Counselling psychologist : Entry requirements

There are two steps to becoming a chartered counselling psychologist.

You need to achieve the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBS) which can be done by completing a British Psychological Society (BPS)  accredited undergraduate degree or a conversion course. Conversion courses are usually at least one year in length. See British Psychological Society (BPS) Accredited Psychology Courses  for further details.

Following your degree, you need to complete a BPS accredited Doctorate in Counselling Psychology or the BPS Qualification in Counselling Psychology.

Full details about qualifying to become a chartered counselling psychologist are available from the British Psychological Society (BPS) .

In order to use the title ‘counselling psychologist’, you must register with the Health Professions Council (HPC) . In order to qualify to register, you must have completed a PhD or BPS Qualification in Counselling Psychology.

Entrance with an HND only is not possible.

Entry to postgraduate courses is becoming increasingly competitive with courses requiring a good first degree (at least a 2:2 and usually higher), relevant paid or voluntary work experience and often some basic counselling skills qualifications. For more information on basic counselling skills courses, contact the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) .

In order to get relevant work experience, potential candidates should consider looking for paid work and volunteer placements in a supportive mental health role. These types of vacancies can generally be found in the non-profit, health and human services sectors. Evidence of long-term volunteering is also beneficial, as this demonstrates the ability to be emotionally robust.

Candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• interpersonal and psychotherapeutic skills;
• a willingness to be open;
• the ability to explore issues with clients;
• a healthy curiosity and research-minded approach to thinking;
• analytical skills;
• the ability to look at how and why things are, or are not, working with clients;
• independence and self-motivation;
• self-awareness, self-knowledge, security and self-belief;
• the ability to work under pressure.

Postgraduate training is likely to be self-financed. It is also usual for students to pay for their own personal therapy and, in certain cases, for their required supervision. Some trainees secure posts as assistant psychologists first and negotiate part or total funding towards their training. It may also be possible approach psychology departments for sponsorship. Students can find out more about possible funding from RDInfo .

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.