Applying for Certification

• You are a member in good standing with CCPA (or are requesting membership at the same time as requesting certification).
• You have completed a Master's degree in counselling (or related field) from an AUCC recognized University with appropriate courses or from an American regionally accredited institution.
• You have completed at least 120 hours of direct client contact in a supervised practicum. It is strongly recommended that at least 20 of the direct client contact hours are in group settings. These hours may include co-facilitation experiences.

Pre-evaluation process
CCPA offers a service to prospective applicants who want to have their credentials reviewed for gaps and omissions prior to seeking certification. CCPA calls it a "pre-evaluation" and the cost is $40. You don`t have to be a member to apply.

You don't have to be member to apply for it. 

Please submit the following: 

• completed Certification Pre Evaluation Request Form;
• a photocopy of your graduate transcript;
• Provide a course syllabus of the graduate courses being used for certification from an official source such as university issued syllabus, course calendar or website print-out with the URL indicating the source of the information on the bottom. Please ensure that the syllabus contains the course description.  Applicants who cannot obtain an official document can ask their University for archived copies.
• a description of practicum indicating the setting, the supervision, the number of hours (including number of hours of direct contact with "real" clients). This practicum report does not have to be signed by the supervisor for the purpose of pre evaluation.
• a cheque for $40 or your credit card number.
• Any additional documentation which you believe will support or provide important information in the evaluation of your credentials.
  

The CCPA Registrar will review your file and offer specific recommendations towards certification requirements.

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2. Does CCPA acknowledge evaluations by equivalent counselling or counselling-related Associations?

• If you are already a certified/registered/licensed member of another Canadian or American professional association with requirements equivalent to or greater than CCPA's certification process, you have the option to send:

  • Proof of professional qualification with another recognized Canadian or American professional association;
  • The completed CCC Application Form.
  • A Criminal Record Check that includes the abuse registry conducted within the last 12 months. Please note that photocopies, scanned copies and fax copies are not accepted.See Certification Criteria for more information.
  • The appropriate administration fees: $160.00 ($95 evaluation fee + $65 annual certification fee).
  • Two (2) professional references (from professionals in a non-compliant relationship with you who know you in your capacity as a counsellor). You must use the professional reference forms found here.

  However:

  • CCPA reserves the right to ask you to produce evidence that shows that the minimum requirements from other professional association are equal or superior to CCPA certification;
  • any applicant under this provision must demonstrate that the standard for certification/registration/licensing at the last time they achieved it, and without the benefit of grandparenting, was equal to or greater than our current CCPA certification requirements.

3. CACEP Accredited university graduates

Students who have graduated from CACEP Accredited programs within five years of graduation are fast tracked through the certification procedure.

When applying for certification, submit the following:

• Completed CCC Application Form
• An official transcript of marks sent from your University directly to CCPA's National Office. Note: The transcript must have the University seal and state that the degree has been conferred.
• Two (2) professional references (from professionals in a non-compliant relationship with you who know you in your capacity as a counsellor). They must know you in your capacity as a counsellor and be able to attest to either your individual or group counselling skills within the past ten years.  References will only be accepted from individuals who can speak to your counselling skills since the time of your graduate-level education in counselling.You must use the professional reference forms found here.
• A Criminal Record Check that includes the abuse registry/vulnerable sector, conducted within the last 12 months. See Certification Criteria for more information.
• The appropriate administration fees: $160.00 ($95 Evaluation fee + $65 annual certification fee).

(Course syllabi and the Practicum Description Form do not need to be submitted for students graduating from CACEP Accredited programs)

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• Involves face-to-face meetings between the candidate and supervisor, typically in periods of approximately one hour each.
• Supervision is based on content and process of a candidate's practicum or internship experience. Combinations of direct supervision (live observation, co-counselling, review of audio and video recordings, and live supervision, for example, reflecting teams) as well as indirect supervision (written case notes and case consultations) are involved.
• Supervision is not personal therapy. The purpose of supervision is to facilitate supervisees' development of counselling competencies, intervention skills, and the ability to conduct counselling cases effectively. The supervisor provides the evaluative dimension of counselling supervision and monitors the quality of the services offered to the client by the candidate.
• Supervisors must be at "arms length" from the supervisee.
• Supervision does not include peer supervision by a person of equivalent qualifications, status and experience, nor does it include current or former family members or others where the personal relationship interferes or makes challenging the establishment of a professional relationship. Supervisors in administrative relationships to the supervisee whose position involves evaluating job performance or assessing case management are not suitable for evaluating the quality of therapy given to a client. Clinical supervision is a required element of Certification as a professional counsellor under CCC regulations. 

