The flagship designation
HAC
Humanitas Independent Counselling Society membership designation. Not a statutory registration.
The designation where counselling competence begins. HAC holders practise across the common core of the published scope, plus any fields of practice their training covered, under continuous supervision.
Entry criteria
Eligibility rests on six requirements: a qualification at NQF 7 or above, a counselling training programme recognised by HICS, 200 hours of supervised practice, five personal counselling sessions, a declaration of fitness to practise, and a pass in the written board examination. The Applying page sets out each one, and the evidence it needs, in full.
Areas of competence
Every HAC holder has been assessed as competent in all of the following, without exception. Fields of practice are held individually on top of it, and are recorded against the member in the directory: a member without a given field may still recognise what is presenting, respond safely at first contact, and refer.
Within a high-risk competence domain the Scope of Practice sets three levels of depth: the core every member holds, a field of practice on the strength of training, and advanced practice on the strength of demonstrated competence. Not holding a field does not shut a member out of a domain: they may recognise, respond safely at first contact, and refer, rather than take the person on for ongoing work.
CPD
Every member carries the same annual requirement: 22 points, one point to the hour. Ten are included in the membership fee and provided by HICS, the six-point HICS core and at least four points of ethics; the other twelve are earned from courses HICS has accredited or from recognised activities, and a member pays HICS nothing to have an accredited course counted.
Supervision
Twelve hours a year minimum, in a supervisory relationship with a supervisor authorised in the relevant field, who signs off at renewal. Ad hoc supervision is expected whenever a case requires it: the quarterly minimum is a floor, not a schedule.
Lapse of supervision is grounds for suspension of membership. Unsupervised client-facing practice is also one of the ten absolute limitations; it is not a paperwork matter.
Member benefits
Professionals registered with the HPCSA or the SACSSP, and other services, to refer to when the work reaches a limitation, the practical other side of "must refer". Built up with members and checked before listing.
Twenty-two points a year. Ten are included in the fee: a six-point HICS core and at least four points of ethics. The other twelve are earned from HICS-accredited courses or recognised activities, with no fee to HICS to have them counted.
Cover is strongly recommended. It is the member's own choice and at the member's own cost; HICS does not fund it.
Annual renewal
Renewal is annual and conditional on CPD, supervision sign-off and good standing.
9.5
Members must use only the correct designation for their current membership category (HAC, HASC or HAS) and must cease using a designation immediately on lapse, suspension, downgrade, or revocation of the relevant membership or authorisation. A field of practice or advanced practice is recorded alongside the designation and may be stated only while it is current.