Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in South Africa: 2026 Guide

South African law protects some professional titles and not others. This guide sets out which, and how to check any practitioner's registration.

Quick answer: who regulates mental health professionals, and who does not

Three statutory councils regulate mental health professions in South Africa. Each keeps a public register that anyone can search free of charge.

They are the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) and the South African Nursing Council (SANC). The table below shows which title sits with which council.

Titles such as counsellor, wellness counsellor and life coach are different. No statute protects them. Bodies like the ASCHP cover this space on a voluntary, non-statutory basis.

ASCHP wellness counsellor registration: requirements and the criminal record question

Does ASCHP wellness counsellor registration require a criminal record check or police clearance?

A police clearance does not appear among the entrance requirements the ASCHP publishes on its website.¹⁶ We checked the entrance requirements the ASCHP publishes on aschp.org.za and the SAQA designation criteria. The SAQA criteria for the Wellness Counsellor designation are also silent on it.¹⁴

That is not the same as a confirmed "no". The full application form must be requested from the ASCHP office.¹⁶ Confirm the current document list with the ASCHP directly before applying.

What the ASCHP publishes as its requirements

The ASCHP is a SAQA-recognised professional body with designations listed on the NQF.¹² The four designations run from NQF level 4 to NQF level 8.¹² Supportive Counsellors normally work under supervision in institutional settings.¹³

For the Wellness Counsellor designation, SAQA lists three awarding criteria:

• A Bachelor's degree in Psychology at NQF level 7¹⁴
• 100 hours of practical experience¹⁴
• A competency assessment of qualifications and practical hours¹⁴

For the Specialist Wellness Counsellor designation: an Honours degree in Psychology at NQF level 8.¹⁵ SAQA lists the same 100 hours of practical experience and the same competency assessment for that designation. Recognition of Prior Learning offers a route for applicants without accredited qualifications.¹⁶ The Board may require a prescribed board examination where deemed necessary.¹⁶

Membership runs year to year, with an annual fee payable on renewal.¹⁶ Retention has its own criteria too. Wellness Counsellors need 15 CPD points per calendar year,¹⁴ of which 3 Ethics points and 3 Wellness points are compulsory; Specialist Wellness Counsellors need 18.¹⁵

Where the ASCHP sits legally

SAQA lists the ASCHP as non-statutory, with recognition renewed to 1 June 2031.¹⁷ Its own rules state it is not a statutory body but a free association.¹⁸ It provides membership to counsellors who work in the non-statutory domain.¹⁹

In plain terms: ASCHP membership is a professional credential, not a licence. It does not authorise the reserved acts of the psychology profession, described below.

Registered Counsellor (HPCSA) or ASCHP counsellor: the two routes compared

The two routes differ in legal standing, entry requirements and what you may lawfully do.

The stakes are legal, not just reputational. Performing acts that pertain to the psychology profession while unregistered is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine or up to 12 months in prison.² Falsely professing to be registered, or using a title calculated to suggest it, carries a fine or up to five years.²

The legal framework: which Act governs which profession

Five statutes and one set of regulations carry most of the weight. Knowing which is which makes every claim on this page checkable.

• Health Professions Act 56 of 1974: HPCSA registration, and the offences for unregistered practice.
• Government Notice R.993 of 16 September 2008: defines the scope of the profession of psychology.
• Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978: registration of social workers with the SACSSP.
• Nursing Act 33 of 2005: nursing registration; the SANC eRegister is published under section 35.
• Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002: consent to care, and the framework for involuntary care.
• Medical Schemes Act, 1998: defines the services medical schemes fund.

