal in relation to the Register requirements. natpres@pacfa.org.au
3. The President will convene a Register Appeal committee of three independent members to
consider the appeal. Membership secretaries of Member Associations are considered to
have suitable expertise for the Appeal committee. The committee will make a written
recommendation to the Board based on its consideration of the grounds for an appeal in
relation to Register requirements.
4. The Board will consider the recommendation of the Register Appeal committee and minute
the final decision.
5. The President will communicate the decision to the Register Chair and the registrant or
applicant in writing in a timely manner.
