Academic Requirements

For all Associate Professional Counsellors (APC), Certified Professional Counsellors (CPC) and Certified Professional Counsellor Supervisors (CPCS), the following are the academic requirements which are required in order to obtain membership and insurance.  These graduate level courses should be shown within the transcripts that are sent with your application.

THREE (3) REQUIRED GRADUATE LEVEL COURSES:

Counselling Theory (3 credit hours)…this includes focused studies of counselling theories, principles and techniques and their application to professional counselling settings.

Supervised Internship/Practicum (100 supervised client-contact hours)…please provide a positive letter of recommendation from the approved supervisor(s) of the internship and/or a positive letter of recommendation from one of the your counselling class professors…this refers to counselling experience in an appropriate work setting of at least 100 supervised direct client contact hours.

Professional Orientation and Ethics (3 credit hours)…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of professional roles and functions; professional goals and objectives; professional organizations and associations; professional history and trends; ethical and legal standards; professional preparation standards; and professional credentialing.

Plus any six of the following:

  • Counselling Theory and Techniques…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of philosophic bases of helping processes; counselling theories and their applications; basic and advanced helping skills; consultation theories and their applications; client and helper self-understanding and self-development; and facilitation of client change.
  • Psychological/Theological Integration…includes studies which seek to integrate contemporary knowledge and understanding of counselling principles and practices within a theological framework.
  • Marriage and Family Therapy…includes studies that approach working with couples and families from a systemic orientation.
  • Human Growth and Development…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels; normal and abnormal human behaviour; personality theory; life-span theory; and learning theory within cultural contexts.
  • Group Dynamics and Processing…includes studies that provide broad understanding of group development, dynamics, and counselling theories; group leadership styles; basic and advanced group counselling methods and skills; and other group approaches.
  • Counselling and Abuse…includes in depth studies of the various types of abuse, including neglect, sexual, physical, emotional, spousal and ritual abuse and appropriate counselling interventions.
  • Crisis Counselling and Intervention Strategies…includes training in the assessment and treatment of clients in crisis, using interventions drawn from contemporary theoretical approaches. Exploration of the time-limited nature of crisis intervention, legal and ethical issues, and interfacing appropriately with other service providers should be considered.
  • Psychopathology/Exploring Problems in Living…includes biblical and theological reflection on, and examination of common issues and concerns normally associated with the need for psychological treatment. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment/care around issues of depression, anxiety, loneliness, addictions, gender issues, and human sexuality, etc. will be important components.
  • Psychological Assessment…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories and approaches to assessment; data and information gathering methods; validity and reliability; psychometric statistics; factors influencing assessment; and use of assessment results in helping processes. Additionally, this may include training in the ability to administer and interpret tests and inventories, to assess abilities, interests, and identify career options.
  • Research and Evaluation…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of types of research; basic statistics; research-report development; research implementation; program evaluation; needs assessment; publication of research information; and ethical and legal considerations.
  • Addictions…includes studies specific to addiction theory in which basic assessment, intervention, and treatment techniques in working with individuals and families are explored.
  • Gender Identity…includes studies that focus on issues of identity and the impact of culture and sexuality across the developmental stages.
  • Administration…includes studies that have specific application to organizational leadership and administration within agencies and private practices whose primary function is the delivery of therapeutic services.