Step 1
Academy User
Anyone can buy a course at the ICI Academy — no registration, no membership, no commitments. The Academy works like a standard e-learning platform.
Open to everyoneMembership
Membership and professional development
You maintain an active membership status through annual renewal and CPD points, which are tracked automatically.
How membership works
ICI membership keeps your active status and your entry in the public registry of certified specialists. You renew it annually while growing your practice through CPD points.
Your path in ICI
ICI is an ecosystem, not a single course. Everyone follows the same path — from the first training to active membership.
Step 2
Adept
After purchasing the certification programme, you automatically receive Adept status. You are in the process of gaining qualifications — not yet a specialist, but already a participant in the official programme.
Automatic status after purchaseStep 3
ICI Certified Specialist
After completing the programme and passing the exam, you receive a certificate. This is your achievement — it stays with you forever, regardless of membership.
Certificate with no expiry dateStep 4
Specialist with active membership
Annual membership maintains your active status. You are visible in the public registry, earn CPD points, and have access to screening tools and benefits.
Full benefits and visibility| Status | Courses | Certificate | Public registry | CPD | Screening tools | Divisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy User | Buys | basic | ||||
| Adept | programme | extended | ||||
| Specialist (no membership) | forever | extended | ||||
| Specialist with membership | accrual | full access | 3 divisions |
1
Academy User
- Courses — Buys
- Certificate
- Public registry
- CPD
- Screening tools — basic
- Divisions
2
Adept
- Courses — programme
- Certificate
- Public registry
- CPD
- Screening tools — extended
- Divisions
3
Specialist (no membership)
- Courses
- Certificate — forever
- Public registry
- CPD
- Screening tools — extended
- Divisions
4
Specialist with membership
- Courses
- Certificate
- Public registry
- CPD — accrual
- Screening tools — full access
- Divisions — 3 divisions
The certificate as an achievement never expires — it documents your competencies with no time limit. Membership is 100% optional: it is only needed for visibility in the public registry, CPD points and screening tools.
Identity verification — attached to your account
Identity verification protects the trust and integrity of the entire ICI ecosystem and is attached to your account, not to a single certificate.
With membership, identity verification is mandatory and included in the fee — it protects the public registry.
Without membership, verification is an optional, paid service (59 NZD one-time).
After verification, all your certificates — current and future — receive the "✓ Identity Verified" badge.
ICI does not store your ID documents or photos — we only receive a secure cryptographic verification result from the certified provider Stripe Identity.
ICI Professional Divisions
An active ICI member assigns up to 3 professional divisions to their practice. Divisions show clients which areas you work in.
| Division | Description |
|---|---|
| Division of Psychological Counselling | Individual counselling, crisis support, and psychological consultations. |
| Division of Psychotherapy & Crisis Intervention | Therapy for emotional disorders, trauma, and life crises. |
| Division of Coaching & Personal Development | Career coaching, life coaching, building psychological resilience. |
| Division of Couples & Family Therapy | Couples therapy, family relationships, mediation, and parenting. |
| Division of Psychotraumatology | Trauma therapy, PTSD, and post-traumatic growth support. |
| Division of Child & Adolescent Counselling | Youth mental health support, school challenges, and developmental guidance. |
| Division of Career & Executive Counselling | Occupational burnout, executive coaching, and organizational psychology. |
| Division of Sexology & Relationship Counselling | Intimacy health, relationship communication, and sexual wellbeing. |
Every specialist with active membership can choose up to 3 divisions visible in the public registry.
Membership maintenance rules
Renew your membership annually to stay active
Your registry listing stays active automatically after renewal
Follow the ICI Code of Ethics
Grow your practice through CPD points
Keep your data and specialist profile up to date
Access to promotions on Academy courses
Access to specialist tools, including screening tests
How CPD is calculated
CPD points are awarded automatically for selected Academy courses and development activities. The system tracks the limits — you simply keep growing, and your status stays active.
- 1
Choose a course from the Academy or submit a development activity
- 2
Complete the course — CPD points are awarded automatically
- 3
Track your progress in the CPD panel
- 4
Meet the annual limit to maintain your membership
Point categories and limits
Important: the CPD certificate and badge are awarded only when your points come from at least 3 different categories. The Academy alone (even with no limit) is not enough — you need at least 2 other categories.
Annual CPD distinction
Meet 100% of the annual CPD criteria? The system automatically issues your annual certificate, and a criteria-met badge appears next to your profile in the public registry — visible to clients.
Annual certificate PDF
CPD 2026 badge next to your profile in the registry
100% automatic issuance — no admin review
Start with a course
Professional development is the simplest way to maintain your membership.
Browse courses