Who actually regulates therapy in Nigeria, how to register as a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist, and what CPD is expected of you.
There is no single government licence to practise therapy in Nigeria. Each profession has its own route: counsellors now register with a statutory council created in 2022, psychiatrists with the MDCN, and psychologists, so far, only with professional associations. Here is the map, body by body.
Is a licence required to practise therapy in Nigeria?
It depends on your profession. “Therapist” itself isn’t a single licensed title, but the professions behind it are increasingly regulated by law:
- Counsellors. The Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN) Act was signed in 2022, and the Council’s board was inaugurated in April 2025. Under the Act, it’s an offence to practise for reward as a registered Professional Counsellor, or to use a title that suggests you are one, without registering with the Council. Its registration system is only just starting.
- Psychiatrists. They are medical doctors, so they fall under the same statutory regulator as every other doctor, the MDCN.
- Social workers. Two Acts of 2022 cover social work: one created a chartered institute that registers practitioners, and the other a national council that the Federal Government was still setting up in 2026.
- Psychologists. There’s no statutory council yet. A Nigerian Council for Psychologists (Establishment) Bill passed the Senate in March 2019, but as far as public records show, it hasn’t become law. Psychology is still regulated by its own associations.
If you are choosing a path, it helps to be clear on the roles first; our guide to the differences between therapy and counselling breaks down where each one sits.
The bodies that regulate therapists, counsellors and psychologists
Several associations share the space, roughly split between counselling and psychology:
- CPCN — Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria. The statutory regulator for counsellors, created by an Act of 2022. It keeps the register of Professional Counsellors and sets the standards for registration.
- CASSON — Counselling Association of Nigeria. The largest counselling body, which grew out of inaugural meetings in 1975 and 1976. It runs its own certification and licensure route, and the CPCN Act builds CASSON membership and a CASSON-run competence exam into statutory registration.
- APROCON — Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria. A second counselling association focused on training standards and member competence.
- ACMPN — Association for Counsellors, Matchmaking & Psychotherapy of Nigeria. Registers counsellors and psychotherapists (among other practitioners) and issues membership certificates used for verification.
- NPA — Nigerian Psychological Association. The umbrella body for psychologists; maintains a voluntary register and sets ethical standards.
- NACP — Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists. Founded in 1979, focused specifically on clinical psychologists and their practice standards.
- MDCN — Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. The statutory regulator for all doctors, including psychiatrists.
One common mix-up is worth clearing up: the MRTB — Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria — is a statutory board, but it registers physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and audiologists. It does not cover psychotherapists or counsellors, so “therapist” registration with the MRTB is not what a talk-therapy practitioner needs. For a plain-language comparison of the roles clients ask about, see therapists vs counsellors vs psychiatrists.
How to become a registered counsellor (CASSON and CPCN)
The counselling route is the most clearly mapped. In outline:
- Earn the degree. CASSON’s professional (full) membership expects at least a bachelor’s degree in guidance and counselling — or a closely related field — from an institution with an accredited programme. Many practitioners go on to a master’s.
- Join CASSON at the right tier. The association runs graded membership (student, associate and professional/full), so you move up as your qualifications and experience grow.
- Get certified by the association. Full members who meet the requirements are certified as a Certified Counsellor of Nigeria (CCN). Those who then satisfy the association’s Certification and Licensure Policy (CALP) become a Licensed Professional Counsellor of Nigeria (LPCN). These are CASSON’s credentials, not a government licence.
- Register with the CPCN. Under the 2022 Act, full registration as a Professional Counsellor needs an approved course, a pass in a professional practice competence exam conducted by CASSON and moderated by the Council, and certified CASSON membership. A certificate of professional competence also needs two years of practical experience supervised by registered counsellors.
Because the exact requirements and fees are set by CASSON and the Council and are still settling, confirm the current checklist with them directly rather than relying on any third-party summary. For the full picture of each route, from choosing a degree to finding clients, read how to become a therapist in Nigeria.
How psychologists and clinical psychologists register (NPA / NACP)
Psychology splits into a general and a clinical track.
The general route starts with a degree in psychology, followed by NYSC and, usually, a specialisation (industrial/organisational, educational, counselling, and so on). Psychologists can then register on the NPA’s voluntary roll and are bound by its code of ethics.
Suggested read: Is Guidance and Counselling a Good Course in Nigeria?
The clinical route goes further: a master’s (and often a doctorate) in clinical psychology, a period of supervised clinical practice, and assessment through the NACP. Clinical psychologists are the ones trained to assess, diagnose and deliver structured psychological treatment.
