Regulating Professional Counselling Across Nigeria.
The Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN) is the national statutory regulatory body responsible for setting standards, registering practitioners, and safeguarding public trust in the counselling profession across the Federation.
States Covered
Year Established
1 Act
Legal Mandate
Nationally Regulated
CPCN Act, 2022
Building a Nation of Ethical, Regulated, and Empowered Counselling Practitioners
On behalf of the Governing Board and the entire staff of the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria, I extend a warm welcome to all counselling professionals, stakeholders, and members of the public visiting our platform.
The establishment of CPCN under the CPCN Act, 2022 marks a defining chapter in the history of professional counselling in Nigeria. For the first time, our nation has a dedicated statutory body with the mandate, authority, and determination to ensure that every counselling practitioner meets the highest standards of competence, ethics, and accountability.
Our vision is clear: a Nigeria where every citizen who seeks counselling support is served by a duly registered, qualified, and ethically guided professional. We invite all practitioners to register, embrace regulation, and join us in elevating this noble profession.
Our Mandate: Protecting the Public, Elevating the Profession
Established under the CPCN Act, 2022, the Council is vested with authority to determine standards, register qualified practitioners, and ensure ethical professional conduct across the Federation.
The Council maintains the official register of certified counsellors, approves training qualifications and institutions, supervises examinations, and operates a disciplinary tribunal to investigate and sanction professional misconduct. Our work ensures every Nigerian who seeks counselling receives services from a qualified, regulated, and ethical practitioner.
Public Protection
Ensuring only qualified counsellors practice
Core Functions of the Council
Exercising statutory powers under the CPCN Act, 2022
Registration & Qualification Approval
The Council determines requisite knowledge and skill standards, maintains the official register of certified counsellors, and approves training institutions and qualifications — both within Nigeria and abroad.
Disciplinary Tribunal & Enforcement
The Council operates a Disciplinary Tribunal and Investigating Panel empowered to investigate allegations of infamous misconduct and impose sanctions up to removal from the register. Unlawful practice attracts criminal penalties under Section 14.
Standards & Monitoring
Appoints persons to visit approved training institutions, monitor examinations, and ensure adequacy of instruction and instructor competence (Section 9).
- Institution Visits
- Examination Oversight
- Competency Audits
Seminars & Research
Mandated to organise seminars, workshops, conferences, and research (Section 2(d)), ensuring the profession remains dynamic, evidence-based, and aligned with global best practices.
- Annual Conferences
- Research Initiatives
- Professional CPD
Profession Security
Legally defines boundaries of counselling (Section 2(f)), secures professional status of members, and combats unlicensed activities that dilute the value of professional practice.
- Legal Definitions
- Anti-quackery Measures
- Professional Designation
Latest News & Updates
Stay informed on CPCN activities, gazette notices, and regulatory updates
CPCN Governing Board Inaugurated — A New Era for Counselling Regulation in Nigeria
The Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria has inaugurated its inaugural Governing Board, marking a historic milestone in the formal regulation of counselling practice across all 36 states and the FCT.
Read Full AnnouncementThe Governing Board
Meet the eminent scholars and professionals steering the CPCN
Prof. Malami Umar Tambawal
President, Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria
Rev. Mathias Bodam Yashim
Inaugural Registrar, CPCNProfessor Enechojo Grace Egbe-Okpenge
Professor of Guidance & CounsellingGrounded in Law: The CPCN Act, 2022
The Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria Act, 2022 is the foundational charter that elevates and formalises the counselling profession, establishing non-negotiable standards of knowledge, skill, and ethics for all practitioners across the Federation.
Mandatory Registration
Every counselling practitioner in Nigeria must be registered with the Council. Practising without registration is a criminal offence under Section 14 of the Act.
Approved Qualifications
The Council approves and periodically reviews courses of training and institutions (Section 8), guaranteeing all registered counsellors meet the highest academic and professional benchmarks.
Public Safeguarding
The Act's core purpose is to protect Nigerians by eliminating unqualified practitioners and building public trust in the "Professional Counsellor" designation (Section 2(a)).
Get in Touch with the Council
For registration enquiries, institutional accreditation, or general information about CPCN's mandate and activities, our team is ready to assist.