Appropriate Professional Associations and Qualifications

• It is expected that supervisors have expertise in the area of counselling, including conceptual knowledge and practical experience in the field of counselling
• Supervisors should have a Masters degree or higher in the area of counselling (or equivalent) in order to be qualified to supervise
• Supervisors should have a minimum of four years of successful practice in the counselling field prior to taking on a supervisory role
• Supervisors should belong to CCPA, a recognized association in the field of counselling, or any provincial/territorial regulatory college.

Note: As of September 1, 2012, a course in the area of Counselling and Communication Skills as well as a course in Professional Ethics* will be compulsory.
*While it is preferable to have a stand-alone ethics course, a letter from the counselling program indicating how ethics has been infused into courses across the counselling program is acceptable. If the university offers a stand-alone course then it would be expected that the student would take this course. It should further be noted that by September 2015, CCC requirements will include a standalone course in Ethics.

TRAINING: At the present time, to obtain certification, applicants must satisfy both admission and training criteria. Only members with graduate level training in counselling or a related field are eligible for certification. Applicants must be a CCPA member prior to applying for certification.

Applicants must demonstrate a graduate degree in counselling or a related professional field from an AUCC recognized Canadian educational institution (or from a regionally accredited institution in the United States), showing evidence of GRADUATE course work in:

1. Counselling Theory (compulsory)

   Counselling theories provide a consistent framework to conceptualize client issues and to identify and select appropriate counselling interventions. Includes the foundations of their development; their cognitive, affective and behavioural components; research evidence for their effectiveness; and their application to practice.

2. Supervised Counselling Practicum with at least 120 hours of direct client counselling (compulsory) Note: the number of hours will increase to 150 in September 2013)

   Involves professional development and supervised practice in a counselling context. Students are expected to be involved in direct work with clients (individual, family, and/or group counselling) under the supervision of a qualified professional.  It is strongly recommended that at least 20 hours of direct client counselling is in group settings. These hours may include co-facilitation experiences.

   Direct client counselling hours

   At least 120 hours (150 hours by September 1, 2013) of direct client contact¹ are required in a supervised practicum. It is strongly recommended that at least 20 of the direct client contact hours are in group settings. These hours may include co-facilitation experiences.

   Context
   From 2008 to 2010, the Project Working Group (PWG) on Labour Mobility, funded by HRSDC,  has conducted research related to titles, definitions and scopes of practice for the counselling profession in Canada and around the world. Based on this research and a pan-Canadian survey of practitioners working in diverse settings such as private practice, schools, universities, agencies, and health care, a nationally validated definition of counselling and scope of practice for the profession was produced.

   Results from primary research with Canadian practitioners across the country confirmed clear understanding of the generic term "counselling profession" as being inclusive of more than 70 professional titles including those listed below.

   • counselling therapist
   • psychotherapist
   • mental health therapist
   • clinical counsellor
   • career counsellor
   • conseiller/conseillère d'orientation
   • vocational guidance counsellor
   • marriage and family therapist
   • orienteur
   • orienteur professionnel
   • psychoeducateur
     
     

   The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association endorses the nationally validated definition of counselling and its scope of practice, understanding that the term "counselling" is used generically to describe activities shared across a variety of professional titles.

   Definition of counselling: Counselling is the skilled and principled use of relationship to facilitate self- knowledge, emotional acceptance and growth and the optimal development of personal resources. The overall aim of counsellors is to provide an opportunity for people to work towards living more satisfyingly and resourcefully. Counselling relationships will vary according to need but may be concerned with developmental issues, addressing and resolving specific problems, making decisions, coping with crisis, developing personal insights and knowledge, working through feelings of inner conflict or improving relationships with others.

