12 Counselling Courses In Singapore to Upskill or Further Your Professional Development
Counselling is a fulfilling job that allows individuals to provide meaningful help and make a difference in the lives of others. Whether you’re interested in becoming a qualified counsellor or want to apply the techniques in your day-to-day life, a counselling course will help you acquire the necessary skills.
From part-time courses and diplomas to degrees, learn about the various counselling courses offered in Singapore and find the right one for you.
Short Basic Counselling Courses in Singapore
Perhaps you’re thinking about a career in counselling but want to get a sense of what it entails. There are various short courses available to help you understand more about this field. Ranging from 3 days to 6 months, you can choose an option that fits your schedule.
While completing these courses doesn’t make you a certified counsellor, they provide helpful insight into the theories and practices used in effective counselling. Whether or not you choose to pursue further studies in this area, you can apply the concepts you’ve learnt to help people around you.
Certification in Basic Counselling Competency (Executive Counselling and Training Academy)
✓ Certificate provided upon completion
This 6-month-long Basic Counselling Competency course provides participants with an overview of the role of a counsellor and helps them develop basic counselling skills. It consists of 7 modules that cover topics including microskills in counselling and intervention problem-solving skills.
Individuals who wish to further their skills can also apply to advanced courses like the Graduate Diploma of Counselling or Master of Counselling-Advanced offered by the academy.
Duration: 155 hours (6 months)
Schedule: 5 days, 15 hours per week
Fee: $5,432.40
Certificate in Para Counselling in Community Setting (Social Service Institute)
✓ Certificate provided upon completion
Through this Para Counselling course, you’ll receive essential training to prepare you for working alongside certified counsellors. You’ll also gain knowledge about counselling techniques like Egan’s model and understand what it means to be a para-counsellor.
Duration: 58 hours
Schedule: 20 days
Fee: $360 – $1,296.00
Certificate in Practical Counselling (Basic) (Temasek Polytechnic)
✓ Certificate provided upon completion
✓ SkillsFuture eligible
This 3-day Basic Practical Counselling course is designed to provide individuals who have little or no experience with a comprehensive introduction to the foundations of counselling. You’ll be introduced to counselling frameworks and skills such as paraphrasing and asking questions.
Once you complete this journey, you’ll be better equipped to help others navigate through difficult times.
Duration: 24 hours
Schedule: 3 days (9am – 6pm)
Fee: $72.60 – $642.00
Counselling Psychology in Singapore (Singapore University of Social Sciences)
The Counselling Psychology in Singapore course is offered as part of SUSS’s Continuing Education and Training (CET) initiative, which helps individuals to upskill and stay on top of industry developments.
With a focus on counselling in the local context, you’ll develop a strong understanding of common mental disorders and how stress impacts Singaporeans. You’ll also learn how to help others enhance their self-esteem and manage their physical and mental well-being.
Duration: 6 months
Fee: $1,378
Diploma Counselling Courses in Singapore
For those interested in further developing their counselling skills, we’ve compiled a list of diploma courses offered by different institutions to help you get started on your journey.
However, to become a registered counsellor in Singapore, you’ll need to obtain at least a postgraduate diploma from a SAC recognised programme.
Some of the institutions below offer pathways to help students pursue the necessary qualifications upon the completion of their diplomas.
Diploma in Counselling (Kaplan Higher Education Institute)
✓ Counsellors at Sofia Wellness Clinic certified with this diploma: Claire Leong
The Diploma in Counselling course at Kaplan consists of 8 modules that covers a range of topics including career counselling, foundational psychology and conflict management. Lessons are delivered through a combination of online learning and face-to-face teaching.
There are 6 intakes per year in February, April, June, August, October and December.
Duration: 8 months
Fee: $6,527
Registration fee: $96.30
Diploma in Counselling Psychology (E-Learning) (College of Allied Educators)
✓ Diploma awarded upon completion
✓ SkillsFuture eligible
Conducted online, the Diploma in Counselling Psychology is ideal for those who prefer remote learning. The programme begins with an introduction to the basics of psychology and how it connects with counselling theories and concepts. You’ll also learn about the various counselling approaches and how to best apply them in different situations.
After completing the course, interested students can pursue the Advanced Diploma in Counselling Psychology and Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology offered by the institute.
Duration: 126 hours (5 – 6 months)
Schedule: Mondays and Thursdays (7pm – 10pm)
Fee: $5,125.30
Registration fee: $150
Graduate Diploma In Counselling Practice (Counselling and Care Centre)
✓ Recognized by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC)
The Graduate Diploma In Counselling Practice is recognised by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) as a programme that equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to become registered counsellors in Singapore.
More than half of the course time is dedicated to clinical practice where you’ll be able to hone your counselling skills under the guidance of professionals.
