The South African counselling profession is regulated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Any person who wishes to practice as a professional counsellor in South Africa must be registered with the HPCSA. The HPCSA oversees the registration and practice of all providers of health services, including mental health professionals.
HPCSA: Health Professions Counselling of South Africa
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is an independent statutory body established in 1994. The HPCSA regulates the practice of health professions in South Africa. The HPCSA sets the standards for training and registration of health professionals, as well as regulates their conduct and ethics through a code of professional conduct.
Additionally, it registers and regulates healthcare practitioners including doctors (medical doctors), dentists, nurses (registered nurses), pharmacists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Psychology and counselling studies
If you want to be a counsellor, there are four main routes to becoming one. These are:
- A degree in psychology or counselling,
- A degree in social work,
- A degree in community work, and
- A psychometrics qualification.
Community worker
Community workers are involved in social change and community development, empowering people and organisations to become self-reliant. Community workers work with a diverse group of communities which include:
- Communities affected by HIV and AIDS;
- Rural communities;
- Youth groups;
- Women’s groups;
Careers as a community work can be rewarding if you enjoy working with people as well as developing skills like problem-solving, communication, teamwork and time management.
Psychometrist
As a psychometrist, you will provide clinical assessments and interpretation of psychological tests.
It is necessary to have a 4-year bachelor’s degree from an approved university or college with psychology as your major. You also need to complete 720 hours of internship/practicum training in South Africa before registering for this profession with the HPCSA.
