We’re committed to developing the highest standards of proficiency and ethical practice within the counselling professions. And we’re passionate about advocating the role, relevance and value of counselling to the public, employers and commissioners.

If you share these values, we’d be delighted to welcome you as a member. You’ll be joining over 60,000 other counselling and psychotherapy practitioners and organisations in helping to raise standards, promote public safety and make our professional voice heard.

Student member

Student membership is open to those currently taking a counselling or psychotherapy practitioner training course. Your course must include at least one year's full time or two years' part time face to face classroom-based tuition, and an integral, supervised placement of at least 100 client hours.

Individual member

Individual membership is for practising counsellors and psychotherapists who have successfully completed a counselling or psychotherapy practitioner training course that meets our criteria. Individual members have up to 24 months to progress to registered membership.

Registered member (MBACP)

Registered membership is our main category for practising members and represents the minimum standards that a client should expect from a therapist. To become a registered member you must have graduated from a BACP accredited course or passed our Certificate of Proficiency.

Accredited member (MBACP - Accred)

Accreditation is a quality status for experienced practitioners who can demonstrate high standards of competent and ethical practice. Becoming an accredited member involves a detailed application and assessment process that takes several months to complete.

Senior accredited member (MBACP - Snr Accred)

Senior accreditation recognises a practitioner’s experience, accomplishments and development within their specialist area. We paused new applications for senior accreditation in January 2022 while we review the schemes and their criteria. You can read more in Review of senior accreditation schemes.

Retired member

If you are no longer practising but want to stay in touch with your profession and benefit from our services, you can transfer to the retired member category. Retired membership is open to members who are taking a long career break as well as those retiring from practice.

Organisational member

Organisational membership is for organisations providing counselling or psychotherapy services to clients, or those offering services or training to therapists. It demonstrates your commitment to ensuring quality, raising standards and protecting the public.

Further information