Membership Categories

Membership Categories

Membership of various categories shall be recognized for individuals and groups as follows:

  1. Foundation Membership (Mcasson): The Association shall maintain a register of all such approved members. All persons present at the preliminary inaugural meetings of the association held on November 15th, 1975; June 17th and 18th 1976 and all those who though were absent but expressed the desire to be members at those times are admitted as foundation members.
  2. Professional Full Membership (Mcasson): any person who holds not less than a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution with an accredited programme in guidance and counselling, counselling psychology and applied psychology, and whose primary duties are in the area of counselling services may register with the Association as a Professional/Full Member. Professional members must have proof of academic credentials to be so recognized and certificated (Certified Counsellor of Nigeria, CCN) by the Certification and Licensure Committee (CALC) of the Association.
  3. Licensed Membership (Mcasson): Any professional or fully registered member of the Association who satisfies all prescriptions in the Certification and Licensure Policy (CALP) shall become registered as a Licensed Professional Counsellor of Nigeria. (LPCN).
  4. Organizational Membership (Mcasson): Any person who holds not less than a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution with an accredited programme in guidance and counselling, counselling psychology and applied psychology, and who is yet to pass the Certification and Licensure Committee screening and examination shall be recognized as organizational members (Mcasson).
  5. Associate Membership:
    1. Any person who holds not less than a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in any of the following: psychology, sociology, social work, special education and educational psychology.
    2. Any person who manifests and is seen to manifest interest in the helping profession and/or in the act of helping.
    3. Any person who performs any duty that is or is deemed to be closely or otherwise related to counselling practice such as career masters, school psychologist, public relations officers, industrial liaison and placement officers, social workers, special educators, educationists, welfare officers or personnel officers.
  6. Honorary Membership: Any non- member of the Association who has contributed significantly to the course, establishment and development of counselling services and who acts to promote and protect the course of the Association shall, upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee and approval of the congress or National Delegate Congress be conferred with Honorary Membership (H-mcasson).
  7. Student Membership: Any person who is undergoing a course in a University, Polytechnic or College of Education leading to a degree in counselling is recognizable as a student member upon registration with an institutional or State Chapter Body of Counsellors.

  1. Private Practice Membership: Any enterprise set up to offer professional counselling services as a private venture and which meets the standards of professional practice of the Association as prescribed in the certification and Licensure Policy (CALP). That will be considered by the Committee and recommended to the Registrar of Council.
  2. Civil Society / Non-Governmental Organisation Membership: Any organization set up to offer related counselling services to members of the public and who meet standards prescribed in CALP.
  3. Corporate Membership: This is open to any appropriate business, industry, educational, corporate body foundation or other organizations interested in the objectives of the Association and who actively support the Association or requests for projects to be carried out for it by the Association.

Professional Fellow (Fcasson): Any professional member who has contributed significantly to the growth and development of the counselling profession and to the effective and efficient functioning of the Association towards the development of counselling practice, The body of Fellows, are senior members of the association. A member can only be appointed as a Fellow if he/she has attended the association’s Conference for five consecutive meetings without failing; Must have paid all outstanding dues; Must be a current member of his/her State CASSON; And must have held an elective position at the State level. He/she shall by prescribed nomination be conferred with Professional Fellowship of the Association upon approval of the Joint Board of Executive Committee and Fellows and Ratification by the National Delegates Congress (NDE) or the General Congress.

Any professional and licensed member of the Association who has attained the status of Professional Fellow of the Association and who through sustained commitment establishes a functional legacy that has become recognized as a reference of excellence shall after prescribed nomination be conferred as Professional Icon upon approval of the Joint Committee of the Executives, CALC and Fellows and ratification by Congress or NDC.

Honorary Advocate Fellow (afcasson): Anyone who through sustained interest and commitment evidenced by significant long-lasting contributions to the growth and development of the Association shall upon prescribed nomination and approval of the Joint Committee of Executives of CALC and Fellows be conferred with the Honorary Advocate Fellow upon ratification by the Congress or NDC.