Do your own independent research - do not rely on AIPC marketing alone – I am recent AIPC Dip.Couns. graduate. My advice - do your own independent research and do not rely solely on their marketing strategies.

First, you need to know Counselling is a self-regulated industry (as are other professions) primarily through The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). There are differences in training standards between the two, with PACFA requiring higher standards of training and do not recognise Diploma level or AIPC courses. Graduates of AIPC courses only can only register with ACA. Within the ACA there are 4 levels of registration, a Dip.Couns. enables registration up to level 2 - a Bachelor or Master Degree is required for higher levels but a Bachelor is the minimum requirement for PACFA. This is becoming relevant as moves are being made to add Counsellors 'of select programs' (minimum Bachelor degree) to be recognised as Mental Health Workers for the purpose of accessing Medicare Rebates (still to be enacted).

Second, it is important to note a Diploma is an AQF 5 qualification - an entry level qualification. Graduates of AQF 5 qualifications have broad technical knowledge and skills and typically work along side more experienced practitioners. Moreover, the ACA Scope of Practice states L1-2 members are "able to work within low to moderate need consumers within a primary care setting". However, many come to the Dip.Couns. with the understanding that completion of the course enables one to set up an independent Private Practice - and do, and there is no regulation to prevent this. Indeed AIPC have a graduate program designed to support people in developing a Private Practice. Opponents of this argue that the Dip.Couns. alone does not provide the groundwork for independent practice - particularly as there are no supervised practicum hours. There are scripted simulations one must do either in person or via online / video assessment. Useful for adding to one's knowledge and skills but does little to develop independent skills in real contexts and non-scripted responses - providing minimal clinical skill foundations.

Third, the job prospects with the Dip.Couns., I believe, are oversold. Reference to this question often refers to a large database of jobs listed on the ACA website. A view of these will find requirements such as tertiary qualifications (e.g. minimum Bachelor), 2 - 5 years experience, work with complex conditions, other qualifications or experience (e.g. alcohol and other drugs) - the number of jobs available to direct Dip.Couns. students appear to be less than the quoted number of available jobs.

Fourth, from interactions with other students via the official Facebook group, AIPC seems to not challenge a culture where students express using their Diploma to undertake Private Practice work in areas that one might argue requires specialist knowledge and skills - for example sexual abuse, grief and loss, alcohol and other drugs, and other complex conditions.

Fifth, AIPC does not allow any public constructive criticism of its programs on its Facebook site. Posts are ceremoniously removed. I refer here to posts where questions are raised about training content and delivery, or differences in standards between AIPC with respect to ACA and PACFA requirements, or about the actual potential for applicants to gain employment other than in Private Practice.

Sixth, training materials are often of less caliber than might expect from an organisation that sets itself to be one of the leading educators in Counselling. For example, there seems to be not a lot of evidence of a review of course material, that can, at times, have typing and or grammatical errors or ambiguous assessment questions and repetitive material. This, after seeing frequent post on their FB site (which by the way are removed) and emails. Feedback is not actively sought as one completes each unit. Even at the end I had a call and asked for feedback and when I provided it it was clear the person calling was uninterested in talking about my concerns.

Seventh, AIPC seems to have a contrary and illogical policy on student interaction. One the one hand, you can register your email to a student network and anyone can then 'cold email' you and ask if you want to connect - for whatever reason. On the other, if a student posts on the FB site that they want to connect with local people for the purpose of mutual study support or even social interaction the post is removed. So you can randomly send an email to anyone but you can't post a request. The argument being that AIPC wants to discourage student interaction because they cannot control what happens (e.g. false information, collusion). If the premise holds true for one means of contacting students, why not the other?

Finally, its important to know EXACTLY what you are signing up for. There is a 30 grace period where you can review the first unit (or as many as one can complete in 30 days) and determine if the mode of study and approach to learning is useful to you. After that you may withdraw with some financial penalty, but after a certain period all costs a to be paid. READ all the fine line CAREFULLY. Especially, when it comes to costs and withdriving from the course - spelled out in their Student Handbook which can view on their site. LOOK at other training organisations, know what course you are doing and if it will get you where you want to go.

PS this axiom is so true caveat emptor - The principle in commerce that the buyer alone is responsible for assessing the quality of a purchase before buying. Ask questions, use your 30 day grace period wisely.