What the new national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists means for you

You may have seen news of new national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists and wondered what it means for your IICT registration, insurance and your ability to keep practising.

The short answer: nothing changes for you today. Any changes ahead will be introduced gradually, over several years. As your trusted membership body, it is our responsibility to stay ahead of any governing changes and what they might mean for our members. Here is what is happening and what it means for your IICT Membership.

What was endorsed and when

On 13 October 2025, the Australian Government formally endorsed the National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

Endorsement of a standards framework is not the same as a new law. It sets out consistent expectations for training, ethics and practice across the profession. It does not, on its own, create a licensing requirement or change what you need to do to keep working as a counsellor.

How the rollout is being phased

Phase 1: Formal endorsement (October 2025)

The government endorsed the standards. PACFA and ACA aligned their own membership tiers to the new framework, reflecting the endorsement in how they structure membership categories.

Phase 2: Working out enforcement (early 2026)

Independent consultants, the Nous Group, were engaged to map out how the standards could be enforced in law. Public consultation opened in March 2026 to evaluate possible models, including statutory registration through AHPRA or a lighter touch negative licensing scheme.

Nothing has been decided yet. This stage is about testing options, not implementing them.

Phase 3: Full sector integration (2026 to 2030)

This is where the substantial changes will happen, and they will unfold over three to five years, not overnight.

Training providers will audit their curricula against 400 hours of instruction and clinical placement requirements. Practitioners already working in the field will be given a transition window to meet new Career Stage supervision and CPD requirements. Nobody will be asked to comply immediately.

Do I still need to register with IICT?

Yes, absolutely.

Counselling remains a self-regulated profession in Australia. There is currently no law requiring registration with any particular body to use the title “counsellor”. That has not changed and it will not change quickly.

IICT Membership gives you access to professional indemnity insurance, which most practitioners need regardless of how the regulatory landscape eventually settles. You can continue registering with IICT and accessing insurance through us as usual.

The one thing worth keeping in mind is scope of practice. As the government clarifies its requirements through this process, make sure your day-to-day practice stays within them. We will keep members updated at each stage so you are not left working it out alone.

What to do now

Nothing urgent. If you would like to check your current compliance status or you have questions about how these changes might eventually affect your area of practice, get in touch with our team. We are happy to talk it through.