Global Accrediting Bodies in Therapy, Counselling & Counselling Psychology: Country-by-Country Guide

Finding the right therapist or professional starts with knowing who regulates or accredits them.

This country-by-country guide outlines major statutory regulators and professional associations in therapy, counselling, and psychology worldwide, helping you verify credentials, understand standards, and protect public safety.

Note: This is not a complete list of every organisation worldwide. It highlights the most widely recognised and reputable bodies in each country at the time of writing.

Intro

Whether you’re a therapist, counsellor, psychologist, student, or client, knowing who regulates or accredits your profession is essential. Clear accreditation safeguards public safety, upholds ethical standards, and ensures practitioners meet recognised levels of competence.

However, systems vary widely between countries, and even between professions. Some roles are legally regulated, others rely on voluntary membership registers. This difference can determine who is legally allowed to practise, what training they’ve had, and how you can verify their credentials.

In this guide, we’ll explain the key terms (licensing, accreditation, statutory regulation), then provide a country-by-country list of the main therapy, counselling, and psychology accrediting bodies worldwide.

therapy counselling psychology global accrediting bodies

Key Terms Explained (Accreditation, Licensing & Statutory Regulation) (in Therapy, Counselling & Counselling Psychology)

• Statutory Regulator – A government-recognised authority with legal powers to protect professional titles and regulate practice. Being on this register is often a legal requirement to practise. Examples:

  • HCPC (UK) for practitioner psychologists

  • PsyBA (Australia) for psychologists

  • HPCSA (South Africa) for psychologists and other health professions

• Professional Association – A voluntary membership organisation that sets training, ethical, and practice standards. Membership can signal a high level of competence and commitment to ongoing professional development, but it is not a legal requirement to practise. Examples:

  • BACP (UK) for counsellors and psychotherapists

  • APA (US) for psychologists

• Licensing – Legal authorisation to practise under a protected title, usually requiring approved qualifications, supervised practice, and periodic renewal.

• Accreditation – Formal recognition that a person or training programme meets defined professional standards. Be mindful accreditation may not always be granted by statutory regulators. It can be by professional associations, or education bodies.

• No Statutory Register – In countries without a legal regulator, anyone can use certain professional titles (e.g., “counsellor”). This makes membership of reputable associations and verification of training even more important for clients.

Why Accreditation Search Matters

Knowing the difference between statutory regulators, professional associations, licensing, and accreditation helps you navigate the global landscape of therapy, counselling, and psychology with confidence.

How to do the Accreditation Search

A credible professional should:

• Be listed on an official statutory register or reputable association directory.

• Hold active membership that can be publicly verified.

• Be transparent about their training, qualifications, and supervision.

These checks protect you from unqualified practitioners and ensure you receive safe, ethical care.

🔗 Want to see the full process? Read our detailed guide: [How to Check a Therapist’s Credentials]

therapy counselling psychology global accrediting bodies

How to Use This Guide

• For professionals — Find your country’s section to confirm the regulator or association relevant to your profession.

• For clients — Use the links to verify a therapist’s membership or registration before booking.

Tip: If your country has no statutory register, pay extra attention to reputable professional associations and the therapist’s qualifications.

🌏 Global Guide: Therapy, Counselling & Counselling Psychology Accrediting Bodies by Country

Statutory Regulator(s)

HCPC — Health and Care Professions Council

• For practitioner psychologists, including counselling, clinical, forensic, and health psychologists.

• Maintains the national register to protect public safety.

• Website

Professional Association(s)

UKCP — United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy

• Accredits psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors.

• Strong focus on depth-oriented and integrative approaches.

• Website

BACP — British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

• For counsellors and psychotherapists.

• Provides professional accreditation, ethical framework, and continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.

• Website

BPS — British Psychological Society

• Professional body for psychologists in the UK.

• Oversees training standards and offers Chartered status.

• Website

🇺🇸 United States

Statutory Regulator(s)

State-based licensure boards (Licensed Psychologist, LPC, LMFT, LCSW). Check your state board.

Professional Association(s)

APA — American Psychological Association

• Largest scientific and professional organisation for psychology in the US.

• Accredits doctoral programs and internships.

• Licensure is state-based.

• Website

ACA — American Counseling Association

• National membership and ethical standards for counsellors

• Professional association for counsellors in multiple settings.

• Advocates for policy change and professional development.

• Website

NBCC — National Board for Certified Counselors

• Certifies professional counsellors through examination and training standards, e.g. national certification NCC.

• Website

AAMFT — American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

• Accredits training programs and provides resources for family therapists.

• Website

🇭🇰 Hong Kong

Statutory Regulator(s)

None - No legal title protection; recognition via associations/accredited qualifications.

Professional Association(s)

1. HKPS — Hong Kong Psychological Society (R.Psy. status)

• Professional body for psychologists.

• Includes divisions for clinical, counselling, educational, industrial-organisational, and other specialisations.

• Website

2. HKPCA — Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association

• Professional association for counsellors and psychotherapists.

