How to Check a Therapist’s Credentials and Registration

 — A Step-by-Step Client guide to Verify If a Therapist is Licensed or Registered

Starting therapy can feel like a leap of trust. You’re opening up your most private thoughts and emotions, and it’s natural for you to question:

“How do I know this person is really qualified to help me?”

Checking a therapist’s credentials is a simple yet highly effective way to protect yourself before beginning therapy. It gives you first-hand evidence that the therapist has been trained to recognised standards, work within a clear ethical framework, and is accountable to an official body if something goes wrong.

In this guide, you will learn:

• What professional credentials mean

• How to verify a therapist’s licence or registration online

• Red flags to watch out for

• Examples of what this looks like across different countries

👩‍⚕️ Credentials Explained

Here’s a quick guide to common terms you may encounter:

Word	In Simple Terms	Why It Matters for You
Regulator	The official watchdog. They have legal power and keep a public register (e.g., HCPC in the UK, AHPRA in Australia, NZPB in New Zealand).	Only people on their licence or registration list can legally use certain protected titles.
Association	A professional membership organisation. Sets rules and ethics but has no legal power (e.g., BACP, UKCP, CCPA).	Shows extra commitment, but membership is voluntary.
Accredited	Their training or practice has been checked and approved.	Safer for you — someone has verified their standards.
Registered	Their name is on an official list you can search.	You can confirm they are genuine and in good standing.
Protected Title	A title that only trained people can use (e.g. “Clinical Psychologist”).	Helps prevent misrepresentation by unqualified practitioners.

If you’d like a deeper dive into what these terms mean — and how accreditation pathways differ around the world, see my full guide: Professional Credentials & Accreditations Explained.

💡 Tip for clients: ask directly

• “Which regulator or association are you with?”

• “Where can I check your name?”

Why Checking a Therapist’s Credentials Matters

When you choose a therapist, you are entrusting them with your most personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Credentials signal that the therapist:

• Has completed recognised professional training

• Works under an agreed ethical code

• Receives regular supervision and undertakes continuous professional development (CPD)

• Is accountable to a regulatory or professional body if concerns arise

Without proper accreditation or registration, you are relying solely on the practitioner’s self-declaration. You may have less protection if something goes wrong. A therapist’s work may not be monitored, their training may be inadequate, or there may be no official pathway to raise concerns, particularly in countries or sectors where mental health or psychological services are not fully regulated.

🔍 How to Verify a Therapist's Credentials Step-by-Step

1. Identify your need(s):

• Do you need a counsellor, psychotherapist, or psychologist?

• Look for protected titles and specialisations.

2. Check your country or residing area’s regulations:

• Some countries have statutory registers (e.g., UK, Australia), others rely on associations (e.g., Singapore, Hong Kong).

• Want to see which regulator or association applies in your country? Check my Comprehensive List of Accrediting Bodies for Therapists and Psychologists, a quick-reference directory covering the UK, US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Japan and more.

3. Search the Official Register

• Every reputable regulator or association keeps an online register of members, e.g. HCPC UK Register, AHPRA Australia Register, APA Accredited Programs.

• Search by the professional’s full legal name. Watch for spelling differences or maiden names.

4. Verify Training

• Cross-check qualifications and where they trained against the accrediting body’s published standards; reputable practitioners will share this openly.

• Confirm their training matches your needs (e.g., couples work, trauma, family therapy).

5. Check Current Status

• Accreditation and Registration expire. Look for renewal date and current standing.

• Most credible bodies require ongoing CPD to stay current.

6. Confirm safeguards (Ethics, complaints, supervision, CPD)

• A credible accrediting or registration body doesn’t just give a title — it upholds professional and ethical standards, requires ongoing supervision and CPD, and provides a clear complaints process if something goes wrong.

• Practitioners often link their code of ethics and complaints route.

• If working online, also confirm practical safeguards: time zone, fees, technology, and data protection.

7. Ask the right questions

• Which accrediting body are you registered with?

• How can I verify your registration?

• What is your scope of practice and experience with clients like me?

• How often do you renew your accreditation or licensure?

