Apply Now to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor

IMPORTANT NOTICE

In the first five months of 2025, BCACC saw a significant increase in the number of applications for registered membership. As a result application review timelines have become longer as we work to review the increasing number of applications.

To enable us to review these applications efficiently, we will not be responding to calls or emails regarding application status inquiries. You can see your application status by following the instructions found at the bottom of BCACC’s Apply Now webpage

Once you submit your application, you can go to the application portal and log in to see information about the status of your application and to see what documents have been received and added to your file.

For more information about application processing times, read the information found in the “Estimated Timelines of the Application Process” below. We recommend bookmarking this page so you can come back to this information later.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

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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 want to reinstate your registered membership, please request a reinstatement package by email to [email protected].

Please note: BCACC does not provide feedback about schools, programs or coursework over the phone or in advance of a complete application.

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Step 1: Getting Started

• Read the BCACC Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards of Clinical Practice
• Check whether you meet BCACC’s membership eligibility criteria
• Read the How to Apply & FAQ page (returning/former members please read FAQ)
• Read the steps on this page before beginning an online application

Step 2: Create an Online Application

Open and complete an online application. Then proceed directly to Step 3.

To continue an application or to check the status of an application, go to the application portal.

IMPORTANT

• Prepare a resume (upload to your online application). Your resume must include details of your academic qualifications, counselling training & all work experience (related and unrelated to counselling) for the past 7 years.
• Once you pay your application fee, you WILL NOT be able to log in and change your application details. Ensure that your application is correct and complete before you submit your application. If changes must be made, please email your changes or updates to [email protected].

Fees

• The application fee is $200. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable.
• For more information about other associated fees, including membership fees, professional insurance, etc., see the Eligibility page.

Step 3: Submit the Following Documents to BCACC

BCACC staff DOES NOT make any request to third parties for documentation on behalf of applicants. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have submitted all the necessary documents to BCACC.

IMPORTANT: Request that all your documents be sent to BCACC at [email protected]

1. Share your English Language Test results with BCACC or send it directly to BCACC, if applicable. See Eligibility page for details.
2. Order official academic transcripts
   • Official transcripts are required for all coursework listed in your online application.
   • At least one of your transcripts must show the date you received your master’s degree.
   • If you have completed relevant courses in your undergraduate, you must order transcripts showing the completed coursework.
   • Transcripts must be sent directly to BCACC from the educational institution (we accept email or mailed transcripts). BCACC will not accept any transcripts from applicants.
   • For International Applicants, please review the information about International Credentials.
   • See Eligibility page for detailed criteria you must meet.
3. Order letters of good standing from any professional associations and regulatory bodies with which you are currently, or were formerly, a member (if applicable)
   • Not required if you are or were a student member of that association/regulatory body.
   • BCACC does not accept screenshots of membership or registration search results.
4. Order Reference Forms from Clinical Supervisors and/or colleagues
   • At least 2 reference forms are required. Reference forms must be received directly from referees.
   • At least 100 hours of clinical supervision must be documented on clinical reference forms. At least 25 of those hours must be direct clinical supervision.
   • You can arrange for as many clinical reference forms as you need in order to meet the required 100 hours of clinical supervision.
   • If all of your hours are accounted for on one clinical reference form, you can arrange for a colleague reference form as your second reference.
   • See Eligibility page for detailed criteria you must meet

Estimated Timeline to Receive Documents

Please allow up to 8 weeks for documents to be added to your application file. If you do not see a document in your file, please contact the school or the referee first to find out more information about any delays. BCACC staff DOES NOT make any request for documentation on behalf of applicants to third parties. Incomplete reference forms, unsigned reference forms or incorrect information will cause delays.

To be fair to all applicants, and due to the volume of documentation received, application processes cannot be expedited.

Step 4: Your Application is Under Review

Once all your documents have been received, we will update your application status to “Pending Review”. The review process for a typical application can take up to 12 weeks.

If your application is complex, your file may be referred to the Registration Committee. If this occurs, you will be advised of any additional timelines for your file. Your application might be complex if:

• You have completed your degree outside of Canada or the United States
• Your counselling coursework is ambiguous, or the course titles don’t clearly identify what BCACC core topic area the course work aligns with
• Other reasons as assessed by the BCACC Deputy Registrar

Once your application has been reviewed, you will be advised on the outcome of that review by email and provided with further instructions for completing the BCACC application and enrollment process.

Step 5: Criminal Record Check

If your application is accepted, BCACC will request a criminal record check result current within 6 months. Details will be provided at the time of the request.

IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT send in a criminal record check result until requested.

Allow up to 2 weeks for this criminal record check result to be reviewed.

If you would like to discuss information that may be disclosed during the criminal record check process, please contact our office by phone and ask to speak to our Registration Coordinator.

Step 6: Membership and Insurance Enrollment

Once your criminal record check has been reviewed and accepted, you will be offered BCACC membership enrollment forms and can either enroll in a professional liability insurance program or provide proof of professional liability insurance coverage through employment. More details will be provided at the time that the membership offer is made to you.

Allow 2-3 weeks for this final enrollment step. You will be advised of successful enrollment by email.

Application Status

Once you have submitted your application, you can go to the application portal and log in to see information about the status of your application and to see what documents have been received and added to your file.

After your application has been reviewed by the Deputy Registrar and approved, your application status will change accordingly and you will receive an email with instructions for completing the next steps to receive your BCACC membership.

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Estimated Timelines of the Application Process

A typical application process may take up to 6 months from start to finish; however, this timeframe can vary.

• Up to 8 weeks to receive documents and assess completeness of application package
• Up to 12 weeks for Deputy Registrar-Registration’s review of the application package
• Up to 3 weeks for BCACC to receive completed criminal record check results
• Up to 3 weeks for BCACC to process and complete an applicant’s membership enrollment

Due to the increasingly large volume of membership applications being received at BCACC’s offices, the timelines for processing membership applications has been extended. To enable us to review these applications efficiently, we will not be responding to calls or emails regarding application status inquiries.