Voluntary Register of Christian Counsellors

The Association of Christian Counsellors has set up a Voluntary Register of Christian Counsellors (VRCC). Whilst the VRCC will include both accredited and non accredited counsellors, the prime purpose of the Register is to ensure those who counsel but are not accredited will work within the ACC Ethics and Practice framework, agree to the ACC Statement of Faith and are subject to the ACC Complaints and Disciplinary procedures.

Being on the Voluntary Register does not replace the need for Accreditation which is the well established way to demonstrate professional competence. We believe that being accredited with a professional organisation like ACC is the best way to gain independent verification that you are suitably trained and prepared to offer counselling. It is also the best way to prepare for Government Regulation of counselling. ACC will make it very clear that it has not done anything to check the competence of those on the Voluntary Register. However being subject to "Ethics and Practice" will potentially enable a counsellor to build up a track record of being "complaint free" which could be one of the criteria for allowing people onto the Health Professions Council (Government) Register of Counsellors.

Non Members who decide to be on the Voluntary Register of Christian Counsellors will not become ACC members by joining and therefore they will not get the membership benefits such as receiving accord and concessionary prices for events such as the ACC Conference. All Association (Counsellor) members of ACC will be able to opt to be on the Register without further cost. Accredited members of ACC will simply have to indicate that they would like to be on the Register by completing the relevant part of the application form. Other Association members will have to complete the application form in full. Student Members and Pastoral Care members who are counselling would be able to join VRCC by completing the application form and paying the fee.

The Annual Fee to belong to the VRCC has been set at £20 for 2008. (but ACC Association members free as described above)

Chief Executive Greta Randle comments "The Voluntary Register is an important part of the process of moving towards Regulation. The Health Professions Council, who will eventually control the regulated profession, say that they will be looking to see if members of an occupation "have accepted the principles, benefits and obligations of registration by enrolling on a voluntary register or registers". Therefore we consider that by offering the opportunity for Christian Counsellors to join VRCC, we are taking another step towards ensuring that Christian Counsellors will be able to continue to practice when regulation arrives."