Our revised senior accredited membership category – which is aligned to the standards of Column C of the SCoPEd framework – is now open for applications for accredited members and current senior accredited members who meet the eligibility criteria during the SCoPEd transition period.

The revised scheme demonstrates that BACP senior accredited members:

  • meet BACP recognised accreditation standards
  • have met and evidenced a wide range of training and practice requirements and core SCoPEd competences

If you’re successful in applying for senior accreditation under the revised scheme you:

  • will receive all existing member benefits
  • can use the designatory letters 'MBACP (Snr Accred)'
  • can promote yourself as being aligned to Column C on the SCoPEd framework
  • will be given a certificate of senior accreditation and a logo that you can use to promote your practice

Becoming a senior accredited member (revised category)

Please click on the link below that applies to you so we can help you take the next step on your professional journey:

I'm an accredited member

If you’re an accredited member, you can apply for our revised senior accreditation membership, providing you meet all the eligibility criteria, which includes having a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification. 

If you’re an accredited member and also a BPC psychodynamic counsellor or  psychotherapist or a UKCP psychotherapist aligned to column C of the SCoPEd framework, please contact our customer services team for more information about the process to move to our revised senior accredited membership category.

I’m a current senior accredited member with a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification

If you’re a current senior accredited member with a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification and meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for revised senior accredited membership, aligned to Column C of the SCoPEd framework.

  • It’s free right now for our current senior accredited members to apply
  • Visit our apply for senior accreditation page for eligibility requirements and to download the application form
  • Submit your application as early as possible to allow time for your application to be processed and assessed. We’re already starting to receive these, and applications will be processed and assessed in the order they’re submitted

This assessment time will vary depending on the volume of applications we receive at any given time. It could take around six months from your submission date for your application to be processed and assessed and your decision notice to be issued.

If you don’t meet the revised senior accredited criteria, or choose not to apply, you’ll move to our accredited membership category (aligned to column B) at the time of your annual renewal between February 2025 – January 2026

You’ll still be able to apply at no cost for the revised senior accredited membership category until the end of the transition period (early 2026).

I’m a current senior accredited member and I’m not sure if I have an appropriate Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification

To apply for our revised senior accreditation membership category before February 2026, you need to have a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification.

What is a Level 7 (or equivalent) qualification?

Level 7 OFQUAL equivalent qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland include:

  • Masters-level qualification (MA/MSc)
  • Post-Graduate Certificate
  • Post-Graduate Diploma

An example of an equivalent qualification in Scotland would be Level 11 SCQF.

It doesn’t include qualifications that haven’t been formally validated.

What do I do next? 

  • If you have a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification then visit our Apply for senior accreditation page for eligibility requirements and to download the application form
  • If you don’t have a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification then please read the next section for guidance
  • If you’re still not sure, or have further questions regarding your qualification please contact accreditation@bacp.co.uk and include the words 'Level 7 qualification enquiry' in your subject line

I’m a current senior accredited member and I don’t have a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification

If you’re a current senior accredited member who doesn’t meet the revised eligibility criteria at this stage, you’ll move to our accredited membership category, which is aligned to Column B in the SCoPEd framework.

This will happen at the time of your annual membership renewal date between February 2025 and January 2026. 

You’ll still be able to: 

  • provide all the services you currently do 
  • practise competences in other SCoPEd columns providing you have the right skills, knowledge, training, and experience to do so 

This is in line with our existing Ethical Framework, which states that members should work within the limits of their competence. 

New routes open in 2026

You’ll be able to apply for the revised senior accredited membership category from February 2026, when new senior accreditation routes will be available, which will consider training and CPD alongside other existing skills and experience. 

Current senior accredited members without a Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification will be able to take advantage of this route for free from February 2026 until early 2027.

More details of the routes will be made available during 2025. 

Why we have changed our senior accredited member category

BACP is aligning all of its membership categories to the SCoPEd framework.

Our previous senior accredited membership category doesn’t align with the standards of Column C of the SCoPEd framework, but the revised one does.  

For more information about SCoPEd, please visit the senior accredited member page in the SCoPEd section of our website.   

I'm an accredited or senior accredited member who is also a BPC psychodynamic counsellor or psychotherapist or a UKCP psychotherapist

If you’re an accredited or senior accredited member and also a BPC psychodynamic counsellor or psychotherapist or a UKCP psychotherapist, aligned to column C of the SCoPEd framework,

Please contact our customer services team for more information about the process to move to our revised senior accredited membership category.

Find out more...