An important caveat: titles such as “psychologist” are not yet legally protected in Nigeria, precisely because the statutory council is not in force. Registration is therefore the strongest signal a psychologist can offer — and the one employers and clients should look for.
How psychiatrists are licensed (MDCN)
Psychiatry is the fully statutory path. A psychiatrist qualifies as a medical doctor first — an MBBS/MBChB degree, housemanship and NYSC — then completes psychiatric residency and a postgraduate fellowship (for example the FWACP or FMCPsych) before practising as a specialist. Throughout, they hold a licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and must keep it current.
The practical difference matters for referrals: only psychiatrists, as medical doctors, can prescribe medication. Counsellors and psychologists provide assessment and talk-based therapy, not prescriptions. If a client may need medication alongside therapy, the right step is a referral to a psychiatrist — our explainer on therapy or medication helps frame that conversation.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD): what’s expected
CPD is the ongoing learning practitioners do after qualifying — workshops, annual conferences, clinical supervision, short courses and reading, often tracked as credits or points. Associations lean on it to keep standards current and to justify a member’s continued place on the register.
In Nigeria, most bodies expect members to keep learning and to renew membership annually, but mandated CPD hours are not yet enforced by law across these professions the way they are for, say, doctors. Requirements also differ between associations and are being tightened over time. The sensible posture is to treat CPD as non-negotiable regardless: attend your association’s conference, seek regular supervision, and keep a record. For a sense of what a committed practice looks like, our conversation with Dr. Abigail Oni is worth a read.
What the Mental Health Act 2021 means for practitioners
The National Mental Health Act — passed in 2021 and assented in January 2023 — finally replaced the colonial-era Lunacy Act of 1958. It sets a modern governance framework: it protects the rights of people receiving care, addresses consent and involuntary treatment, and provides for national coordination of mental-health services. You can read our plain-English summary of the Mental Health Act and the national council it establishes.
What the Act does not do is register individual therapists. It governs services and rights. Registration sits elsewhere: with the CPCN for counsellors (under its own Act of 2022), the MDCN for psychiatrists, and the associations for psychologists, pending a statutory council. For practitioners, the Act signals the direction of travel: standardisation is coming, and being properly registered now is the best way to be ready for it.
Verifying credentials and building a credible practice
For employers, HR teams and clients doing due diligence, a few checks go a long way:
- Ask which body the practitioner is registered with — the CPCN or CASSON for counsellors, the NPA or NACP for psychologists, the MDCN for psychiatrists, or associations such as APROCON and ACMPN — and confirm it directly with that body.
- Check the foundations: the relevant degree and completed NYSC.
- Watch for red flags: vague or unverifiable qualifications, a “therapist” title with no named body behind it, or anyone selling a “therapy licence” at the end of a short course.
For practitioners, the takeaways are simple: keep your registration and CPD current, hold to your association’s ethics code, and make your credentials easy to verify. Listing on a vetted platform helps — reputable directories confirm degrees and registration before a profile goes live, which is part of how clients find people they can trust. You can see how vetted profiles look by browsing therapists on Mytherapist.ng.
Suggested read: Ethics in Counselling: Principles Every Client Should Know
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to work as a therapist in Nigeria? There’s no single licence for “therapists”. Counsellors register with the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria, created by an Act of 2022; psychiatrists with the MDCN; and psychologists, for now, with professional associations, because a psychology council hasn’t yet become law.
Who regulates psychologists in Nigeria? The Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) maintains the voluntary register and sets standards, while the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP) handles clinical psychologists. A bill for a statutory Nigerian Council for Psychologists passed the Senate in 2019 but, as far as public records show, isn’t yet law.
How do I become a licensed counsellor in Nigeria? Earn a degree in guidance and counselling or a related field, join the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) and get certified, then register with the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria, which needs a pass in a competence exam and supervised practice.
Is CPD mandatory for Nigerian therapists? Bodies like the NPA and NACP expect members to keep learning through workshops, conferences and credits, but nationwide CPD hours are not yet enforced by law. Check your association’s current policy, as requirements are evolving.
How can I verify a therapist’s credentials in Nigeria? Ask which body they are registered with and confirm directly with that body, then check their degree and NYSC completion. Reputable platforms vet these credentials before listing a therapist.
Can counsellors or psychologists prescribe medication in Nigeria? No. Only medically qualified psychiatrists licensed by the MDCN can prescribe. Counsellors and psychologists provide talk-based therapy, assessment and support.
Thinking about joining a vetted network, or checking that your own credentials line up? Join Mytherapist.ng as a therapist, or browse licensed Nigerian therapists to see how vetted profiles are presented.
