How to check an HPCSA number

Psychologists, registered counsellors and psychometrists must be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to practise in those roles. You can check anyone's registration yourself, free, on the HPCSA's public register, called the iRegister. It takes a minute.

What an HPCSA number looks like

An HPCSA number is a prefix followed by a seven-digit number. For psychology the prefixes are:

A number may be written with or without a space after the prefix, for example "PS 0123456" or "PS0123456". The example is made up to show the format. Psychologist, counsellor or psychometrist explains what each registration means.

How to check a number on the iRegister

1. Open the iRegister search form at hpcsaonline.custhelp.com/app/i_reg_form. You can also reach it from hpcsa.co.za by looking for the iRegister.
2. Type the number in the "Registration Number" field. Leave out the space if a search with it finds nothing.
3. Press "Search".
4. Check that the name in the result matches the practitioner you are looking at.
5. Check the registration: the register and category should match what the practitioner says they are, and the status should show that the registration is current.

If you do not have the number

You can search the iRegister by name instead. Fill in the "Surname" field, and the "Fullname" field if you know it. Each name field lets you choose "Exact" or "Wildcard" matching; wildcard helps when you are not sure of the spelling. You can narrow the search with the "City" field, or with the "Register" and "Category" lists.

Many practitioners publish their number on their own website or on their directory profile. If you are thinking of booking with someone, you can also ask them for it.

If you cannot find someone

• Try the number without the space, and check that you have all seven digits.
• Try a wildcard search on the surname. A practitioner may be registered under a different surname, for example a maiden name.
• Call the HPCSA on 012 338 9300 and ask.

A counsellor who is not on the iRegister may be registered with a different body. Some counsellors register with the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP), for example, which is not part of the HPCSA. That is a different registration from an HPCSA registered counsellor.

HPCSA numbers in this directory

Of the 8 480 practitioners in this directory, 3 956 (47%) show an HPCSA number: 3 317 with a PS prefix, 527 with PRC and 112 with PMT (October 2026). 3 949 of them were matched to an entry on the HPCSA register when we read it in the week of 19 October 2026, and their listing shows the status the register gave. A registration can change after we read it, so please check the number on the iRegister yourself.

Many practitioners do not publish their number, and we cannot match every profile to the register, so a listing without a number does not mean the practitioner is unregistered.

If you are a practitioner and your listing shows the wrong number, or none, use "Is this you? Claim or correct this listing" on your listing page. How listings work explains how claims and corrections are handled.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I check if a psychologist is registered in South Africa?

On the HPCSA iRegister at hpcsaonline.custhelp.com/app/i_reg_form. Search by registration number or surname.

What does PS, PRC or PMT in front of the number mean?

PS is a psychologist, PRC a registered counsellor and PMT a psychometrist.

Is the HPCSA number on a listing verified?

3 949 listings were matched to the HPCSA register in the week of 19 October 2026, and show the status it gave then. A registration can change after that, so check the number on the iRegister yourself.

What if I cannot find a practitioner on the iRegister?

Try the number without spaces, or a wildcard search on the surname. If you still cannot find them, call the HPCSA on 012 338 9300.

Does every counsellor need an HPCSA number?

Only HPCSA registered counsellors have one, with a PRC prefix. Counsellors who register with other bodies, such as the ASCHP, do not.