Applying for or Reclassifying to
Clinical Membership

Clinical members are full members of the Association who have satisfied both parts of the following:
1. PACFA Register Requirements;
2. The Association's Relationship Counselling Requirements.

Part 1. PACFA Register Requirements :
These can be met via three pathways:

1. Undergraduate Equivalent:
    • Three years training in counselling or psychotherapy of at least 400 hours duration; with 50 hours of supervision for 200 hours of face to face client contact. 10 hours of this must relate to 40 client contact hours within the training programme.
    • Plus 750 hours of face to face counselling practice with at least 75 hours post-training clinical supervision  over at least two years.

2. Postgraduate Equivalent:
• A degree relevant to the counselling and psychotherapy profession;
    • Plus specialist training in counselling or psychotherapy over two years of at least 250 hours with 50 hours of supervision for 200 hours of face to face client contact. 10 hours of this must relate to 40 client contact hours within the training programme.
•Plus 750 hours of face to face counselling practice with at least 75 hours post-training supervision over at least two years.

3. Recognition of Prior Learning:
Where an applicant's training and formation is based on extensive training, practice and supervision over several years, it may be possible to be admitted to clinical membership on the recognition of this prior learning. The PACFA Training Standards will be the guide in determining this equivalence. E.g. higher hours of face to face counselling (say 1200 hours) and post training supervision (say 120 hours) over at least two years.

 Part 2. AARC Relationship Counselling Requirements :
 Applicants also need to satisfy:

1. Training:
At least 100 hours of specialised relationship counselling as out-lined in our training requirements which may be included in
Part 1 (above) or in post-training specialised relationship counselling course(s).

2. Practice:
At least 500 hours of the 750 hours practice in Part 1 needs to be supervised couple and/or family face to face relationship counselling.

3. Supervision:
    At least 50 hours of the 75 hours of post-training supervision must be one to one supervision as outlined in our supervision document.

Applicants will need to provide:

• Certified documentary evidence of relevant qualifications that meet the AARC training and practice requirements
• Provision of three referees including their current clinical supervisor who can attest to their professional standing and clinical work.
• A completed application form signed in the presence of an appropriate witness.

Checklist for applying:

• Download Clinical Membership Application Booklet.pdf
• Complete the application form;
• Include certified copies of transcripts (or equivalents);
• Include any other documentation if required;
• Include $55 joining or reclassification fee;
• Forward all application material to:

AARC MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
P O Box 493
LEEDERVILLE WA 6903


Further information:

• Your State Branch Committee will request references from your referees and upon receipt, process the application.

• You will be notified of the outcome of this process, together with what membership fee is due.

• New members welcomed after 1st April in any year pay half the membership fee for that financial year. Our financial year ends on 30th September.

• For reclassifications, the higher membership fee does not apply until the following financial year beginning 1st October.