All applicants for the Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) designation MUST demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria for registered membership AND must reside/be living in Canada in order to finish the membership enrollment process and receive BCACC membership.
The eligibility criteria and application process are for ALL individuals applying for the Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) designation. This includes
- BCACC Student Members
- New graduates
- Qualified Professionals
- Licensed Professionals regulated in other jurisdictions
If you are a former RCC and you wish to reinstate your registered membership, please request a reinstatement package by email, [email protected]
Please note: BCACC does not provide feedback or advising about schools, programs or coursework over the phone or via email in advance of a complete application.
The following criteria are required to apply for membership with the BCACC:
1. A master’s degree from an accredited institution
Applicants seeking registration with BCACC must:
Applicants seeking registration with BCACC MUST hold, at minimum, a master’s degree.
Accreditation:
Accreditation differs depending on the location of the school/educational institution.
You can find your school’s accreditation information on the school’s website by searching for the “Accreditation” webpage. If you require further assistance, please contact the school directly.
Canada
A government-approved or authorized degree-granting institution
United States
An institution regionally accredited by one of the following:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Higher Learning Commission
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
International
Your degree must be evaluated by an international credential evaluation service and found to equate a master’s degree in Canada. Evaluators in Canada must be a member of Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada. Evaluators in the United States must be a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
2. Completed the counselling course requirements
Applicants seeking registration with BCACC must complete all six of the counselling course requirements.
At least four of the required six counselling course topic areas must be completed at a master’s degree level (the remaining courses may be completed at the undergraduate degree level).
- Developmental Psychology OR Psychopathology
- A course that covers psychological development throughout the lifespan OR psychopathology
- Counselling Theories OR Personality Theories
- A survey course of counselling theories, a course covering a specific therapeutic approach, or a course on the topic of personality theory
- Group Therapy Theory and Practice
- A course focused solely on theory and practice in one or more modalities in group counselling. Options for student role plays preferably included
- Family Therapy Theory & Practice
- A course focused solely on theory and practice in one or more modalities in family counselling. Options for student role plays preferably included
- Basic Research Design
- A course which includes one or more of the following: statistical methods and analysis, qualitative and quantitative research methods and design, and/or interpretation and critique of research literature
- Professional Ethics in Counselling
- A course focused on codes of ethics, practice standards and guidelines, professional issues, and ethical decision-making models as applied to ethical dilemmas and case studies in counselling practice. The course should ideally include legal requirements and their impact on professional practice
These course descriptions are intended for use by applicants when planning programs of study and/or selecting coursework to meet course requirements. Applicants may refer to these course descriptions when seeking advising from an academic advisor at their educational institution.
BCACC staff are unable to provide feedback or direction about coursework prior to receiving an otherwise complete application for evaluation.
If an applicant provides a course title in their application that does not clearly indicate an association with the required topic area, please provide a course description with your application.
NOTE: If a applicant’s application does not show completion of the requirements set out above and at the appropriate degree level, the applicant will be required to take additional courses that will satisfy BCACC’s registration requirements.
3. 100 hours of clinical supervision
Applicants seeking registration with BCACC must:
Have completed 100 hours of clinical supervision during or after completion of their master’s degree education program AND can provide proof of this through clinical references.
Who can I use as a supervisor?
To be acceptable to the Registration Committee, a “qualified professional” who provides formal supervision 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. 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, and one of the following:
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.
How many references do I need?
We require a minimum of two references from qualified mental health professionals who are familiar with your work. At least one referee must have supervised your clinical work. If you have your supervision hours met with one clinical reference, the second reference may be a colleague reference.
What if my supervisor is unavailable?
You must meet this requirement to make application for membership. If you are unable to access a reference from a former supervisor you will need to procure current supervision. BCACC provides a list of Approved Clinical supervisors here.
What kind of supervision?
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:
- Direct observation of sessions
- Review of video-taped sessions
- Review of audio-taped sessions
- Co-counselling
- Co-facilitating
The remaining 75 hours of clinical supervision may be comprised of:
- Case consultation
- Group supervision
- File review
- Case management
Supervision which occurred prior to the start of the master’s program will not be considered. In addition, client contact hours will not be considered.
4. English Language Proficiency (effective August 1, 2024)
English is the primary language of communication in the province of British Columbia. Applicants seeking membership with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), regardless of their country of origin, must possess/demonstrate a minimum level of English Language Proficiency (ELP) to provide competent, safe, and quality clinical counselling and psychotherapeutic services.
English proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- A master’s degree from a post-secondary institution in which the primary language of instruction is English and verified through official transcripts issued by the post-secondary institution or in an education credential evaluation report.
- Current registration, in good standing, with another Canadian counselling or psychotherapy regulatory body. A letter of good standing received from the regulatory body may identify that the ELP requirement set by that Canadian regulator has been met.
- Successful completion of one of the following: An IELTS Academic, IELTS General, TOEFL iBT, or a CELPIP General test where the applicant achieves the average and minimum scores required by the BCACC
Note: If you wish to submit a result report for an English language proficiency test that is not listed above, you must ensure that the score you received is equivalent to one of the BCACC English test score requirements below. The BCACC Registration Staff will, at their discretion, determine whether the alternative language test result report you submitted is acceptable.
English test and score requirements:
Applicants submitting either an IELTS Academic or IELTS General must have an overall score of 7 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each category. BCACC does not accept IELTs One Skill Retake, IELTS Online, or IELTS Indicator.
Applicants submitting a TOEFL iBT test must have an overall average score of 94 with a minimum score of 22 in each category. BCACC does not accept TOEFL Essential, TOEFL My Best, TOEFL iBT Home, or TOEFL ITP.
Applicants submitting a CELPIP General Test must have a score of CELPIP Level 8. BCACC does not accept CELPIP General LS.
Official test results must be valid and current within 2 years.
How to send your scores:
On the score request form, you will be asked to specify the institutions where you would like the results to be sent. To ensure BCACC receives your results correctly, you must use the following details:
- If submitting a TOEFL iBT test, in your ETS manager, use BCACC’s institution code D606 on the electronic score request form.
- If you use a paper request form for a TOEFL iBT test, use institution code D606 and institution name “BC Association of Clinical Counsellors”.
- You may also email ([email protected]) or mail your official test results to BCACC, and we will verify your results with IELTS/TOEFL directly.
NOTE: If you applied before August 1, 2024, language fluency can be demonstrated if English is:
- Your first language; or
- Language of primary, secondary, or post-secondary education; or
- The language you use in delivering services to clients; or
- Was the language used to complete a counselling/psychotherapy bridging program.
If you have no education or practice experience in English, please submit a language proficiency test that meets one of the following scores: CLBA level 7; IELTS level 6; TOEFL score of 80.
5. Pay associated fees
Expect to pay these costs for the application and membership process:
- Application fee: $200.00 (incl. GST), one-time, non-refundable
- Application materials: Your cost to order transcripts, letters of good standing, credential evaluation (if needed)
- Annual registered membership: $436.00 (incl. GST)
- Criminal record check: Your cost to order a criminal record check needed to complete registration. Do not complete a criminal record check until it is requested.
- Insurance: If you are not covered through an employer, you will need to purchase insurance upon registration. BCACC’s insurance plan costs between $100 – $150 per year for professional liability. Do not submit insurance information until it is requested.
