VETASSESS offers qualifications assessments for overseas psychotherapy and counselling graduates seeking PACFA membership, comparing their qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and/or PACFA Registration Standards.
Important note
This is not a migration skills assessment. Applicants requiring migration skills assessment should refer to the Skills Assessment for Migration page. Employment experience cannot compensate for lack of formal qualification. PACFA may have additional membership requirements beyond this assessment. This assessment does not guarantee successful PACFA membership. Forged, altered, or falsified documents will not be assessed and no refund will be provided. Review applications must be submitted within 90 days of the original assessment decision. All identification and qualification documents must be high-quality colour scans certified as true copies by an authorised person in the country of residence.
Eligibility Criteria
6 criteria- Have been referred to VETASSESS for a qualifications assessment by PACFA
- Hold a qualification in Psychotherapy or Counselling
- Qualification must be officially recognized by educational authorities in the country of award
- Qualification must be equivalent to at least AQF Bachelor degree or higher (AQF levels 7-9)
- Must meet minimum training requirements: 400 hours of instruction (minimum 200 hours direct person-to-person instruction, minimum 140 hours face-to-face)
- Must include minimum 40 hours of client contact with 10 hours of supervision (5 hours individual, one-on-one)
- One primary ID - certified copy of either passport or birth certificate
- Additional photo ID if passport not submitted - certified copy
- One recent passport size photograph
- Name change document if applicable (e.g. marriage certificate) - certified copy
- Certified copy of qualification award certificate in original language
- Certified copy of full academic transcript showing subjects and marks/grades in original language
- Copy of course handbook/syllabus describing each unit of study (if applying for PACFA Registration Standards assessment)
- Completed verification form for supervised practice (if applying for PACFA Registration Standards assessment)
- English translations by registered translation service for all non-English documents
- For European qualifications: Diploma Supplement if available
- For Philippine qualifications: Evidence of passing Professional Regulation Commission's Licensure Examinations if available
- For Lebanese qualifications: Evidence of approval by Ministry of Education and Higher Education Equivalence Committee
- For Chinese qualifications: Must be verified through VETASSESS Qualification Verification service