HPCSA-registered professions

Psychologists

No person may practise the profession of a psychologist unless registered under the Act.¹ The scope of the profession is defined in Government Notice R.993 of 16 September 2008.³

The reserved acts include evaluating personality and mental functioning through psychological tests.³ They also include psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and psychological counselling to prevent emotional problems.⁴ Anyone wishing to perform these acts must apply to the board for registration.⁴

The regulations define psychology to cover psychologists, psychometrists and registered counsellors.³ Registered psychologists must also follow board rules of conduct, enforceable through disciplinary steps.⁵

Registered counsellors

The Registered Counsellor is the statutory counselling category. It exists to widen access to psychological services across the country.⁹ Entry runs through an accredited degree and a national examination:

• A professional Bachelor's degree in Psychology (a 480-credit qualification with an exit at NQF level 8), or a BPsych Equivalent programme⁹¹⁰
• An approved full-time 6-month or 720-hour face-to-face practicum built into the programme⁹
• A letter confirming the candidate has passed the Board Examination¹⁰

Registered Counsellors perform short-term counselling, screening, assessment and psychological interventions.¹¹ They act as the first line of community-based psychological support.¹¹ They refer on to appropriate professionals and other resources where needed.¹¹

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists sit under the HPCSA on the medical side. In the Mental Health Care Act, a psychiatrist means a person registered as such in terms of the Health Professions Act.⁶

The same Act governs care without consent. Ordinarily, a user must consent to care, treatment and rehabilitation services.⁷ It allows involuntary care, treatment and rehabilitation only in narrow circumstances.⁸ An application for involuntary care may only be made by the user's spouse, next of kin, partner, associate, parent or guardian, or, where they are unwilling, incapable or unavailable, by a health care provider.⁸

Other registered professions

The HPCSA registers several allied professions too. The public register list includes arts therapists.²⁶ It also lists occupational therapists and psychometrists.²⁵

Social workers and psychiatric nurses

Social workers (SACSSP)

Social workers may not practise unless registered with the SACSSP.²⁰ Practising without registration is an offence under section 15(1) of the Act.²⁰ On conviction, the penalty is a fine or imprisonment for up to six months.²⁰

The title is protected too. Only registered professionals may use the reserved title of social worker.²¹ Registration requirements sit in Government Notice R.101, Gazette 34020 of 18 February 2011.²²

Psychiatric nurses (SANC)

Nurses register with the South African Nursing Council. The eRegister is published in terms of section 35 of the Nursing Act, 2005.²³ It is a copy of the active records in the official register.²³

Psychiatric nursing has a dedicated additional qualification. Its diploma regulations, R.880, were made under the 1957 Nursing Act.²⁴ The SANC still hosts the text of that regulation on its website.

How to verify a practitioner in under five minutes

Every check below is free and uses an official register. If a person claims a protected title, the register shows whether they hold it.

HPCSA: psychologists, registered counsellors, psychiatrists

1. Open the HPCSA iRegister.
2. Choose the profession you need. Registered Counsellor appears as a distinct register in the search dropdown.²⁵
3. Search by registration number, name, surname or city.²⁶

SACSSP: social workers

Use the SACSSP's Find a Professional search. It confirms whether a professional is registered and in good standing.²⁷ You can search by SACSSP registration number, first name or surname.²⁷

SANC: nurses

Use the SANC eRegister. It is a free application, open to any internet user.²³

ASCHP: voluntary designations

ASCHP designations are not on a statutory register. Check the SAQA professional body record and confirm membership with the ASCHP itself.

Red flags, and where complaints go

Seeing a counsellor outside the statutory system is not itself a red flag. Many work ethically, within their training, in supportive and wellness roles. The concerns below are about misrepresentation and overreach.

• A protected title without a register entry. Psychologist, registered counsellor, social worker and nurse are all verifiable titles. If a search returns nothing, ask the practitioner for their registration number.
• Diagnosis or treatment of mental illness by someone unregistered. The reserved psychological acts include assessment, psychotherapy and psychological counselling.
• Guaranteed outcomes. Ethical practitioners describe the help they offer; they do not promise results.

To complain, go to the council that registers the practitioner. For psychologists, the board's conduct rules carry formal disciplinary steps. The SACSSP also publishes regulations for the holding of disciplinary inquiries.²²

Finding a registered therapist

TherapyRoute is a clinician-run directory, founded by an HPCSA-registered clinical psychologist. Our South African listings let you contact registered professionals directly. Start with our guide on how to find the right therapist.

