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Does my U.S. LMFT or Counseling license count in Australia?

Well, yes AND no.

Australia does not regulate Marriage and Family Therapy or Counselling & Psychotherapy. It only regulates Psychologists and some Social Workers.

If you have a psych degree (undergrad and graduate) you may be in good shape to become a Registered Psychologist. If your degree is Marriage & Family Therapy or Counselling, you probably don’t qualify.

This can be good news or bad news depending on what you are looking to do. Only Registered Psychologists and Mental Health Social Workers can accept Australian Medicare. But you don’t need to accept Medicare in order to practice counselling or Marriage and Family Therapy

NOTE: In Australia we spell counselling with two L’s. You’ll see me spell it both ways depending which country I’m referrencing

Figuring out how to get licensed in Australia

Jennifer moved from California to Australia in 2016. She was able to navigate the therapy landscape. She may be able to help you figure it out as well. Set up a time to speak with her and get the information to make choices.

Help Me Figure it out

Is There Reciprocity for LMFT or LPCC?

LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) VS. Counselling in Australia

Australia has what is called Counselling “Peak Bodies”. There are two competing Peak Bodies. Each has pros and cons.

ACA (Australian Counselling Association)
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
- Level 4
PACFA (Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia)
- Associate Member
- Clinical Member

If you are fully licensed in the US (Counseling or LMFT) you will most likely have the qualifications to meet ACA-Level 4 and PACFA Clinical Membership.

LMFT (licensed Marriage & Family Therapist) VS. AAFT (Australia Association of Family Therapists)

Australia has an organization for family therapists called AAFT. It has three tiers:

Professional Membership (You don’t get to call yourself a practicing Family Therapist)
Clinical Family Therapist Membership (You get to call yourself a practicing Family Therapist)
Life Membership (Don’t really ask me. It’s some sort of life distinction.)

If you have an LMFT in the US, you most likely will have the qualifications to be a clinical member of AAFT, but I don’t really know why you would do this. It’s super expensive and the organization isn’t regulated and doesn’t give you any great status. If you’re jam is all Couples Counselling or Family Work, then maybe this would make sense. But I still haven’t applied because I can’t figure out what 600$ a year gives me that PACFA and ACA don’t

AHPRA approved psychologists

In the US, many of us have undergrad degrees in psychology.

If you happen to have an undergrad degree in psychology as well as a graduate degree in psychology (It must specifically say PSYCHOLOGY) you may be eligible to be a Registered Psychologist.

You’ll have to be prepared to submit all of your transcripts, syllabi, and course catalogues which AHPRA will check to see if your education meets the requirements.