   Direct client counselling CONTACT hours¹ are actual clock hours during which you work with clients. Examples of direct services are:   

   • Facilitating or co-facilitating a group, family, or couples session
   • Providing real-time therapy to an individual, couple, family or group
   • Conducting assessment activities, such as  clinical interviewing/therapeutic observation as process/engaging in diagnostic techniques
     
     

   Indirect client services²:

   • Spending time outside the counselling hour focused on the client. Whether the activity is report writing, preparing process notes, or video/audiotape review, time spent contemplating the client and planning interventions is necessary for a rich learning process.
   • Documenting the more quantifiable activities of report-writing, information consultation with other professionals on specific cases, video/audio tape review, and assessment scoring and write-ups.

   
   Remember:  In preparation for completing your Practicum Description form, during your supervised practicum, document how many hours are direct client contact hours, and how many hours are spent under direct supervision.

3. Coursework:

   Six (6) GRADUATE courses in the following areas:
   NOTE: Of the optional courses, only two will count towards each course area below.

   Assessment Processes - A study of individual and group assessment and testing, case study approaches, individual differences, and methods of data collection and interpretation.

   Counselling and Communication Skills - an understanding of essential interviewing and counselling skills needed to establish an effective counselling relationship and to develop and maintain appropriate professional boundaries. These involvements also require a measure of student reflection and self-exploration. (Compulsory as of September 2012).

   Counselling in Specialized Settings - a study of issues, applied theory, and relevant counselling approaches pertaining to a particular special client population or setting, e.g. families, rehabilitation, schools, disabled clients, etc.

   Counselling Intervention Strategies - Theory and practice in planning and implementing client change interventions; application of strategies in laboratory setting. 

   Consultation Methods - Basic theories and research of psychological consultation that can be used to guide practice in a variety of settings. Topics include the process or stages of consultation, counsellor roles and responsibilities; ethical issues, and approaches to consultation.

   Diversity Issues - An examination of theoretical and practical factors that influence the nature and effectiveness of counselling clients from diverse backgrounds. Ethics, counselling competencies (culture-specific and universal), models of racial and cultural identity development, influence of social, economic, historical, political, and cultural contexts on client problems.

   Gender Issues - Theory, research, and practice in the areas of sex role development, sexual orientation, stereotyping and social roles and corresponding counselling theories and counselling approaches. 

   Group Counselling - Theories related to group counselling including research evidence to support effectiveness of various group approaches. Attention is given to methods of facilitating interpersonal communication within groups, selection processes, group development, member roles and needs, group processes, and ethical and legal issues related to group counselling.

   Human Development and Learning - Human development and learning across the lifespan. Learning theories of human behaviour, life stages, transitions, typical and atypical human development, theories of personality.

   Lifestyle and Career Development - Involves an exploration of career development theories with emphasis on issues in life-career decision-making and career transitions and work-related issues.

   Psychological Education - A study of topics in psychology such as community mental health, social psychology, neurological basis of learning and behaviour, individual differences, motivation etc.

   Research and Evaluation - Understanding and applying research including quantitative and qualitative research designs, applied research and program evaluation, statistics

   Professional Ethics - Ethical and legal issues arising in professional counselling-related, research, and/or assessment settings.  A study of ethical codes, ethical decision-making, ethics in professional relationships, and standards of practice. (Compulsory as of September 2012).
   
   Note: While it is preferable to have a stand-alone ethics course, a letter from the counselling program indicating how ethics has been infused into courses across the counselling program is acceptable. If the university offers a stand-alone course, then it would be expected that the student would take this course. It should further be noted that by September 2015, CCC requirements will include a standalone course in Ethics.

4. Criminal Record Check that includes an Abuse Registry/Vulnerable Persons Registry Check

   Applicants must provide original certified documentation of a criminal record check and an Abuse Registry/Vulnerable Persons Registry check that attests to a clean record. These documents must be dated within 12 months of the application and must be provided by a recognized Canadian policing authority. Please note that a criminal check obtained from an online source (such as myBackCheck), will not be accepted. To ensure a valid check and minimize wait times, we suggest submitting your request (and fingerprints) electronically to the RCMP; this can be done through your local police station. Visit http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/app-dem-eng.htm for more information on application procedures and wait times.  

5. Two letters of reference.

   Two (2) professional references (from professionals in a non-compliant relationship with you who knows you in your capacity as a counsellor within the past ten years).   References will only be accepted from individuals who can speak to your counselling skills since the time of your graduate-level education in counselling. You must use the professional reference forms provided by CCPA. Reference forms must be completed by professional counsellors, supervisors or counsellor educators.

