ACC has been approved to hold an Accredited Register of Counsellors by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). This means that ACC has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate that our organisation meets all the rigorous standards that are laid down by the PSA.
The purpose of Accredited Registers, which apply to a wide range of healthcare practices in addition to counselling and psychotherapy, is to ensure public safety.
Education & Training Requirements
To join the Register a counsellor needs to have successfully completed at a minimum a level 4 diploma award in counselling which has validated by the Open College Network (OCN), Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB) and other recognised training Courses who are registered with Ofqaul or a UK higher Educational Establishment. This typically will have involved 420 tutor contact hours and a supervised placement of 100 hours. Please note distance learning courses as any level: diploma, B.A., M.A. Doctorate, are not accepted as qualifying counselling training.
Equivalence Routes
There are a number of equivalence routes that are outlined below which will be assessed carefully to ensure fair access to the Register for qualified counsellors.
These are:
• A degree, MA or other post graduate qualification in counselling that provides a similar skill, supervised practice and knowledge base to those set-out for Level 4 diplomas. The applicant needs to evidence an appropriate curriculum of study, which includes a minimum of 420 contact teaching hours and 100 hours of a supervised clinical placement.
• Qualifications obtained overseas that provide a similar skill, supervised practice and knowledge base to those set-out for Level 4 diplomas. In some cases it may be necessary for an applicant to (at their own expense) apply to the National Agency for the Recognition and Comparison of International Qualifications and Skills (UK NARIC) for verification of their overseas qualifications and awards.
• Certain higher level 3 diplomas awarded before the introduction of level 4 diplomas
• Current BACP Registered Member who has successfully passed a BACP Accredited course at a minimum of diploma level 4
• Current BACP Registered Member, Registered through the Certificate Of Proficiency test who is also currently BACP Accredited
• UKCP Registered
• COSCA Registered Accredited Membership
If you believe that you may be able eligible to join ACC’s Register through an equivalence route please e-mail registrar@acc-uk.org.
Joining the ACC’s Accredited Register of Counsellors brings with it a commitment to safe practice and continuous professional development. These include maintaining professional indemnity insurance, undertaking supervision appropriate to your practice and level of accreditation and completing 25 hours of continuous professional development activities each year.
Qualified counsellors who are eligible for the Register and who are on a practice break may be able to join the Register in preparation for commencing practice. If this applies to you please contact the Registrar by telephoning the Head Office or by email registrar@acc-uk.org to discuss this with us. [Details of ACC’s practice break guidelines are available on the website in Counsellor Guidance Documents under the Professional Development Tab.]
If applying for Registered or Counsellor memberships you will be asked a number of safe practice and disclosure questions to which you must answer Yes or No.
When these questions are answered correctly we can then proceed with your membership – it is also very important that you do not press update/submit until you have answered ALL the safe practice questions.
If you have any other questions please contact the registrar@acc-uk.org or phone the office.
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