SCoPEd frequently asked questions
A ground-breaking shared framework for our profession

2. Which partners have adopted the SCoPEd framework? 

• Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC)
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
• British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
• Human Givens Institute (HGI)
• National Counselling Society (NCS)
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

What is BACP’s implementation period?

BACP’s SCoPEd implementation takes place across three carefully planned stages - preparation, transition and integration – between now and early 2026.

3. What is the preparation period?

This stage will last until early 2024. During this period we’ll refine our current processes and systems ready for the transition period. This will include: 

• agreeing the new temporary mechanisms to enable movement between membership categories during the transition period
• sharing the temporary mechanisms with members by September 2023 and hosting an event to help answer any member questions
• temporarily closing our individual accreditation scheme for around three months, by 12 noon, on Tuesday 31 October 2023.

While this development and refinement is ongoing, we’ll retain all other current membership processes, though applications for current senior accredited membership will remain closed.

4. What is the transition period?

This stage will start early in 2024 and last until early 2026. During this period we’ll:

• open a new, temporary accreditation application mechanism that will enable members to move to Accredited membership (column B) and Senior Accredited membership (column C). This will open in early 2024
• finalise new permanent accreditation routes and aligned membership entry requirements.

Members will be able to move membership categories via the new temporary mechanisms where they can evidence the skills, training, knowledge and experience to do so. The details of these mechanisms will be shared with members by September 2023.

5. What is the integration period?

We anticipate this stage will start in early 2026. At this time:

• BACP membership category entry requirements will be fully aligned with SCoPEd columns A, B and C
• additional and permanent accreditation schemes and routes, mapped to the SCoPEd standards and competences of columns B and C, will open, enabling members to move membership categories should they wish to.
• new accreditation routes will reflect training and experience gained through practice and CPD

Courses may need longer to integrate any changes into their training programmes and will have until early 2028 to do so.

6. What do BACP members need to do?

You don’t need to do anything at this stage. In fact, many of our members won’t need to change anything as a result of SCoPEd, but we believe that all members will benefit as a result of having their BACP membership category aligned to SCoPEd as a shared standards framework.  We’ll keep members informed with the next steps as we move forward. 

7. Will I still be able to move membership categories?

Yes. You’ll be able to move between BACP membership categories (which are mapped to the standards of the SCoPEd columns) at any stage of your career if you can evidence you have the skills, knowledge, training and experience to do so.

The only exception to that is an approximately three-month period starting 12 noon, on Tuesday 31 October 2023, which is when our individual application process will close for around three months to allow us to finalise our preparation for the SCoPEd transition stage. For more information about accreditation closing read our BACP news page. 

During the transition period expected to open early 2024, you’ll be able to move membership categories via new temporary mechanisms. We’ll confirm details of the temporary transition period mechanisms for moving between membership categories by September 2023.  

Following the transition period there will be new permanent schemes in place with different routes and we’ll inform members of these in due course. 

8. What will the new routes to progress from one membership category to another be?

We’re working with the SCoPEd partners to agree the new temporary mechanisms to enable movement between membership categories during the transition period. We’ll confirm details of these by September 2023.

Following the transition period there will be new permanent schemes in place with different routes and we’ll inform members of these in due course. 

9. Why are you having a two-year transition period and not waiting to implement changes until everything is ready (i.e. after the 3 years)?

We want to give eligible members the opportunity to move membership categories as soon as possible, if that’s what they’d like to do. The transition period enables us to do this whilst getting all the new accreditation schemes and routes ready.

10. Will members have a voice on what the mechanisms will be and how they will work?

We’ll be reviewing the current accreditation schemes and agreeing broad principles for the mechanisms with partners. During this time we’ll be liaising with partners, stakeholders and experts to ensure our new schemes are appropriate and accessible.

11. How was BACP’s decision to adopt SCoPEd made?

BACP’s Board made the decision as to whether BACP adopted SCoPEd. The Board made the decision as its role is to set the strategic policy direction on behalf of the organisation and our members.

The Independent Chair of the SCoPEd Oversight committee provided an update of the partners decisions in February 2023.

12. BACP’s Board reasons for adopting SCoPEd

We believe that the framework  represents the long-term interests of the profession as a whole and will provide clarity in the current landscape and help to create new opportunities for our members.

13. Why did BACP members not have the opportunity to vote? 

BACP’s Board is elected to lead and set the strategic policy direction on behalf of the organisation and our members with collective responsibility.

Having mandated the original work on SCoPEd in 2016, the Board of Trustees continues to monitor progress and is committed to ensuring that member feedback is considered. 

We believe that the framework represents the long-term interests of our members, employers and clients who use our services, and will provide clarity in the current landscape and create new opportunities for our members.