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Accreditation

Counselling membership

Accreditation

One way to understand the professional development of a counsellor/psychotherapist is that of an organic process of growth through the experience of professional practice and further training. Over time a counsellor/psychotherapist may develop specialist areas of practice and/or deepen their general skills and competence. In this, they will be supported by professional colleagues, especially trainers and supervisors, who play an important part in the ongoing formation of a therapist.

Why apply for accreditation?

Accreditation is widely recognised within the profession, by the NHS and other employers, as a confirmation that a counsellor/psychotherapist has attained an enhanced standard of professional practice, based on training, knowledge and experience. ACC’s accreditation processes are rigorous and testing.

As with each of the six partners of the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB), ACC’s accreditation categories map directly onto the SCoPEd framework which lists the competencies associated with each column.

What are the ACC accreditation categories?

  • Accredited counsellor. This category maps directly onto SCoPEd column B.
  • Senior accredited counsellor. This category maps directly onto SCoPEd column C. (Please email registrar@acc-uk.org if you would like to be notified when senior accreditation pathways open.)
  • Accredited supervisor. This category is additional to SCoPEd column B or C competences and attainment.

Please note: ACC has temporarily paused new applications for supervisor accreditation while it focuses on implementing the revised SCoPEd-aligned accreditation processes.  

ACC currently recognises BACP senior accreditation as a supervisor (gained prior to January 2026) and UKCP’s accreditation as a supervisor via the Accreditation Recognition Application (form available in members’ area). We will announce when supervisor accreditation applications have been reassessed, updated and reopened. If you would like to be notified, please email registrar@acc-uk.org. 

  • Accredited practitioners: This is a historic membership category, now closed to new applicants. Accredited practitioners are registered counsellors who successfully applied for ACC’s recognition of additional training and experience. Members already holding this status continue to hold it on renewal. 

Recognition by other counselling bodies 

Subject to potential additional requirements, ACC accreditations may be recognised by other partners, specifically BACP and NCPS. Please contact the relevant body for the latest information and further details.

Related pages
How to become accredited?

You will need to demonstrate your readiness and competence to meet all accreditation requirements, the minimum of which are outlined below: 

  • be an ACC registered counsellor member
  • have a recognised level 4 diploma or higher in counselling or psychotherapy 
  • evidence 450 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)
    • a minimum of 70% of these must be face to face
    • any online learning must be synchronous (i.e., in real time with a tutor leading the training as a live, taught session)
    • shortfalls can be bridged using prior certificate-level courses, post-qualifying modules, or up to 30 hours of structured CPD Bridging trainings must show progression in training relating to becoming, and developing as, a counsellor/psychotherapist
  • evidence 450 supervised practice hours
    • over at least three years from the date of first supervised practice session
    • include practice hours post-qualification

Grandparented ACC members. ACC members who were grandparented onto the register in 2017-2018 are deemed to have 420 GLH of core training at level 4 (unless they can evidence higher level training and/or sufficient GLH). This is because 420 hours of qualifying training was previously the standard for joining ACC’s register. To meet any shortfall to the 450 GLH requirement, the same bridging requirements apply as detailed above.  

There are three application pathways available for ACC members wishing to gain SCoPEd column B accreditation. Please select the relevant link for your training and experience.

If you’re not sure which accreditation option applies to you, please contact us at registrar@acc-uk.org.

For information on our SCoPEd column B top up training, please visit here.

Members who complete the SCoPEd column B top up training are eligible to apply for accreditation within two years of completing it. Allowances may be considered in extenuating circumstances; please contact registrar@acc-uk.org for further guidance.

You will need to demonstrate your readiness and competence to meet all accreditation requirements, the minimum of which are outlined below:

  • be an ACC registered member with a minimum of 100 client hours since registration 
  • have a recognised level 7 qualification (or as deemed equivalent) in counselling or psychotherapy 
    • evidence at least 500 GLH
    • a minimum of 70% of these must be face to face
    • any online learning must be synchronous (i.e., in real time with a tutor leading the training as a live, taught session)
    • Shortfalls can be bridged using prior certificate levels, post-qualifying modules, or up to 30 hours of structured CPD in training relating to becoming, and developing as a counsellor
  • evidence at least 500 supervised practice hours during qualifying and progression training over a minimum of four years
  • evidence 160 hours of personal therapy or personal development

Please email registrar@acc-uk.org if you would like to be notified when senior accreditation pathways open.

ACC accredited and senior accredited members can apply to become an accredited supervisor. This requires completion of specialist supervision training and a separate application process demonstrating competence and experience as a supervisor. This accreditation is distinct from and additional to the SCoPEd framework, which covers counselling and psychotherapy practice rather than supervision. 

We will announce when supervisor accreditation applications reopen. If you would like to be notified, please email registrar@acc-uk.org.

Once applications are submitted, they are passed on to one of ACC’s assessors. Timescales vary according to demand, however, most applications are assessed within 12 weeks.

ACC has an accreditation recognition process by which we recognise the equivalent accreditation of other professional counselling bodies within the PCPB (i.e. BACP, BPC, HGI, NCPS, UKCP). 

Please use the Accreditation Recognition Application Form to apply for accreditation recognition.  

We are currently completing a recognition process for applicants where their accreditation is from a body outside of the PCPB. We will then be able to consider other professional bodies’ accreditation processes, for example, COSCA, or specialist accreditations such as BABCP, as long as the process is demonstrably equivalent and clearly maps to SCoPEd column B or C. If you are interested in being notified when this becomes available, please email registrar@acc-uk.org.

If you had a practice break, you can still use the hours you accumulated when you were actively supervised, according to the ACC Supervision Guidelines to apply for accreditation or senior accreditation with the ACC.

However, we do require you to have accumulated those hours within the timeframe of three to six years.