One note on medical aid. A relevant health service means treatment by a person registered in terms of any law.²⁸ That definition is why schemes generally fund only registered practitioners.

Study routes are a separate topic. This page covers registration law and verification, not degree pathways. For the academic side, see our guide to academic credentials for mental health professionals in South Africa.

Last reviewed: July 2026.

Team TherapyRoute

References

1. [1] Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), section 17 (Registration a prerequisite for practising) gov.za.
2. [2] Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), sections 39-40 (offences by unregistered persons; penalty for professing to be registered) - consolidated text as amended by Act 29 of 2007, which repealed the former ss.36-38 ufs.ac.za.
3. [3] Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Psychology, Government Notice No. R. 993, Government Gazette No. 31433 (16 September 2008), regulations 1-2 (definitions; acts specially pertaining to the profession of psychology) web.archive.org.
4. [4] Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Psychology, Government Notice No. R. 993, Government Gazette No. 31433 (16 September 2008), regulations 2(g)-(i) and 5 (psychotherapy and counselling acts; registration a prerequisite to practice) web.archive.org.
5. [5] Professional Board for Psychology, Rules of Conduct Pertaining Specifically to the Profession of Psychology (Annexure 12, Government Gazette No. 29079, 4 August 2006), preamble and rule 1 (definitions) web.archive.org.
6. [6] Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No. 17 of 2002), section 1 (definitions: 'psychiatric hospital', 'psychiatrist', 'psychologist', 'rehabilitation') gov.za.
7. [7] Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No. 17 of 2002), section 9 (Consent to care, treatment and rehabilitation services and admission to health establishments) gov.za.
8. [8] Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No. 17 of 2002), sections 32-33 (care, treatment and rehabilitation of mental health care users without consent; application for involuntary care) gov.za.
9. [9] HPCSA Form 258 (Nov 2024), framework for Registered Counsellors, ss2-3: role definition, and the qualification route - a professional Bachelor's degree in Psychology (480-credit, NQF level 8 exit) or BPsych Equivalent programme incorporating an approved full-time 6-month or 720-hour face-to-face practicum. (PDF text extraction; spacing artifacts present.) hpcsa.co.za/api/website.
10. [10] HPCSA Psychology Board registration requirements (official PDF served from hpcsa.co.za 'Registration Requirements' page): registration as Registered Counsellor (PRC) requires Form 24 RC, a letter confirming the candidate has PASSED the Board Examination, and a notarised copy of the 4-year bachelor's degree in Psychology or BPsych Equivalent. hpcsa.co.za/api/website.
11. [11] HPCSA Form 258 (Nov 2024) s10, scope of practice: Registered Counsellors perform short-term counselling, screening, assessment and psychological interventions as first-line community-based psychological support, with referral roles. (PDF text extraction; spacing artifacts present.) hpcsa.co.za/api/website.
12. [12] ASCHP (aschp.org.za, rendered 2026-07-17): SAQA-recognised professional body; four designations on the NQF - Supportive Counsellor (ID 645, NQF 4), Holistic Counsellor (646, NQF 5), Wellness Counsellor (895, NQF 7), Specialist Wellness Counsellor (896, NQF 8). aschp.org.za/designations.
13. [13] ASCHP designations page, scope descriptions: Wellness Counsellors use a systems approach and are qualified at least NQF level 7; Specialist Wellness Counsellors at least NQF level 8+; Supportive Counsellors (NQF 4) normally work under supervision in institutional settings. aschp.org.za/designations.
14. [14] SAQA designation entry, Wellness Counsellor (ID 895): awarding criteria are a Bachelor's degree in Psychology (NQF Level 7), 100 hours practical experience, competency assessment; RPL possible; retention = code of conduct + 15 CPD points per year + fees. No criminal-record requirement listed. pbdesig.saqa.org.za.
15. [15] SAQA designation entry, Specialist Wellness Counsellor (ID 896): awarding criteria are an Honours degree in Psychology (NQF Level 8), 100 hours practical experience, competency assessment; RPL possible; retention = 18 CPD points per year. No criminal-record requirement listed. pbdesig.saqa.org.za.
