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The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification

If you're a learner and would like to find out more about this qualification please contact a centre directly for further information. You can find your nearest centre approved to offer the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification using our centre finder.

BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification

The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification maps the current CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) to the requirements for BACP Qualification Approval and fully incorporates BACP’s Online and Phone Therapy Competence Framework.

All centres offering the TC-L4 with BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification status  will:

Why a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification?

As part of our commitment to developing competent counsellors and engaging in the development of the counselling profession, we actively engage with other organisations, institutions, and individuals in our field. We continue to work with The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which is a professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK We're pleased to advise you of our continued qualification partnership with BACP which is designed to support qualification standards and enhance the pathway to becoming a registered BACP counsellor.

We've recently completed a successful 2 year pilot of the scheme and now continue this qualification offer from September 2022. The BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification scheme differs from BACP’s existing Accredited Course scheme in that the agreement is at qualification level with the awarding organisation, not with the individual course provider. For BACP, this scheme represents a new way of working with qualification providers, rather than placing the onus upon individual training providers to apply for BACP course accreditation at centre level.

We've worked with BACP to map the current Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) to the requirements for BACP Qualification Approval. This ensures that it meets the high standards of both organisations in terms of content, curriculum, delivery, assessment, and practice requirements. The qualification has also been mapped to the relevant BACP professional standards and competencies and the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions and now the BACP Online and Phone Therapy Competence Framework.

Candidates undertaking a BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification will have the BACP Certificate of Proficiency facilitated directly for them by their training provider and will be able to apply directly for Individual Registration with BACP. Candidates can also be reassured that their qualification has already been approved by BACP.

Read more... What are the benefits?

The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification offers many benefits for both centres and candidates.

Benefits for centres:

  • Join a growing number of centres offering the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification and promote this opportunity to potential candidates.
  • The same robust TC-L4 qualification.
  • New candidate guidance and tutor notes for 2022-23 which respond to the changing landscape in counselling and psychotherapy training standards and employment.
  • Tutor BACP membership provides additional BACP resources for teaching and assessment.
  • Offer BACP Certificate of Proficiency from your own centre.
  • BACP centre support for facilitation of the BACP Certificate of Proficiency.
  • A straightforward application and approval process from CPCAB.
  • CPCAB staff and External Verifier support.

Benefits for candidates:

  • A straightforward route to BACP registration.
  • The same robust TC-L4 qualification.
  • New candidate guidance for 2022-2023 which respond to the changing landscape in counselling and psychotherapy training standards and employment.
  • Certification that includes both a CPCAB and BACP logo which confirms that the qualification meets the standards of the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification.
  • Student BACP membership provides additional BACP resources for learning. (Please note the BACP student membership fee is not included in the course fee).
Read more... How is the BACP Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) facilitated?

BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification centres will facilitate the BACP Certificate of Proficiency in the 2nd year of the qualification.

Please see the BACP Certificate of Proficiency - A guide for approved centres.

The guide will support you with planning and facilitating the BACP CoP in year 2 and claiming certificates with CPCAB:

  • Establishing contact with BACP
  • Appointing an Invigilator
  • Identifying candidates for the CoP assessment
  • CoP assessment booking process
  • Candidate preparation for the CoP assessment
  • Centre preparation for the CoP assessment
  • Contingencies for the CoP assessment
  • Results of the CoP assessment
  • Certification
  • Further CoP assessment dates / sessions

You'll need to liaise with BACP when making arrangements for candidates to take the CoP.

You must ensure that only candidates who've attended 2 years of a BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification at your centre and have completed a minimum of 70 client hours are put forward for the CoP.

If you have any questions, please contact BACP at apq@bacp.co.uk, or you may wish to contact CPCAB.

Registration and Certification

All candidates successfully completing the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification will receive certificates including the BACP logo. Please see the CPCAB BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification - Registration and Certification Centre User Guide for further information. Please ensure that all centre staff including managers, exams officers, tutors and invigilators are provided with a copy.

The guide supports centres in understanding how to register candidates for the qualification and how to access, receive and record assessment results for results for the BACP CoP. It contains vital information so that centres can ensure they log accurate results and avoid maladministration in certification:

  • Additional requirements for registration
  • Identifying candidates for the BACP CoP assessment
  • Submitting CoP results
  • Claiming Certificates

For queries relating directly to the BACP CoP, please contact BACP at apq@bacp.co.uk.

For queries relating to claiming certificates online via the CPCAB Portal, please contact CPCAB at exams@cpcab.co.uk.

BACP student membership application template letter

BACP individual membership upgrade template

For any other queries, please contact CPCAB.

Further questions?

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions relating to the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification.