Requirement

Requirement 1:

Professional membership in HKPCA should be called “HKPCA Certified Counsellor.” Application to become a “HKPCA Certified Counsellor” has to be examined and endorsed by the HKPCA Council. Membership should be renewed annually and be subjected to adherence to HKPCA Ethical Guidelines and stipulations related to continual professional education.

Requirement 2:

The minimum academic level for professional membership in HKPCA should be a HKPCA accredited master's degree in counselling. Other master degrees in counselling or equivalent will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Requirement 3:

Program requirement

3.1 In order to qualify for professional membership in HKPCA, the individual should enroll in a master-level degree program (or its equivalent) with a clear “theory” and “practice” component. The total number of contact hours in the academic program, including both the theory and practice components, should aggregate to at least 320 hours:

3.2 The following domains should be adequately covered (i.e., substantially covered in named courses) in the “theory” component: - Compulsory domains: Counselling theories and orientation, helping process and skills, counselling ethics. - Other required domains (at least 3 of the 5 domains): human growth and development, social and cultural foundation, measurement and appraisal, program evaluation, and group work.

3.3. There should be a “practicum” component in the academic program where students have the opportunity to practice and receive regular supervision. A maximum of 40 Practicum Supervision Hours may be counted in the 320 Contact Hours required for the academic program.

Requirement 4:

Practice requirement

4.1 To qualify for professional membership in HKPCA, the individual should have accumulated at least 450 hours of supervised practice of which at least 150 hours must be subsequent to the completion of training (that is, after graduate training at the level of a master degree in a counselling-related field or its equivalent).

4.2 In addition, a total of at least 100 supervision hours must be accumulated, of which at least 50 hours must be subsequent to the completion of graduate training. At least 30 percent of the supervision hours (i.e., 30 hours) have to be individual-based (that is, one-on-one supervision). All post-qualification supervision should be supervised by the HKPCA Approved Counselling Supervisor(s) who are listed in the HKPCA website.

4.3 In the practicum component of an Accredited Counselling Programme, the number of Supervised Practice Hours should be at least FIFTY (50).

4.4 In the practicum component of an Accredited Counselling Programme, the ratio between Supervised Practice Hours and Supervision Hours should be at least THREE to ONE (3 : 1), which means for every 3 practice hours, there should be at least 1 supervision hour.

4.5 In the practicum component of an Accredited Counselling Programme, the maximum number of supervisees allowed in one supervision group should be SIX (6).

4.6 In the practicum component of an Accredited Counselling Programme, Individual Supervision should be a face-to-face supervision for ONE supervisee, and appropriate observers should be allowed.

4.7 In the practicum component of an Accredited Counselling Programme, the ratio between Total Supervision Hours and Individual Supervision Hours should be at least SIX to ONE (6: 1), which means for every 6 supervision hours, there should at least be 1 individual supervision hour.

Requirement 5:

Candidacy

5.1 An applicant who has fulfilled Requirements 1 to 3, but not Requirement 4, may be considered as a Candidate for Certified Counsellor.

5.2 Supervision hours should be supervised by HKPCA Approved Counselling Supervisor(s).

5.3 The ratio between post-graduation Supervised Practice Hours and post-graduation Supervision Hours should be at least FOUR & A HALF to ONE (4.5 : 1), which means for every 4.5 practice hours, there should be at least 1 supervision hour.

5.4 In post-graduation group supervision, the maximum number of supervisees allowed in one supervision group should be SIX (6).