“Therapist” isn’t one job title in Nigeria. It’s four different professions, each with its own degree, training and registration. Here’s what each route involves, and where the law stands in 2026.
To become a therapist in Nigeria, you train in one of four professions: counselling, clinical psychology, social work or psychiatry. Each starts with a university degree and continues with supervised practice. Counsellors and psychiatrists now register with statutory councils; psychologists, so far, only with professional associations.
First, what “therapist” means here
“Therapist” is an everyday word for someone who helps people through talking. It isn’t a single protected title with one licence behind it. What matters, legally and professionally, is the profession you train in. That decides what you study, who registers you and what you’re allowed to do.
If you’re still deciding between them, our guide to therapists, counsellors and psychiatrists explains how the roles differ for the people they help.
The four routes at a glance
| Route | First degree | Further training | Who registers you | Legal position in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counsellor | Guidance and counselling (B.Ed or similar), or a related field such as counselling psychology | Supervised practice and a competence exam; many add a master’s | CASSON (association) and the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria | Regulated by an Act of 2022; council registration is just starting |
| Clinical psychologist | BSc Psychology | MSc Clinical Psychology, including an internship | NACP and NPA (associations) | No statutory licence yet |
| Social worker | Degree in social work | Supervised practice | Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners; a national council is being set up | Two Acts of 2022 |
| Psychiatrist | Medical degree (MBBS) | Housemanship, NYSC, then psychiatry residency and a fellowship | Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) | Fully regulated; the only route that can prescribe |
Route 1: Become a counsellor
This is the most common route for people who want to do talk therapy, and the one that changed most recently.
1. Get the degree. Study guidance and counselling, or a closely related field such as counselling psychology. Several federal universities offer it, including the University of Ilorin, the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and the University of Ibadan. Some, such as UNN, have a shorter direct-entry route for NCE holders. Many counsellors go on to an M.Ed or MSc.
2. Join CASSON. The Counselling Association of Nigeria grew out of inaugural meetings in 1975 and 1976 and is the main professional body for counsellors. You can join as a student. With a degree from an accredited programme and work that is mainly counselling, you can become a professional member, certified by the association as a Certified Counsellor of Nigeria (CCN). Members who meet the association’s Certification and Licensure Policy can become a Licensed Professional Counsellor of Nigeria (LPCN). These are the association’s credentials, not a government licence.
3. Register with the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN). The Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria Act was signed into law in 2022, and the Council’s board was inaugurated in April 2025. Under the Act:
- Full registration as a Professional Counsellor needs an approved course, a pass in a professional practice competence exam (run by CASSON and moderated by the Council) and certified membership of CASSON.
- A certificate of professional competence needs two years of practical experience under the supervision of registered counsellors.
- It’s an offence to practise for reward as a registered Professional Counsellor, or to use a title that suggests you are one, without being registered.
- Counsellor posts in government and in companies are meant for registered counsellors.
The Council’s registration system is only just starting, so check its current requirements and fees before you apply, and keep your CASSON membership up to date in the meantime.
Route 2: Become a clinical psychologist
Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental health conditions using psychological therapies, often in hospitals.
Suggested read: What Is Guidance and Counselling? Meaning and Types
1. Study psychology. Start with a BSc in Psychology.
2. Take an MSc in Clinical Psychology. The master’s includes supervised clinical work, often called an internship. Full membership of the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP) requires the MSc.
3. Join the professional bodies. The NACP is the association for clinical psychologists, and it issues its own practice licence to members who show internship experience and continuing professional development. The Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) is the umbrella body for psychologists in every specialty.
Where the law stands: psychologists don’t yet have a statutory council. A bill to create a Nigerian Council for Psychologists passed the Senate in March 2019, but as far as public records show, it hasn’t become law. Until it does, psychology is regulated by the profession’s own associations.
Route 3: Become a social worker
Social workers support people through hardship, illness, family breakdown and abuse, and many do counselling as part of the job, in hospitals, NGOs, prisons and child protection services.
1. Study social work at university.
2. Register with the profession. Social work got two laws in 2022. The Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners registers members, and the Act that created it makes it an offence to practise for reward as a social worker without membership or certification. A second Act created the Nigerian Council for Social Work, which requires registration and a licence to practise. The Federal Government was still working to make that council operational in 2026.
Route 4: Become a psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health. They diagnose conditions, prescribe medication and often provide therapy too.
- Study medicine (MBBS).
- Complete housemanship, then NYSC.
- Gain full registration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
- Train as a resident in psychiatry, leading to a fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria or the West African College of Physicians.
It’s the longest route, and the only one that lets you prescribe medication.
What about short courses and online certificates?
Short courses can teach useful skills, such as basic counselling, mental health first aid or working with grief. But a certificate from a short course doesn’t make you a registered counsellor, psychologist or social worker. Be wary of anyone who offers a “therapy licence” at the end of a weekend course: in Nigeria, those licences don’t exist.
Suggested read: Q3 2026, wrapped: everything that changed on Mytherapist.ng
Getting experience and your first clients
Supervised practice is where you learn the job. Common places to start are school counselling units, hospital mental health and social work departments, NGOs, and faith or community organisations with proper supervision.
Once you’re qualified, you can work for an organisation, start a practice of your own, or both:
- Our guide to building a private therapy practice in Nigeria covers the business side.
- Pricing your therapy practice explains how to set fees.
- Should you join an online therapy platform? weighs the pros and cons of working online.
Practising online with Mytherapist.ng
If you’re already qualified, you can apply to see clients on Mytherapist.ng. You apply in the Caregiver App or on the web dashboard at partners.mytherapist.ng. You choose your qualifications from a list and upload proof, and a person reviews your application before users can book you. You set your own hours and fees, and you can keep your private practice.
Read how to apply to join as a therapist, or see what practising with us involves.
Frequently asked questions
Can I become a therapist in Nigeria without a psychology degree? Yes. A degree in guidance and counselling leads to counselling, and a social work degree leads to social work. Both include talk therapy. What you can’t skip is a relevant degree followed by supervised practice.
Do I need a licence to practise as a counsellor in Nigeria? Since the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria Act of 2022, practising for reward as a registered Professional Counsellor without registering with the Council is an offence. The Council’s registration system only opened recently, so check its current requirements.
Are psychologists licensed in Nigeria? Not by law, yet. A bill for a Nigerian Council for Psychologists passed the Senate in 2019 but hasn’t become law, as far as public records show. Psychologists belong to professional associations, such as the NPA and the NACP.
How long does it take to become a therapist in Nigeria? It depends on the route. Expect a first degree, then at least two years of supervised practice for counselling, a master’s for clinical psychology, or medical school and several years of residency for psychiatry.
Is guidance and counselling a good course for becoming a therapist? It’s the direct route into counselling, and it’s the degree the counselling council’s registration is built around. Read what guidance and counselling means for an overview of the field.
Can a therapist prescribe medication in Nigeria? Only psychiatrists, because they’re registered medical doctors. Counsellors, psychologists and social workers provide talk therapy and can refer you to a psychiatrist if medication might help.
Suggested read: Pricing Your Therapy Practice in Nigeria
Can I work as a therapist online in Nigeria? Yes, once you’re qualified. Online platforms should check your qualifications before you see clients. On Mytherapist.ng, a person reviews every application. See how to apply.