   With regards to the practicum and references to become a Canadian Certified Counsellor, in the event that the certification candidate has been without supervision for ten years, at least one (1) reference must be from a counselling related professional in a non-compliant relationship who can attest to the candidate's abilities within the past two (2) years.

• Option 2: for applicants who cannot provide a record of their practicum placement but have sufficient work experience

  Submit a Challenge of Competency. Applicants who graduated from an AUCC recognized University prior to the 2002/2003 academic year, and a practicum was either not part of the program or was an optional component of the program, OR the records are no longer available for verification, may apply for a Challenge of Competency. Eligibility for Challenge of Competency includes:

  1. Proof of at least 3 years of full time counselling practice, or the equivalent of 3 years of full time counselling practice (i.e., 4500 hours) in the last 10 years (e.g., record of employment, letter from employer).
  2. Two additional references on our reference form, one of which MUST be completed by a clinical supervisor, who holds CCC certification or who is licensed/registered/certified to practice counselling from a regulatory College in the mental health field.  The referees must have engaged in formal supervisory activities according to CCC criteria.
• Option 3: for applicants who cannot provide a record of practicum and have insufficient work experience

  Applicants who are not eligible for either Option 1 or Option 2 above may apply for assistance with documented hours of supervised practice, using the steps listed below. Option 3 is restricted to only those applicants for certification who enrolled in an AUCC recognized institution's graduate program prior to the 2007-2008 academic year AND whose program did not include a required practicum that meets CCPA approval.  Applicants may meet this requirement by completing the following steps:

  1. Obtain a supervisor
  2. Successfully engage in formal supervised practice from the time of application as per the table below;
  3. Submit a proposed schedule for completion of required hours.

  Years of Attested Experience (Letter signed by employer or supervisor)	Total Hours of Practice	Direct Client Counselling Hours	Supervision Hours	Description
  0	2,000	700	50	At least 50 hours must involve direct supervision (live observation, co-counselling, review of audio and video recordings, and live supervision, for example, reflecting teams) as well as indirect supervision (written case notes and case consultations).
  Up to 2 Years	1,600	550	40	At least 40 hours must involve direct supervision as well as indirect supervision.
  2 to 4.5 Years	1,200	400	35	At least 35 hours must involve direct supervision as well as indirect supervision.
  5 Years or More	700	300	30	At least 30 hours must involve direct supervision as well as indirect supervision.

   For example, if an applicant did not complete a supervised practicum as a part of his or her studies but has two years of supervised practice, they will need to complete an additional 1, 600 total hours of practice, of which 550 are direct client counselling and 40 hours are supervision hours.

• Option 4: for applicants who completed a practicum but their practicum hours are insufficient

  CCPA acknowledges that many universities have diverse programming and degree requirements.   If the number of direct client contact hours in your practicum is less than the required number by CCPA but more than 80 hours, use the table below to find the number of supervision hours you will need to be considered for certification.  Please note that internship hours assume that you are in a workplace in which there is a qualified supervisor available to oversee your progress. Your internship hours may be completed through voluntary placements or other arrangements in a workplace that fits your unique location and situation. The Registrar is available to assist you with case-by-case details.

  Hours of direct client counselling already completed	Required Hours of Supervision	Description
  120	0	No internship hours are required. The number of direct client counselling hours that were supervised during the practicum is sufficient for entry-to-practice as a Canadian Certified Counsellor. Continued supervision is encouraged at this stage of counsellor development.
  100	20	At least 20  hours must involve direct supervision (live observation, co-counselling, review of audio and video recordings, and live supervision, for example, reflecting teams) as well as indirect supervision (written case notes and case consultations).
  80	40	At least 40 hours must involve direct supervision as well as indirect supervision.

   

  NOTE: As of September 01, 2013, CCPA will require 150 hours of direct client counselling.

  Once the supervised internship hours are completed, and a satisfactory report from the supervisor(s) has been received, your application for certification may be processed.

  Note: if you are considering this option, CCPA does not require a specified number of client contact hours. The amount of supervision hours is paramount.

• Missing another documentation or short on meeting an aspect of the certification requirements.

  If you are uncertain as to whether your application will meet CCPA requirements, you may apply for a Certification Pre-Evaluation in order to determine if you meet the requirements as well as which gaps and omissions in your application need to be addressed in order to meet the requirements. Please read below for more information.