Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in Malaysia: 2025 Guide

In Malaysia, the regulation of mental health professionals is divided by role. Counsellors are legally licensed to practice through a national board, while the title 'Clinical Psychologist' is protected by law, but the practice itself is not licensed.

This guide explains the requirements for each profession, how to verify a provider's credentials on the official registers, and what to look for to ensure you receive qualified and legally authorised care.

Table of Contents | Jump Ahead

Executive Summary

Legal Framework and Regulatory Authority

Professional Categories and Licensing Requirements

Professional Organisations and Associations

Educational Requirements and Professional Development

Professional Practice Statistics and Workforce Data

Professional Verification and Quality Assurance

References and Official Sources

Executive Summary

Legal Framework and Regulatory Authority

Mental Health Act 2001 and Mental Health Regulations 2010

• Official Title: Mental Health Act 2001
• Parliamentary Approval: August 2001
• Implementation Date: 2010 (when Mental Health Regulations 2010 came into force)
• Regulatory Scope: Provides framework for comprehensive care, treatment, control, protection and rehabilitation of those with mental disorders
• Facility Governance: Establishes standards for private and government psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric nursing homes and community mental health centres

• Mental Disorder Definition: "Any mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of the mind, psychiatric disorder or any other disorder or disability of the mind, however acquired"
• Legal Exclusions: Cannot be construed as a mental disorder by reason only of promiscuity, immoral conduct, sexual deviancy, alcohol/drug consumption, political/religious opinions, or antisocial personality
• Compulsory Admission Criteria: Statutory criteria requiring mental disorder "of a nature or degree" that "warrants admission into a psychiatric hospital" for assessment, treatment, health/safety, or protection of others
• Professional Framework: Establishes roles for psychiatrists, medical officers, and registered medical practitioners in admission and treatment decisions

Private Healthcare Integration

• Dual Regulatory Framework: Mental Health Act 2001 interpreted alongside Private Healthcare Facilities and Service Act 1998 in private sector
• Facility Licensing: Private psychiatric facilities must comply with both legislative frameworks
• Service Standards: Standardised requirements for private mental health service delivery and professional conduct
• Quality Assurance: Integrated oversight of both public and private mental health service provision

Board of Visitors System

• Appointment Authority: Minister of Health appoints board of visitors for each psychiatric hospital and psychiatric nursing home
• Composition: Minimum three members, including medical officer/registered medical practitioner (preferably a psychiatrist) not working in the hospital, and two other visitors (one must be a woman)
• Functions: Review patients' detention, investigate complaints, inspect facilities, direct patient discharge or continued detention
• Review Requirements: Patients must be reviewed by visitors at least every 12 months

Professional Categories and Licensing Requirements

Counselling Profession Licensing

• Official Name: Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia (LKM)
• Legal Foundation: Established under Counsellors' Act
• Government Website: www.lembagakaunselor.gov.my
• Regulatory Authority: Issues licenses for registered counsellors and maintains professional standards

• Educational Prerequisite: Master's degree in Counselling from LKM-accredited program
• Registration Requirement: Must be registered with Malaysian Board of Counsellors (LKM)
• Practising Certificate: Biennial Practising Certificate required for active practice
• Professional Designation: Licensed and registered counsellor status
• Renewal Process: Biennial renewal of practising certificate with continuing education requirements

• Professional Licensing: Issue and renew counsellor licenses and practising certificates
• Educational Standards: Accredit counselling education programs and maintain training standards
• Professional Conduct: Maintain a code of ethics and handle disciplinary actions
• Public Protection: Provide public verification of counsellor licensing status
• Continuing Education: Oversee continuing professional development requirements

Clinical Psychology Regulation

Allied Health Professions Act (AHPA) 2016

• Legal Protection: Legally protects the term "Clinical Psychologist" from unauthorised use
• Registration System: Government maintains a register of clinical psychologists under AHPA 2016
• Title Protection: Prevents unqualified individuals from claiming to be clinical psychologists
• Current Implementation: Government is currently registering clinical psychologists to enable law enforcement

• No Practice Licensing: Malaysia has no licensing system for clinical psychology practice
• Registration Only: Professional registration under AHPA 2016 for title protection
• Educational Requirements: Typically Master's in Clinical Psychology from recognised program
• Professional Recognition: Title "Clinical Psychologist" legally protected, but practice not licensed
• Workforce Statistics: Approximately 400 clinical psychologists serving population of 33 million people

General Psychology Practice

• No Formal Regulation: No licensing or registration system for general psychology practice
• Educational Standards: Master's or Doctoral degree in psychology typically required for professional practice
• Professional Associations: Multiple professional associations, but no licensing authority
• Practice Scope: Can practice psychology, but cannot use "Clinical Psychologist" title without AHPA registration
• Professional Development: Voluntary professional association membership for standards and development

Professional Organisations and Associations

Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP)

• Founded: 2009
• Primary Mission: Advocate for clinical psychology profession and provide public means of determining qualified clinical psychologists
• Professional Standards: Maintains standards for clinical psychology practice and professional conduct
• Public Information: Helps public identify properly qualified clinical psychologists
• Government Relations: Working to increase professional influence over government policy and healthcare integration

• Professional Advocacy: Represent clinical psychology profession in policy discussions
• Public Education: Provide information about clinical psychology services and qualifications
• Professional Development: Offer continuing education and professional development opportunities
• Quality Assurance: Maintain standards for clinical psychology practice and ethics
• Networking: Facilitate professional networking and collaboration among clinical psychologists

