How Do I Become a Certified Counsellor In Singapore?

Becoming a certified counsellor in Singapore is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding career options to pursue. However, it requires a series of steps to gain the knowledge and practice to take on mental health cases. Completing Counselling training is the first step to finding success in achieving this rewarding career for yourself. It will empower you with the necessary knowledge and skills to make positive differences in people’s lives by answering their open-ended questions. Moreover, it will open the door to meaningful career opportunities dedicated to learning for guiding individuals towards achieving healthier and happier lives.

So, if you have a genuine interest in learning the fundamentals of human psychology, a career in counselling awaits you in Singapore. This write-up sheds light on the steps to achieve your goal of becoming a certified counsellor in Singapore. So, let’s delve in to have a closer look at the steps!!

Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Certified Counsellor in Singapore

Here is a rundown of the most crucial steps to embark on your journey of becoming a certified counsellor in Singapore.

Complete Your Higher Education

The first step to becoming a certified counsellor in Singapore requires completing your higher educational qualifications. This includes earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in your chosen area of specialisation in counselling. Many counsellors complete their bachelor’s degree to gain fundamental knowledge of different types of human behaviour and their principles in counselling.

However, earning postgraduate degrees is ideal to gain in-depth knowledge and the necessary practical skills to become an effective counsellor in Singapore. You can conduct comprehensive research on accredited institutions or universities offering postgraduate counselling courses in your chosen area of specialisation.

Gain Practical Work Experience

Gaining practical work experience is a critical aspect of completing your higher education to become a successful counsellor in Singapore. You should seek opportunities to gain practical work experience while pursuing your bachelor’s or master’s degree. Most recognised programs in reputable universities require their enrolled students to gain hands-on experience by working with qualified counsellors during their internships.

In addition, they make it necessary to complete a specific number of hours to develop a combination of soft skills and hard skills. These skills enhance your personal characteristics and are reflected in your work ethic and the way you interact with your clients.

Choose Your Area of Specialisation

Your chosen area of specialisation in the field of counselling determines the concerns you are passionate about treating for your client’s well-being. Keep in mind that counselling is a broad field with several areas of specialisation. These wide ranges of specialisations include family therapy, career counselling, individual-centred therapy, couple therapy, mental health counselling, etc.

You will learn in-depth about the different areas of speciality in your educational counselling programs. However, choosing a specific or multiple areas of specialisation based on your interests is a must to move towards achieving your career goals. Lastly, remember to choose an area of specialisation that aligns with your passion and interests.

Complete Professional Counselling Training

Completing professional counselling training in your chosen area of specialisation holds the utmost significance to gaining the necessary practical knowledge and skills. It will provide you with insights into a counsellor’s commitment to ethical standards, competence, and, most importantly, professional development. Moreover, you will learn techniques to build trust for developing meaningful connections with your prospective clients and qualified professionals from accredited institutions.

As a result, learning these techniques will help you become a professional counsellor with proficient knowledge and skills in Singapore. You will understand your client’s concerns and help them with the most effective treatment to achieve sound mental health and emotional well-being.

Obtain License and Certificate

You need to obtain a licence and certificate from the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) to practise as a certified counsellor in Singapore. You will receive a certificate after the completion of your counselling training. However, you have to follow a step-by-step process to obtain a licence to start your career as a qualified counsellor in Singapore. Here are the steps you need to follow to obtain a licence from SAC.

• Firstly, complete your higher educational qualifications and gain practical work experience by pursuing internships in mental health schools or more institutions.
• Secondly, join the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) to become a member of the association and stay updated on the latest developments.
• Thirdly, apply for your SAC counselling licence by submitting the necessary documents including your educational qualifications and practical work experience.
• The last step is to pass the SAC certification exam to make professionals ascertain that you adhere to the code of conduct set by SAC.

You will obtain your licence to pursue as a certified counsellor by following these four steps.

Seek Employment and Gain Experience

Completing your counselling training and achieving a certificate is just not sufficient to become an effective counsellor. Seeking employment opportunities is essential to gaining professional experience and applying your subject knowledge and skills in real-life situations. Use your licence and certificate to seek employment opportunities in mental health schools, private clinical settings, and mental health agencies or institutions. You will gain experience in understanding the different mental health concerns of clients and providing them with the most suitable treatment.

Pursue New Learning Opportunities

Counsellors must pursue new learning opportunities to enhance their knowledge and develop more soft skills and hard skills with respect to time. Seeking new learning opportunities helps them stay updated on the latest developments in counselling techniques and therapeutic approaches. Moreover, it enables them to gain insights into more necessary skills to develop for becoming an effective counsellor in Singapore.

The Bottom Line

Becoming a certified counsellor in Singapore requires the essential steps outlined above in this write-up. So, follow these steps to embark on your journey of becoming a successful counsellor. Remember seeking new learning opportunities is essential to boost your career opportunities by staying updated on the latest developments in the counselling field.