When the Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework is fully integrated in February 2026 there will be a range of different accreditation routes to enable you to become a senior accredited member under BACP’s revised senior accredited membership scheme.Ìý

If you’v±ð been awarded senior accredited status under the revised scheme since February 2024, you »å´Ç²Ô’t need to do anything –Ìýyou can now promote yourself as being a ±«ÓãÊÓƵsenior accredited member aligned to column C of the SCoPEd framework.ÌýÌý

If you are a ±«ÓãÊÓƵmember who was awarded senior accredited status under the previous scheme (prior to 2023) and who hasn’t applied for the revised senior membership category, ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô be able to apply for the revised senior accredited membership category aligned to column C of the SCoPEd framework) from February 2026, at no cost until January 2027 by:ÌýÌý

  • the temporary accreditation route for those previous senior accredited members who »å´Ç²Ô’t have a validated Level 7 (or equivalent) counselling or psychotherapy qualification.ÌýÌý

This route considers training and CPD alongside other existing skills and experience and there’s no cost for you to apply. It will be available from February 2026 to January 2027.ÌýÌý

There will be no cost for senior accredited members (awarded prior to 2023) to apply between February 2026 and January 2027.ÌýÌý

When the SCoPEd transition period ends (Friday 30 January 2026) our membership categories will be fully aligned to the columns of the SCoPEd framework. Our:Ìý

  • registered membership category will be aligned to column
  • accredited membership category will be aligned to column B
  • senior accredited membership category will be aligned to column C

If you’v±ð submitted an application already during the transition period, ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô received your decision from the accreditation team once ¾±³Ù’s been processed and assessed. You ·É´Ç²Ô’t need to apply again if you ³ó²¹±¹±ð²Ô’t received your decision by February 2026.Ìý

Applying for BACP's revised senior accredited membership category before 30 January 2026

You can apply for senior accreditationÌýunder our revised scheme at no cost and be aligned to column C of the SCoPEd framework via our temporary s±ð²Ô¾±´Ç°ù accreditation route during the SCoPEd transition period if you meet the eligibility criteria. ³Û´Ç³Ü’l±ô need to submit your application by 12pm, Friday 30 January 2026. Visit our s±ð²Ô¾±´Ç°ù accredited membershipÌýpage for more details. Ìý

What if I »å´Ç²Ô’t apply or if my submitted application is not processed and assessed for the revised senior accredited membership category before February 2026?Ìý

If your not eligible or choose not to apply for the revised senior accredited membership category during the transition period, then at your next renewal date (before February 2026), ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô be moved to our accredited membership category.

³Û´Ç³Ü’l±ô still be able to apply for the revised senior accredited membership during the transition period or from February 2026 using the new accreditation routes until end of January 2027 at no cost.

If you’v±ð submitted an application for the revised senior membership category, we’ll endeavour to complete the processing of these applications as soon as we can, but if you ³ó²¹±¹±ð²Ô’t received a decision by February 2026, ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô be moved to our accredited membership category until a successful decision has been received.

Whichever membership category you are in, ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô still be able to: 

  • continue to be recognised as a qualified, credible and ethical counselling or psychotherapy professional
  • keep all benefits of being a ±«ÓãÊÓƵmember
  • provide all the services you currently do
  • practise competences in SCoPEd column C providing you have the right skills, knowledge, training and experience to do so

This change needed to fully align our membership categories with the SCoPEd columns

Our previous senior accredited scheme which was open to members until 2023, didn’t align with the SCoPEd framework.   Ìý

Our revised senior accredited membership category, will be fully aligned with SCoPEd framework column C standards by February 2026. Ìý

This means all senior accredited members awarded senior accredited status before 2023 will move to BACP’s accredited membership category (which aligns with SCoPEd column B standards) at the time of their annual membership renewal date between February 2025 and January 2026 unless they have successfully applied for the revised scheme.ÌýÌý

Looking ahead

We’ll be holding an online event on Thursday 28 August, to introduce the accreditation routes that will be available from February 2026, and to answer any member questions. Find out more or book your place. Ìý

For more information please visit our SCoPEd webpages or our SCoPEd FAQs.ÌýÌý

See also