Regulated by industry
Although counselling has yet to become a profession regulated by statute, the Professional Standards Authority’s (PSA) Accredited Register programme is becoming recognised as a prestigious quality mark for counsellors.
Two of the most well-known professional organisations for counsellors are British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and National Counselling Society (NCS). Both hold PSA Accredited Registers and regard registration as the minimum standard for practice.
Both BACP and NCS members can choose to work towards higher levels of professional recognition and enhanced employment opportunities. BACP’s is known as Accredited membership (MBACP Accred) whilst NCS’s is Accredited Professional Registrant (MNCS Prof Accred). It is necessary for these membership grades to have completed a total of 450 classroom based taught hours of counselling training (GLH). AIM counselling qualifications provide a progressive framework (from level 2 to 6) to meet the high standards required for membership registration. The Level 4 Diploma in Counselling Practice provides the gateway into professional recognition.
AIM has a long-standing relationship with professional bodies and its qualifications are developed in close partnership with them.