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Step C: Information for newly qualified counsellors or psychotherapists
Employment
Once qualified, you will face many decisions about where to go next.
Miriam James is a BACP Accredited counsellor and weighs up the options of setting up in private practice versus working within an agency as well as giving general advice on finding a job.
If you are currently looking for a job you may want to check BACP's jobsonline section (BACP members only).
More information on counselling careers .
Further Training and CPD
Once you have completed your course whether it be a Diploma, Degree or Postgraduate qualification, you may want to go on to do further training.
You may decide to work within a specific sector and so after your general counselling and psychotherapy qualification you could go on to complete a course such as addiction or bereavement counselling.
BACP is committed to Continued Professional Development and has introduced online learning modules so members and non-members can fulfill their CPD requirements. A range of topics will be covered and you can work through them in your own time. You can even start a module and save part way through to return to it at a later date.
Post regualtion all counsellors and psychotherapists will need to comply with the CPD requirements of the HPC.
CPD and online learning modules
BACP Membership and Accreditation
"Membership brings me within a community of people who care about their 'profession' and their clients"
Member MBACP
Once you have successfully completed your course you will be eligible for membership of the Member MBACP category. This means you can use the letters MBACP after your name when advertising yourself. This lets the public and potential employers know you are a member of BACP and adhere to an Ethical Framework.
In order to be eligible for the Member MBACP category of membership you must have successfully completed a counselling or psychotherapy course that was a minimum of one year full time or two years part time with a supervised placement. You can change from the student to Member MBACP category by submitting a copy of your certificate or original letter from your place of study to the membership department. We will then write to inform you that you can use the letters and hopefully this will assist you in finding employment and clients.
Accreditation
Accreditation enables clients, employers and colleagues to recognise proven, competent practitioners. This means that the selection of a counsellor or therapist can be based on an informed choice rather than speculation. To date, BACP has accredited over 8,000 counsellors and psychotherapists.
To become accredited, you must provide enough evidence to show that you can meet each criterion and that you can meet the overall standard for the scheme.
You will need an application pack to apply for accreditation. The pack contains an application form and information to help you make your application. Even if you are not ready to apply, the pack will show you what is required to be accredited (we recommend that you keep a pack for guidance when you start working towards your accreditation).
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application pack to apply for accreditation
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