• Website

3. HKPA — Hong Kong Psychoanalytic Association

• Specialist body for psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

• Website

🇦🇺 Australia

Statutory Regulator(s)

• AHPRA / PsyBA — Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency / Psychology Board of Australia

  Registers and regulates psychologists nationally (title protection, standards).

  🔗 ahpra.gov.au | psychologyboard.gov.au

Professional Association(s)

• APS — Australian Psychological Society (Website) Professional body for psychologists; resources, ethics guidance, advocacy.

• PACFA — Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (Website) Self-regulatory body for counsellors/psychotherapists; member associations, registers, training standards.

🇨🇦 Canada

Statutory Regulator(s)

Regulation is provincial - e.g. College of Psychologists of Ontario; Ordre des psychologues du Québec.

Professional Association(s)

• CPA — Canadian Psychological Association (Website) Accredits psychology training programs; professional resources.

• CCPA — Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (Website) National association for counsellors/psychotherapists; CCC designation, ethics, continuing education.

🇨🇳 China

Statutory Regulator(s)

None unified – Licensing is fragmented, often tied to medical or educational institutions.

Note: The former national licensing exam for Psychological Counsellor (心理咨询师) - A national vocational credential, was restructured in 2017. Currently, regulation is fragmented, with qualifications often tied to medical or educational institutions.

Professional Association(s)

• Chinese Psychological Society (CPS) (Website) Academic and professional association for psychology in China; sets standards for members, organises conferences, and supports research.

  
  

🇯🇵 Japan

Statutory Regulator(s)

• Certified Public Psychologist (公認心理師) (Website) National qualification introduced in 2017; requires passing an exam after completing approved training. This is the primary statutory credential for practising psychologists in Japan.

Professional Association(s)

• Japanese Psychological Association (JPA) (Website)Largest academic/professional organisation for psychologists in Japan; membership signals adherence to ethical standards.

• Japan Federation for Psychotherapy (Website) Umbrella body for various psychotherapy modalities and training organisations.

🇸🇬 Singapore

Statutory Regulator(s)

None – No statutory licensing at the time of writing

Professional Association(s)

• SPS — Singapore Psychological Society (Website) Professional association; membership grades and practice resources (no statutory licensing at time of writing).

• SAC — Singapore Association for Counselling (Website)

  Professional association; Registered Counsellor credential and practice standards.

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Statutory Regulator(s)

NZPB – New Zealand Psychologists Board (Website) Registers psychologists; scopes of practice and competence standards.

Professional Association(s)

• NZPsS — New Zealand Psychological Society (Website) Professional body for psychologists; scopes of practice and competence standards.

• NZAC — New Zealand Association of Counsellors (Website)

  Professional association; membership, ethics, advocacy.

🇿🇦 South Africa

Statutory Regulator(s)

• HPCSA — Health Professions Council of South Africa (Website) Registers psychologists (and other health professions); protects public and sets standards.

🇮🇪 Ireland

Statutory Regulator(s)

None – Psychology and counselling are not statutorily regulated at the time of writing.

Professional Association(s)

• PSI — Psychological Society of Ireland (Website) Professional body for psychologists in Ireland.

• IACP — Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (Website) Professional body for counsellors/psychotherapists.

• ICP — Irish Council for Psychotherapy (Website) Umbrella body for psychotherapy in Ireland.

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Statutory Regulator(s)

• BIG-register (Website) National register for health professionals (e.g., GZ-psycholoog).

Professional Association(s)

• NIP — Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (Website) Professional association for psychologists.

🇩🇪 Germany

Statutory Regulator(s)

• BPtK — Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (Website) National/regional chambers regulating psychotherapists.

Professional Association(s)

• DGPs — German Psychological Society (Website) Scientific/professional psychology society.

🇫🇷 France

Statutory Regulator(s)

• RPPS (Health Professional Shared Directory) / protected title “Psychologue” (Website) Registration under the public health code (RPPS; previously ADELI).

Professional Association(s)

• CNCDP — National Commission for the Deontology of Psychologists (Website) Ethics advisory body for psychologists.

🇪🇸 Spain

Statutory Regulator(s)

• COP — Consejo General de la Psicología de España (Website) General Council of Psychology; national professional body.

🇮🇹 Italy

Statutory Regulator(s)

• CNOP — Consiglio Nazionale Ordine Psicologi (Website) National Order of Psychologists (protected title & registers).

🇸🇪 Sweden

Statutory Regulator(s)

• Socialstyrelsen — National Board of Health and Welfare (Website) (Statutory Regulator) Licensure: Legitimerad psykolog.

Professional Association(s)

• Sveriges Psykologförbund — Swedish Psychological Association (Website) Professional association.

Further Learning

If you’re looking for practical guidance on making an informed therapy choice, you might also like:

• How to Choose the Right Therapist: a step-by-step guide to matching with a professional who fits your needs.

• How to Start Therapy & What to Expect: Practical insights on the first sessions, goal setting, and the therapy process.

• 5 Real Tips Before Starting Therapy: Honest, experience-based advice to prepare you emotionally and practically.

Disclaimer:

This is not a complete list of every organisation worldwide. It highlights the most widely recognised and reputable bodies in each country at the time of writing.