Duration: 300 hours (11 months)
Schedule: 9am – 5pm (first 10 weeks), 11am – 9pm (second semester onwards)
Fee: $11,898.40
Registration fee: $107
Specialist Diploma in Counselling Psychology (Institute of Human Services)
✓ Accredited by Academy of Certified Counsellors (ACC) and Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors Singapore (APACS)
This Specialist Diploma in Counselling Psychology welcomes those who are keen to develop counselling skills. No prior experience is needed.
Applicants who don’t meet the admission requirements may be considered on a case-by-case basis as the course takes into account the personal experiences of each prospective student. The course is also available in Mandarin.
Duration: 108 hours (6 months)
Schedule: 2 days, 6 hours a week
Fee: $4,062.79 – $4,918.79
Counselling Degrees in Singapore
Obtaining a degree in counselling equips you with the full scope of skills to practise professionally as a counsellor. The following universities provide opportunities for you to take your studies further.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Guidance and Counselling (Kaplan Singapore)
This Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Guidance and Counselling comprises 11 modules which can be completed within 18 months. The curriculum provides a theoretical understanding and helps students put that knowledge into practice. Students can enrol in either the full-time or part-time programme.
Graduates will learn counselling strategies that are designed to provide guidance for individuals in sectors like healthcare and education. You’ll have the confidence to apply your knowledge effectively and become an invaluable asset in your organisation.
Duration: 18 months
Schedule: Weekday evenings and weekends (Part-time)
5 days, 15 hours a week (Full-time)
Fee: $23,360.40
Bachelor of Counselling (Singapore University of Social Sciences)
As the only local university to offer a Bachelor of Counselling degree, the part-time programme trains students in several aspects such as multicultural counselling and family counselling. Upon completion of the programme, graduates can confidently pursue a career in professional counselling work.
Aside from the core modules, students can also take electives to specialise in areas such as child counselling, couple counselling and elderly counselling. The programme is tailored to providing an excellent level of competency and preparing students to work in education, health and other service sectors.
Graduation criteria: Students must complete 130 credit units (cu) of courses in total, inclusive of 20 cu of SUSS core courses
Fee: $6,087.23 – $46,007
Master of Arts in Counselling and Guidance (National Institute of Education)
✓ Recognized by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC)
✓ Counsellors at Sofia Wellness Clinic with this degree: Kathleen Chong, Sophia Goh, Wong Hui Yu
The Master of Arts in Counselling and Guidance is offered on both a part-time and full-time basis. Through rigorous training and coursework, students will gain the knowledge required to become competent counsellors.
There’s only 1 intake in August every year. Interested applicants should keep a lookout for the announcement on the National Institute of Education’s (NIE) website in November or December the year before the intake.
Duration: 3 – 4 years (Part-time) / 1.5 – 2 years (Full-time)
Schedule: Most classes are conducted from 6pm to 9pm on weekdays
Fee: $38,793
Master of Counselling (Monash University)
✓ Recognized by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC)
✓ Counsellors at Sofia Wellness Clinic with this degree: Claire Leong, Alexandra Bohnen
The Master of Counselling course at Monash University is taught by academics with extensive knowledge in the field. Aside from campus learning, students are required to complete 200 hours of professional placement to help them gain experience in a real-world setting.
Graduates can find rewarding careers in fields such as family counselling, career counselling, and rehabilitation counselling.
Duration: 12 months, 18 months or 24 months (Part-time)
Schedule: Thursday to Sunday (after office hours in the evenings and/or over the weekend and public holidays)
Fee: $26,571.89 – $39,857.83
FAQs about Counselling Courses in Singapore
What are the 3 basic roles of the counsellor?
The 3 primary duties of a counsellor are listening to their client, devising treatment programmes and developing methods to help them manage emotional or mental issues.
Is being a counsellor a hard job?
A counsellor’s job can be very challenging. You’ll be helping clients with emotional issues on a regular basis, which can become stressful when you’re faced with performance pressure and heavy workloads.
How do I become a certified counsellor in Singapore?
Counselling isn’t considered an Allied Health Profession and isn’t regulated in Singapore. As there’s no licensing registration required to practise it, anyone can identify themselves as a counsellor regardless of whether they have undergone training or not.
Instead, you can choose to register as a counsellor with SAC if you meet the following requirements:
- Completed your training through a SAC recognised programme
- Completed at least 600 postgraduate clinical hours
- Completed 60 supervision hours
In doing so, you’ll be listed on the directory of registered counsellors on SAC’s website. This allows individuals seeking counselling services to verify your credentials.
At Sofia Wellness Clinic, all our counsellors have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in Counselling and are registered with SAC.
Are counsellors in demand in Singapore?
The COVID-19 pandemic has made life more challenging in recent years. Adding to these hardships are global events that threaten our sense of security. As more people face mental and emotional challenges, the demand for counsellors has also increased.
Moreover, as organisations realise the importance of mental wellness, counsellors are increasingly valued as they play a pivotal role in addressing workplace issues and helping employees improve their mental wellness.
What are the different types of counselling that I can specialise in?
For those looking for a career in counselling, there are different areas you can specialise in, such as: