It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all documents required in the application process are received by Head Office by the application deadline. The Office collects data only and will not call to let an applicant know that documentation is missing.

Applicants who may be concerned about whether references and transcripts have been received should contact Head Office for an update on the contents of the file.

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MEMBERS OF BCACC ARE COMMITTED TO HIGH ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND TO CONTINUING COMPETENCY. IT IS THROUGH THIS APPLICATION PROCESS THAT BCACC STRIVES TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND A STRONG PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY.

CRITERIA FOR REGISTERED MEMBERSHIP

A successful applicant will:

1. Hold a Master’s degree in a field of study prescribed by the BCACC Board of Directors (e.g. counselling, clinical or educational psychology, pastoral counselling, child and youth care, marital and family counselling, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing, applied behavioural sciences) from an institution acceptable to the Board  An acceptable institution is a:

• government-approved or government-authorized degree-granting institution of higher education in Canada, or
• regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States, or
• university in another country that has been recognized or authorized by an appropriate authority of that jurisdiction.

2. Official transcripts for all education listed on page 1 of the application form must be sent directly from the institution to BCACC.

3. Show by transcript, or otherwise, a broad counselling base which includes:

• normal development & abnormal psychology
• counselling and personality theories
• group therapy theory & practice
• family therapy theory & practice
• basic research design
• ethics

(At least 4 of the 6 courses must be at the graduate level):

4. Provide references from at least two qualified mental health professionals who are familiar with his/her work.  At least one referee must have supervised the applicant’s clinical work; the other can be a colleague.

5. Submit evidence of a minimum of 100 hours of clinical supervision, which must be documented on the Clinical Reference Forms provided in the application package.  If the 100 hours were supervised by more than one supervisor, each supervisor must complete a Clinical Reference Form for the number of hours she/he supervised.

A. Qualifications of the Clinical Supervisor:
To be acceptable to the Committee, a “qualified professional” who provides the formal supervision required under bylaw 12(1)(f)iii must be a counselling professional who meets the following criteria:

1. The supervisor was appointed, by a university acceptable to the Board, to supervise a practicum or internship in a Master’s level counselling program.

OR

2. a) the supervisor is a registered member in good standing of a mental health profession that has third party accountability; OR
b) the supervisor has provided evidence of advanced skills in clinical counselling acceptable to the Committee equal to or greater than those which apply to members of the Association; OR
c) the supervisor holds a minimum of a Master’s degree that is acceptable to the Board and would otherwise meet or exceed the Association’s membership requirement;

AND

d) the supervisor has a minimum of 5 years’ clinical experience as a practicing counsellor or equivalent relevant experience before being acceptable as a supervisor to the Registration Committee.

B. At least 25 of the supervised hours must be directly observed by a clinical supervisor.  The clinical supervisor will witness clinical work in one or more of the following ways:

i. direct observation of sessions
ii. review of video-taped sessions
iii. review of audio-taped sessions
iv. co-counselling
v. co-facilitating

C.   The remaining 75 hours of clinical supervision may be comprised of a combination of the following:

i.  case consultation
ii.  group supervision
iii. file review
iv. case management

D.   Supervision which occurred prior to the start of the Master’s program will not be considered.

6. Submit a current resumé, with details of academic qualifications, counselling training and relevant work experience.

7. Possess or show intent to purchase professional liability insurance.

8. Sign an agreement that he/she has read and understood the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors’ Scope of Practice, Code of Ethical Conduct, and Standards of Clinical Practice.

 

New: Information on when to obtain a Criminal Record Check can be found here.

 

BCACC Registration costs:

One-time (non-refundable) application fee (incl. GST)… $200.00
Annual Registered Membership Dues (incl. GST)……… $436.00

Liability Insurance Premiums

$2,000,000 Coverage ………………………………………  $150.00
$5,000,000  Coverage  ……………………………………… $210.00

Thank you for your interest in the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and we welcome your inquiries and/or application.

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

This professional counsellors’ Association was incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia on May 19, 1988.

The purpose of the Association is to regulate the professional practice of Registered Clinical Counsellors by furthering the standards of clinical counselling practice in order to promote effective and efficient service to persons and groups of persons and to represent the interests of the clinical counselling profession.

Clinical counselling is the application of diagnostic and treatment principles, methods and procedures of counselling knowledge, for facilitating effective functioning during the life-span developmental process.  “Clinical Counselling” means the assessment, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of behavioural, cognitive, social, mental or emotional issues, problems or disorders, and the use of Clinical Counselling values, principles and treatment methods, including psychotherapy to help individual, couple, family, and group clients understand, cope with and resolve their situation in order to: enhance personal, couple, family, group, organizational or community growth and effectiveness; promote healthy interpersonal relationships; encourage self growth; sustain mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.

Clinical counsellors value human beings, work to support the personal integrity of individuals, couples, groups and organizations (the “clients”), and hold a deep respect for the welfare, rights and freedoms of the person.

Registered Clinical Counsellors must meet stringent requirements for education and experience and adhere to the Association’s Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards of Clinical Practice, within a system of peer review and discipline set forth in the Association Bylaws.

The Association is organized on a regional basis with six regions within the Province.  Members are represented by a Delegate Council comprised of an elected Board of Directors and two Delegate Council Representatives for each region, plus one for each one hundred members.  The Delegate Council meets annually.  The Board of Directors meets three times per year.

The Association publishes a magazine, INSIGHTS into CLINICAL COUNSELLING that serves as the “voice of the Association”.