Abbreviations guide

Abbreviations – what they mean

ACC. = Association of Christian Counsellors.

BACP = British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy – the largest counselling association in Britain. (Also see MBACP below.)

BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice = BACP’s code of ethics (sometimes written without the words “Good Practice” – same meaning.)

BA/BSc = First Degree. (Level 5). Once this course is past the students are graduates, the students are known as under graduates whilst training.

BA/BSc (Hons) = First degree with honours (Level 6).

Cert. = Certificate either a short course that is gained post qualifying - or a stand alone one year course (Level 3 or 4).

COSCA = Confederation of Scottish Counselling Associations. In spite of its name, individual counsellors can be members, and accredited by the association.

Dip = Diploma, which means that the course is validated by an external organisation via a college (Level 4).

Dip HE = Diploma of Higher Education, which means that the course is validated by a university (Level 5).

FDAP = Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals is a professional and accreditation organisation.

HCPC - Health and Care Professions Council. The regulating body for health and care professionals. Practitioner Psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists are some of the professions regulated by the HCPC. By Law practioners must register with the HCPC to use a protected professional title such as a Clinical Psychologist.

MA/MSc = Masters Degree of Arts or Science (post graduate degree), often a 4year training after a Diploma or BA/BSc. (Level 7)

MBACP = Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is not a qualification but does ensure independent clinical supervision, adherence to BACP’s Ethical Framework and Professional Indemnity Insurance.

MBACP (Accred.) = Accredited by MBACP (see above)

MBACP (Snr. Accred.) = Senior Accredited by MBACP (see above). More experienced Accredited counsellors/psychotherapists.

MB.BS = Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae. Bachelor of medicine, Bachelor of surgery. (A qualification for medical doctors.)

PhD = A Doctorate, which is completed after a Masters degree, that usually involves an extensive research project and after which the graduate can call themselves Dr.  A PhD can take anything up to 7 years to complete and is highest academic qualification available in Britain (Level 8).

PCA = Person Centred Approach

PG Cert. = Post Graduate Certificate - usually a one year course that people who already have degrees (so are post graduates) can enrol on.

PG Dip. = Post Graduate Diploma. See Diploma above.

tPCA = the Person Centred Associatoin

UKAHPP = United Kingdom Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners is a professional and accreditation organisation.

UKCP = United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. (Training by and membership of a member organisation is an alternative to BACP Accreditation.)

UKRCP = United Kingdom Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. A condition of registration is accreditation with BACP, COSCA, FDAP or UKAHPP. Registrants advertise themselves as a UKRCP Registered Independent Counsellor / Psychotherapist.