COUNCELLING PRACTITIONERS COUNCIL OF NIGERIA ACT

What Is This Policy?

The Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN) Act 2022 establishes the Council as the statutory body responsible for advancing the study, training, and practice of the counselling profession in Nigeria. It empowers CPCN to set and maintain the standards of knowledge and skill required for registered counselling practitioners, and to regulate counselling practice across schools, hospitals, prisons, corporate organisations, and community settings.

Who Does It Target?

School counsellors in primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions across Nigeria Clinical and community counsellors working in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, NGOs, and private practice Counselling graduates from Nigerian universities who must register with CPCN before practising Corporate organisations and institutions employing counsellors for employee assistance programmes

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Determine and uphold the standards of knowledge and skill required for professional counselling practice in Nigeria Establish and maintain a national register of certified counselling practitioners and publish updated lists for public accountability Eliminate quackery and unqualified counselling practice, particularly in schools and healthcare settings where vulnerable persons are most at risk Promote mental health and psychosocial wellbeing through accessible, professionally delivered counselling services nationwide

Key Features

Mandatory Registration: All persons practising counselling professionally in Nigeria must register with CPCN; unregistered practice is a criminal offence under the Act Licensing and Renewal: Registered counsellors receive an annual practising licence; maintaining registration requires ongoing CPD and adherence to the professional code of ethics School Counselling Standard: Policy addresses the historic neglect of school counselling in Nigeria; all secondary schools must have at least one CPCN-registered counsellor Scope of Practice: CPCN defines and publishes the scope of practice for counselling, distinguishing it from psychology, social work, and psychiatry Examination and Certification: CPCN conducts licensing examinations for counselling graduates; a tiered membership structure accommodates practitioners at different career stages Federal-State Alignment: State governments are encouraged to domesticate the Act to integrate CPCN regulation into state education and health systems

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; CPCN formally inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2024; registration drives ongoing across tertiary institutions Implementing Body: Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN); Federal Ministry of Education; state ministries of education Historical Significance: The Act came 26 years after the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) first received its certificate of registration, ending decades of unregulated practice Mental Health Integration: CPCN counselling services complement the Mental Health Act 2021's psychosocial support provisions, extending community mental health reach

How to Access

Counselling Graduates: Apply for CPCN registration through the Council's secretariat; submit your degree certificate, complete the prescribed examination, and pay the registration fee Schools and Hospitals: Contact CPCN to verify that your counselling staff hold current registration; access the CPCN register of certified practitioners Private Practitioners: Obtain a CPCN practising licence before offering counselling services commercially; display your certificate prominently in your practice Contact: CPCN: Secretariat, c/o Federal Ministry of Education, Phase III Secretariat, Abuja | CASSON: casson.org.ng

Official Resources

Website: In development | CASSON: casson.org.ng Contact: Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria, c/o Federal Ministry of Education, Block 5A Federal Secretariat, Abuja Policy Summary | Source: Statehouse Nigeria, Vanguard, Leadership Nigeria, Worldstage, Voice of Nigeria, casson.org | February 2026

Legal Framework

The Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria Act 2022 establishes CPCN under statute. It operates under the National Policy on Education, the Mental Health Act 2021, and the National Health Act 2014. CPCN aligns with the International Association for Counselling (IAC) global standards for counselling practice, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ethical framework, and the African Counselling Association (AfCA) guidelines.