Obtaining a clinical practising licence is an essential step for therapists and counsellors to legally and ethically provide professional services. This credential validates your specialised training, knowledge, and competence in special educational needs and mental health. Beyond legal requirements, a practising licence upholds rigorous standards that safeguard client well-being and maintain the integrity of the profession. It demonstrates your commitment to ethical principles, evidence-based practices, and the delivery of high-quality care.
A practising licence builds trust and confidence among clients, employers, and fellow professionals, opening doors to expanded career opportunities and independent practice. The process also fosters personal and professional growth through ongoing education, supervision, and a thorough understanding of legal and ethical guidelines. Ultimately, a clinical practising licence is a hallmark of expertise, accountability, and dedication to compassionate and effective therapeutic services.
The International Association of Counselors & Therapists (IACT) is the largest and most prestigious professional body of its kind, based in the United States of America, with approximately 40,000 members. It admits individuals who have fulfilled the rigorous requirements of its Practising Licence Programmes as licensed educational therapists, reading therapists, arts therapists, or counsellors. Membership with IACT is a mark of high standards and excellence, and the practising licence is widely recognised globally, including across North America, Asia, and Europe.
Practising licence holders are clinically knowledgeable, skilled, and highly respected professionals. They are eligible to establish therapy practices or special educational needs centres globally, and to provide intervention and therapy procedures for children, adolescents, and adults with special educational needs.
Merlion Academy is the authorised training provider for IACT’s Practising Licence Programmes and is authorised to supervise and verify candidates’ work in support of their IACT membership applications.
The practising licence for the programmes listed below comprises three tiers: Credentialed (Interventionist), Registered (Assessor), and Board-Certified (Diagnostician), with Board-Certified being the highest status.
Admissions are conducted on a rolling basis and may commence at any time.
