Membership Categories

• Currently working (paid or unpaid) as a financial counsellor
• Successful completion of CHC52108 - Diploma of Community Services (Financial counselling) or, CHC51002 - Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counselling) or, CHC51115 - Diploma of Financial Counselling.
• Completion of twenty four months full time or thirty six months part time practical experience under close supervision of an Accredited Financial Counsellor.
• Successful completion of Accreditation process
• Must have an approved ongoing Supervisor who is an Accredited Financial Counsellor and provides regular supervision as per Supervision Policy.
• Only Accredited members can provide Supervision (see Supervision Notes below).
• Currently working as a Financial Counsellor.
• Employer must be covered by Professional Indemnity Insurance.
• Must act without a conflict of interest.
• Must not accept a fee for service.
• Must meet annual Continuing Professional Development requirements.
• Payment of an annual subscription fee as set by the FCAN Board.

• Currently working (paid or unpaid) as a financial counsellor
• Successful completion of CHC52108 - Diploma of Community Services (Financial counselling) or, CHC51002 - Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counselling) or, CHC51115 - Diploma of Financial Counselling.
• Associate members are working towards their Accredited member status.
• Associate members must have an approved ongoing Supervisor who is an Accredited Financial Counsellor and provides regular supervision as per Supervision Policy.
• Trainee Associate members are training to become a Financial Counsellor and are studying CHC5115 - Diploma in Financial Counselling.
• Trainee Associate members can have an approved ongoing Supervisor who is an Accredited Financial Counsellor and provides regular supervision as per Supervision Policy or a workplace mentor who is an Accredited Financial Counsellor. This depends on their progress through their Diploma studies.
• Employer must be covered by Professional Indemnity Insurance.
• Must act without a conflict of interest.
• Must not accept a fee for service.
• Must meet annual Continuing Professional Development requirements.
• Payment of an annual subscription fee as set by the FCAN Board.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Financial Capability Workers
• A person studying CHC51115 - Diploma in Financial Counselling but not employed as a Trainee Financial Counsellor
• Agency Managers
• Diploma in Financial Counselling Trainers not working as a Financial Counsellor
• Non practicing Accredited Financial Counsellor.
• Financial Counsellors between positions who want to remain eligible to attend meetings and update training.
• Long serving members who want to remain affiliated and may assist with expertise or time, and wish to continue to be involved.
• Organisations or other State and Territory associations who want to be affiliated with FCAN.
• Members living overseas for an extended period.
• Members unable to fulfil requirements for other categories e.g. due to illness.
• Payment of an annual subscription fee as set by the FCAN Board.

Note: Non-practicing members Affiliated members returning to Accredited status need to complete a proficiency test and/or complete extensive updates of training to bring skills and knowledge to the required level.

• Persons who are lawyers, members of the Supreme Court of NSW, who have been working in the field of credit and debt for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding their application for membership.
• Have no conflict of interest in that field.
• Are not employees of, or advisers to a credit provider.
• Do not charge either directly or indirectly a subscription for service for credit and/or debt advice.
• Satisfactorily fulfil requirements set by the FCAN Board, and whose application for this class of membership is approved by the Committee.
• Payment of a subscription as set by the FCAN Board.

• By nomination only as per the Constitution and By-Laws of the Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW Inc. (FCAN).
• A Life Member shall practice as a Financial Counsellor only whilst s/he maintains Accreditation.
• No payment of annual subscription fee as per Constitution.
• Persons who are or have been Financial Counsellors.
• Have consented to nomination by two (2) Financial Counsellors, whose nomination has been recommended to a general meeting of members by the Board, and approved by a simple majority of those members entitled to vote. The number of Life Members at any time shall not exceed five percent (5%) of members entitled to vote.
• Can have voting rights if they maintain their Accreditation.

• Supervisors must be Accredited members of FCAN, and be practising financial counsellors, with a minimum of three years (equivalent full time) experience. The FCAN Board has the discretion to appoint accredited members as FCAN supervisors where the applicant demonstrates the experience and skills required.
• Accredited financial counsellors wishing to become supervisors make a formal application to the FCAN Board providing details of their financial counselling and supervision experience and recommendations from their supervisor or employer as to their suitability to the role of supervisor. 
• Supervisors are required to complete an FCAN approved supervision course prior to undertaking the role and refresh their supervision skills at least every three years by undertaking FCAN approved courses.
• Supervisors need to be subject to supervision themselves.