• A Bachelor of Counselling is a nationally accredited degree recognised by the two primary professional counselling bodies in Australia, the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Completion of this degree enables graduates to practise as qualified counsellors in Australia, subject to meeting professional registration requirements.
• Following completion of a Bachelor of Counselling, graduates may also choose to further advance their professional knowledge and career opportunities by undertaking postgraduate study, such as a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Counselling can be a very rewarding career path, allowing you to support vulnerable members of society across areas including relationships and families, grief and loss, trauma, mental health, and addiction. Roles are commonly found across healthcare, social assistance, education, public health, community safety, private practice and as well as within the broader public sector.

These are just some of the directions your Counselling degree might take you:

• Addiction and Substance Abuse Counsellor
• Child Paediatric Counsellor
• Community Support Worker
• Crisis Support Counsellor
• Grief and Bereavement Counsellor
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Mental Health Counsellor
• Rehabilitation Counsellor
• School Guidance Counsellor

• Your teachers are experienced counselling academics and practitioners who bring real-world expertise into the course. They will work with you to support both your theoretical learning and practical skill development.
• You will have the opportunity to study some of the units in person while others through a blended online delivery mode.

We are one of the largest higher-education providers in the country, recognised for our strong focus on student support and real-world readiness.

• A Bachelor of Counselling degree can vary in duration. At ACAP, we prioritise flexibility for our students – this means you can choose to study your degree full-time (3 years) or part-time, which allows you to study at a steadier pace (up to 6 years).
• To become a qualified Counsellor in Australia, completing one of our accredited counselling courses is the ideal first step for those interested in the profession.
• Our Diploma of Counselling acts as an entry-level qualification, while our Bachelor of Counselling degree involves a longer duration of study and compulsory work placement hours that ensure valuable practical experience. As a result, the bachelor’s qualification also allows you to support clients with more complex care needs.
• While studying with us, you’ll receive free student membership with Australia’s accrediting bodies, the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). We recommend that after graduating from your ACAP Counselling degree, you formalise your registration with a professional association as this membership status is viewed favourably by employers.

Yes. The Bachelor of Counselling includes at least 200 hours of supervised practice placements as part of the training program. Within these hours, students complete a minimum of 80 hours of direct client contact, which may occur in person whenever possible, or online via video or telephone. These placements provide valuable hands-on experience, allowing students to apply their learning in real-world counselling settings under professional supervision.

A common question we receive is whether it’s possible to study a Bachelor of Counselling online. At ACAP, we offer blended delivery – this means that while some of our counselling units are available to be studied online, there are components of subjects and assessments that will need to be completed in-person and on-campus.

There are significant differences between psychology and counselling, including the knowledge bases, required skills, duration of study, and career outcomes.

• Psychology is the science of human behaviour with an emphasis on research, assessment, and statistical analysis. It focuses on how people think, feel and behave at an individual, group, organisational and community level. From an academic perspective, psychology involves a 6-year sequence of study to become a registered Psychologist in Australia.
• Counselling focuses on interpersonal relationships and requires advanced knowledge of human behaviour and ethical and professional standards. Counsellors help clients overcome everyday challenges such as relationship problems, behavioural challenges and emotional difficulties that may be a result of grief, loss, addiction, stress, or relationships.

The hours for placement are based on the old standards: A minimum of 200 hours of placement which includes 40 hours of counselling.