BACP register

In the UK you join the BACP register. (The British Association for Counsellors & Psychotherapists). It protects both clients and counsellors etc. using the ethical framework...along with other mandatory requirements.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows the difference between being 'registered' with the BACP and being 'accredited' with them? I've googled it but can't figure it out!

Its all pointless and meaningless anyway. Doesnt mean ****.

It shows you here Membership categories for individual practitioners - BACP Membership

Others may know more but bring accredited means they have submitted work and done the required amount of supervised hours etc to become accredited.as in, their is an accreditation programme and they have followed it and got accredited. There is also senior accredited which means they have submitted more work. Being registered basically just means that should things go wrong there is a governing body which might be able to help.

That explains it clearly. Thank you very much

Echos is very knowledgeable on the BACP framework , she's not online right now.

Thanks Out There. I hope Echos sees this thread!

BACP registration means that you've either completed an accredited training course, which includes a minimum number of supervised counselling hours or that you've completed a training course and completed a certificate of competency set by the BACP. After registration you commit to continued regular, monthly, supervision and continued training and development and that you work within their code of ethics.

BACP accreditation means that you've been fully qualified for at least 1 year, have done over 450 hours of supervised practice and have completed tasks which speak to your ability to understand therapeutic process at a complex level and have a commitment to your own personal development/growth. Accredited counsellors still have a minimum regular supervision requirement and need to take part in regular continued professional development. BACP audit both registered and accredited members to ensure they meet supervision and professional development requirements.

It's not a guarantee of competence but it does mean the therapist has been committed to the process of evidencing their practice. There's a better chance I think of finding someone competent and ethical if they are prepared to work towards and pay for what is a fairly onerous and expensive process of accreditation.

Waterbear and Merecat have covered the main points very well.
An accredited course guarantees BACP membership if you apply/pay for it and the extra hours and evidence that Merecat mentions are the route to accreditation.
As Merecat rightly points out, hours doesn't mean competence but at least with a professional organisation there is an ethical framework to uphold and be accountable to. You've had really accurate and helpful responses here

Thanks Merecat. I'm wondering how often they continue their training?

Thank you Echos

Theres ukcp, too

I've heard of that one too, but I think the BACP is the biggest and most well known register.

Registered members are expected to do around 30 hours of CPD a year - that can take the form of reading books and articles, attending training, attending group work, training others - the list is pretty extensive. Most Ts I know do considerably more than 30 hours.

My T is ukcp registered. BACP is more the 'poor cousin'

Oh really. I had no idea. My tutor on the course I'm studying told me the BACP was the better one! I'll have her about that when I see her

I don't think that's necessarily true - they serve a different purpose and work differently but their standards actually aren't that different. In the UK there's no requirement that counsellors or therapists be registered anywhere so there are a number of different professional bodies who all register and accredit therapists but I'm not sure any one is better than the other. I think where a T registers says more about them politically and organisationally than anything about the actual body. Most places employing therapists want BACP accreditation as a minimum requirement so it's pretty industry standard.

As s student I would go for BACP, their requirements are clear and well understood across the sector and you'll be more employable more quickly. Also student membership is really cheap, about £70 per year and is worth having in terms of access to research and placement information.

Thanks for that. I was under the impression it was a requirement that T's register to practice.

No, counsellor and psychotherapist isn't a reserved profession in the UK, literally anyone can use the title - which is partly why they get paid so poorly compared to Ts in other countries and why training and experience is so patchy. It is strongly advised to register because you have organisational support, professional credibility and a clear ethical framework (and support to understand it). Also many courses and most employers now require you to be registered so while the government hasn't imposed registration the industry is doing it itself.

I do think it's important to know what your Ts qualification is, what their practice experience is like and where they're registered, and also to be prepared to move on if it's not working. Finding a competent T can be difficult but registration helps some of that.

My T is accredited with the BACP and has been practicing for over ten years. She's highly professional and competent. What brought me to ask the question is the fact my course tutor is registered but not accredited.
Thank you for your help