Professional Licensing

Counselling Credential Recognition

Counselling is regulated differently in every province, and British Columbia is in the middle of a change: psychotherapy is scheduled to become a regulated profession on November 29, 2027. We help internationally trained counsellors understand which credential fits their goals today and prepare for what is coming.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Where Things Stand in BC

Psychologist is a separate regulated profession in BC, licensed by CHCPBC. A counselling designation does not authorize the use of that title.

Regulation

Regulated From November 29, 2027

Psychotherapy was designated for regulation in 2024 and is scheduled to be regulated by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) on November 29, 2027. The protected title will be “psychotherapist”. Eligibility standards have not yet been published.

RCC

Registered Clinical Counsellor

A voluntary designation from the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). It requires a master’s degree relevant to clinical counselling or psychotherapy, coursework in six core areas, and 100 hours of clinical supervision, at least 25 of them direct.

CCC

Canadian Certified Counsellor

A national certification from the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). It requires a graduate degree in counselling with specified graduate coursework and a supervised practicum of at least 150 direct client hours.

INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED

What Applicants Educated Abroad Should Expect

  • Credential evaluation: BCACC and CCPA both ask for a comprehensive evaluation of a foreign degree from a member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada. CCPA requires this for degrees from outside Canada and the United States, and names WES, ICES and IQAS as examples.
  • Course-level detail: both bodies assess specific coursework, so course descriptions and transcripts matter as much as the degree title.
  • Supervised practice: records of supervision or practicum hours, confirmed by the supervisor or institution.
  • Translations: documents not in English (or French, for CCPA) must be professionally translated. BCACC asks for translation by a certified translator in Canada.
  • BCACC also requires that applicants live in Canada and show English proficiency: IELTS 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each band, TOEFL iBT 94, or CELPIP 8.
OTHER PROVINCES

Where the Profession Is Regulated

Ontario

The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) licenses Registered Psychotherapists (RP).

CRPORP

Quebec

The psychotherapist permit is issued by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec to members of specified professional orders who meet its training requirements.

Psychotherapist permit

Atlantic Provinces

Nova Scotia (Registered Counselling Therapist), New Brunswick (Licensed Counselling Therapist) and Prince Edward Island (Counselling Therapist) each have a regulatory college.

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OUR SERVICE

How We Support Counsellors

Pathway Review

Which credential fits your training and province

Documents

Transcripts, course descriptions and certified translations

Application Support

Organizing a complete application

Immigration Strategy

Aligning your credential with your immigration plan

FAQ
At present “counsellor” is not a protected title in British Columbia, so the law does not require a licence. In practice, employers and extended health insurers often look for a recognized designation such as RCC or CCC.
From November 29, 2027, psychotherapy is scheduled to be regulated by CHCPBC and the title “psychotherapist” will be protected. The College has not yet published eligibility standards, including for internationally educated applicants, so we cannot say how any individual will be assessed.
It depends on the courses, not only on the degree title. BCACC and CCPA both look at specific coursework and supervised practice.
Not directly. Immigration programs assess your occupation (counselling therapists fall under NOC 41301, TEER 1), work experience, education and language. A recognized credential can, however, help you find skilled employment.

Requirements change frequently. The information on this page summarizes information published by the Government of British Columbia, CHCPBC, BCACC, CCPA and provincial regulators as reviewed in October 2026 and is for general information only. Decisions on designations and licences are made by the bodies that issue them. For current rules, see the CHCPBC page on regulating psychotherapy, or book a consultation for advice on your situation.

NEXT STEP

Have Your Training Recognized

We help you choose the right credential for your province and prepare for it properly.

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