16. [16] ASCHP homepage, Membership / entrance requirements: para-professional standing; accredited qualifications or RPL equivalent; Quick Evaluation Form + application; the Board may require a prescribed board examination where deemed necessary. No criminal-record or police-clearance requirement is stated anywhere on the official site or in the 2025 Rules. aschp.org.za.
17. [17] SAQA registry entry: ASCHP (Professional Body ID 984), status 'Recognition Renewed', Non-Statutory; SAQA decision 0340/26, recognition 2026-06-02 to 2031-06-01; four registered designations (645, 646, 895, 896). pbdesig.saqa.org.za/viewProfessionalBody.php.
18. [18] ASCHP Rules and Regulations 2025 (official PDF): ASCHP is the only SAQA-recognised professional body for counsellors in the informal wellness sector; it is NOT a statutory body brought about by legislation but a free association with para-statutory powers under the NQF legislation. (PDF text extraction; intra-word spacing artifacts present.) aschp.org.za.
19. [19] ASCHP homepage Status section: ASCHP (ID 984) is a SAQA-recognised professional body with listed designations on the NQF (Act 67 of 2008); it provides membership to counsellors in the non-statutory domain, i.e. who are not psychologists. aschp.org.za.
20. [20] SACSSP 'Register to Practice': social workers and other social service professionals may not practise unless registered with the SACSSP under the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978; practising without registration is an offence under section 15(1), liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment not exceeding six months. sacssp.co.za/register-practice.
21. [21] SACSSP Registration page: a registered professional is allowed to use the title exclusively reserved for the profession, e.g. social worker; persons not registered with the SACSSP may not use these reserved titles and may be subject to criminal sanctions if they do. sacssp.co.za/registration.
22. [22] SACSSP Registration page, requirements and documents for social workers: regulations GN R.101, GG 34020 of 18 February 2011 under s28 of Act 110 of 1978; documents include certified ID, matric certificate, academic record, certified copy of the social work qualification (BSW), and proof of payment. sacssp.co.za/registration.
23. [23] SANC eRegister: published in terms of section 35 of the Nursing Act, 2005 as a copy of the active records in the official register of the South African Nursing Council; free to use, primarily intended for employers verifying the registration status of nurses and midwives. sanc.co.za/eregister.
24. [24] SANC Government Notice R.880 of 2 May 1975 (as amended to R.64 of 17 January 1997): Regulations for the Course for the Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing for Registration as a Psychiatric Nurse, made under section 11(1) of the Nursing Act 1957 (Act 69 of 1957); sets school approval conditions and admission requirements. sanc.co.za/r-880.
25. [25] HPCSA iRegister register dropdown (contiguous segment): REGISTERED COUNSELLOR and (further down) STUDENT REGISTERED COUNSELLOR are distinct registers, alongside PSYCHOLOGIST and PSYCHOMETRIST - the public verification path for the statutory counselling category. hpcsaonline.custhelp.com/app/i_reg_form.
26. [26] HPCSA iRegister (official public register search, hpcsaonline.custhelp.com): searchable by registration number, full name, surname, postal code and city, against a selectable register list. hpcsaonline.custhelp.com/app/i_reg_form.
27. [27] SACSSP 'Find a Professional' (public directory): allows the public to confirm whether a social service professional is registered and/or in good standing; searchable by SACSSP registration number, first name or surname, with a live alphabetical listing of registrants. sacssp.co.za/directory/find-professional.
28. [28] Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, s1 (consolidated text, national legislation database lawlibrary.org.za): 'relevant health service' - the service a medical scheme funds - means health care treatment 'by a person registered in terms of any law'; the statutory basis for medical schemes reimbursing only practitioners registered under a statutory council. lawlibrary.org.za/akn/za/act/1998/131/eng.