8. Review & decide

• Book a consultation and notice your sense of safety and clarity.

• Assess fit: Cultural competence, language, modality and interpersonal comfort.

📎 Download the Practitioner’s Credentials Verification Checklist [HERE]

A Practitioner's Credentials Verification Checklist

☐ Full name matches the public register

☐ Accrediting/registration body named (e.g., HCPC, BACP, UKCP, APA, HKPS)

☐ Current status active (not lapsed/suspended)

☐ Clear code of ethics and complaints route

☐ Confirms ongoing supervision and CPD

☐ Confirms jurisdiction/telehealth legality for your location

☐ Cultural/language fit; experience with your concerns

☐ Clear fees, privacy, cancellation policies

Red flags to watch out for:

• Therapist cannot or will not share their accrediting body or registration number.

• No record on the official register despite claiming membership.

• Membership only in informal online “directories” with no formal verification.

• Vague qualifications (e.g., “certified healer” with no clear training pathway)

• Overuse of vague terms like “certified” without naming the certifying body.

• Guarantees of “curing” mental health conditions (ethical practitioners don't promise cures).

• Credentials don’t match services offered (e.g., life coach presenting as a psychologist).

• Avoidance of questions about fees, supervision, or confidentiality.

Common Client Scenarios:

“Imagine you’re living in Hong Kong and looking for a UK-trained psychologist online. You find someone on Instagram, but how do you know if they’re really qualified? Here’s how to check…”

Scenario 1: Hong Kong client seeking a UK psychologist

• UK psychologists must be registered with the HCPC (statutory regulator for Practitioner Psychologist) to use the protected title.

• The HCPC register is public — search by name to confirm current status. This is your first safeguard against unqualified or unethical practice and reassures you that UK standards apply even if you’re based in Hong Kong.

• Tip: If therapy is online, confirm the therapist is insured to work with overseas clients.

• Many HCPC-registered psychologists also hold BPS membership, a positive sign that the psychologist is committed to CPD.

• Ask about their experience with HK/Asian clients, time zones, and data protection.

  “Could you please share your HCPC registration number so I can check the register?”

  
  

Scenario 2: UK client relocating to Singapore

• Singapore currently has no statutory regulation for psychologists or counsellors.

• Tip: Look for membership in Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) or Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC).

• If continuing with a UK therapist online, verify HCPC/BACP/UKCP status.

  Ask about local crisis protocols, insurance receipts, and confidentiality policies.

Scenario 3: Expat client in Tokyo

• In Japan, psychologists hold the statutory licence 公認心理師.

• Tip: Expats may prefer therapists who also hold overseas credentials (e.g., UKCP, HCPC, or US state license) for cultural/language fit.

  Check language options and experience with cross-cultural adjustment.

Quick FAQs

What if I can’t find them on any register? Ask directly. If they avoid answering or cannot prove membership, consider someone with transparent credentials.

Does accreditation guarantee they’re right for me? No — it ensures minimum standards. Personal fit matters most.

Can a coach help with mental health? Coaching is generally unregulated. For mental health issues, choose someone with regulated training and scope.

📌 Next Steps

Credentials are the foundation of safety and trust in therapy. They reassure you that your therapist is trained, supervised, and accountable. But credentials are only the beginning.

Remember: you’re not just checking paperwork. You’re making sure the person you choose is safe, accountable, and able to hold your trust.

The right therapist for you is also someone who makes you feel understood, culturally respected, and emotionally safe. After you’ve verified professional standards, notice how you feel in the consultation room: Do you feel listened to? Do you feel you can be yourself?

Both professional safeguards and personal fit matter. Together, they create the conditions where real change and healing can happen.

You might also like:

• How to Choose the Right Therapist — Beyond qualifications, what to look for in fit and style

• How to Start Therapy & What to Expect — From first-session nerves to building trust

• 5 Real Tips Before Starting Therapy — Practical ways to prepare for your emotional wellbeing journey

Disclaimer:

This guide is educational and not legal advice; regulations change by country/state. Please check your local regulator for the most current requirements.