Malaysia Psychological Association

• Scope: General psychology professional association serving all psychology specialisations
• Functions: Professional development, networking, advocacy for psychology profession
• Membership: Open to psychology professionals, students, and interested parties
• Services: Professional development programs, conferences, publications
• Status: Professional association without regulatory or licensing authority

Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA)

• Services: Psychological therapy and support services for public
• Contact Information: +603 2780 6803 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, except public holidays)
• Scope: Mental health advocacy, public education, and direct support services
• Role: Public mental health education, stigma reduction, and community support programs
• Service Delivery: Direct psychological therapy and support services to community

Malaysian Psychotherapy Association

• Focus: Psychotherapy practice, training, and professional development
• Scope: Specialised psychotherapy services, training programs, and professional standards
• Professional Standards: Maintains standards for psychotherapy practice and ethics
• Training: Provides psychotherapy training and continuing education programs

Educational Requirements and Professional Development

Clinical Psychology Training

• Pioneer Program: Master's in Clinical Psychology at National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM)
• Established Programs: Master's in Clinical Psychology at HELP University (long-established program)
• Recent Expansion: Several universities have begun offering Clinical Psychology training programmes in recent years
• Program Accreditation: Programs must meet standards for clinical psychology training and AHPA registration eligibility

• Supervision Shortage: Insufficient experienced clinical psychologists available to teach or supervise trainees
• Placement Difficulties: Trainee clinical psychologists struggle to find training placements providing adequate hours of direct client work
• Quality Variation: Some newer courses have insufficient practical training opportunities, affecting learning outcomes
• Delayed Qualification: Training placement issues can delay time to qualification as clinical psychologist
• Program Selection: Prospective students advised to check with current/recent trainees about program quality and placement opportunities

Counseling Education

• Minimum Qualification: Master's degree in Counselling from an LKM-accredited program
• LKM Accreditation: Programs must meet Malaysia Board of Counsellors (LKM) accreditation criteria for curriculum, faculty, and practical training
• Professional Eligibility: Graduates from accredited programs eligible to apply for license as registered counsellors from LKM
• University Programs: Multiple universities offer LKM-accredited counselling programs including Open University Malaysia, Taylor's University

• Theoretical Foundation: Comprehensive counselling theory, psychology, and human development coursework
• Practical Training: Supervised counselling practice and internship requirements
• Professional Ethics: Training in professional ethics, legal issues, and professional conduct
• Specialisation Options: Various specialisation tracks within counselling programs

Continuing Professional Development

• LKM Requirements: Licensed counsellors must complete continuing professional development for biennial certificate renewal
• Professional Association Programs: Various professional associations offer continuing education programs
• University Programs: Universities provide continuing education and professional development courses
• International Standards: Alignment with international best practices in professional development

Professional Practice Statistics and Workforce Data

Clinical Psychology Workforce

• Total Numbers: Approximately 400 clinical psychologists in Malaysia
• Population Ratio: Serves a population of 33 million people (extremely low ratio)
• International Comparison: UK has 27,500 practitioner psychologists serving 67 million people
• Speciality Distribution: Malaysia has only a handful of psychologists in educational, counselling, health, forensic, and occupational psychology fields
• Geographic Distribution: Most clinical psychologists concentrated in urban areas, particularly Kuala Lumpur

Mental Health Service Need

• NHMS 2015 Survey: National Health and Morbidity Survey revealed 29.2% prevalence of mental health problems among those 16 years and above
• Population Impact: Approximately 7 million Malaysians in psychological distress could benefit from clinical psychology interventions
• Service Gap: Significant gap between mental health service need and available clinical psychology services
• Unmet Need: Vast majority of people with mental health issues do not receive psychological intervention

Professional Verification and Quality Assurance

Clinical Psychology Verification

• Government Register: Allied Health Professions Act (AHPA) 2016 maintains official register of clinical psychologists
• Public Verification: Register allows public verification of clinical psychologist registration status
• Legal Protection: Term "Clinical Psychologist" legally protected from unauthorised use
• Enforcement Development: Government currently registering practitioners to enable law enforcement against unauthorised title use

• Educational Verification: Registration requires verification of clinical psychology education from a recognised program
• Professional Conduct: Registered clinical psychologists subject to professional conduct standards
• Continuing Registration: Ongoing registration requirements and renewal processes

Counselling Verification and Standards

• Official Register: Malaysian Board of Counsellors maintains comprehensive register of licensed counsellors
• Public Access: Public can verify counsellor licensing status and practising certificate validity through LKM
• Biennial Certification: Active practice requires a valid biennial practising certificate
• Professional Standards: LKM maintains comprehensive code of ethics and professional conduct standards

• Disciplinary Procedures: LKM handles complaints and disciplinary actions against licensed counsellors
• Continuing Education: Mandatory continuing professional development for license renewal
• Professional Supervision: Requirements for professional supervision and consultation
• Ethical Standards: Comprehensive code of ethics governing professional practice

References and Official Sources

Malaysia Psychological Association

Seal, D. (2023, October 2). The Status of Clinical Psychology in Malaysia. Resolve.

Malaysian Board of Counsellors (LKM)

Malaysian Healthcare Practitioners' System

Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA)

Malaysian Psychotherapy Association

Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology