national-counselling-psychotherapy-society
National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
What is NCPS?
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) is a leading UK professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists. NCPS promotes high standards of training, ethical practice and professional development across the counselling profession.
CPCAB and NCPS Recognition
CPCAB and NCPS share a commitment to high-quality counselling training. Through this mutual understanding, several CPCAB qualifications hold NCPS recognition, providing learners and training centres with a clear mark of quality and professional credibility.
NCPS Recognised Qualifications
The following CPCAB qualifications hold NCPS Recognised Qualification status:
- CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2)
- CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3)
- CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Applied Counselling Studies (CAST-L3)
These qualifications have been assessed and deemed to have met the standards expected for introduction level training for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
These qualifications form an important part of a progression route in counselling training, but on their own, do not allow a graduate to practice as a qualified counsellor, gain entry to an Accredited Register or refer to themselves as ‘a specialist’ in the subject matter unless they have other qualifications/training to support this.
Benefits for Learners
Studying an NCPS-recognised CPCAB qualification offers:
- Industry-recognised training
- Enhanced professional credibility
- Improved employability and progression opportunities
- A strong foundation for further counselling training
- A streamlined route to NCPS Accredited Registrant Membership for eligible TC-L4 graduates
- Entry onto the NCPS Professional Register
Benefits for Training Centres
CPCAB-recognised centres delivering these qualifications can benefit from:
- Increased learner confidence and recruitment opportunities
- Recognition from a respected professional body
- Access to NCPS recognition logos and marketing resources
- Demonstration of training quality to employers and stakeholders
Centres delivering TC-L4 may also apply for NCPS Accredited Course Status, benefiting from a streamlined application process, reduced fees and additional promotion through NCPS.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which CPCAB qualifications are recognised by NCPS?
NCPS recognises CPCAB's Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies, Level 3 Certificate in Applied Counselling Studies and Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
What does NCPS Qualification Recognition mean?
It means the qualification has been recognised by NCPS as meeting industry standards for counselling and psychotherapy training. It also means NCPS recognise it as a high-quality route towards becoming a counsellor and accept graduates into their membership. Fundamental to this recognition is the assurance that all recognised qualifications have live-taught guided learning hours, providing the essential relational teaching hours required by the professional associations.
Does NCPS recognition support professional membership?
Yes. Eligible graduates of the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling can access a streamlined route to NCPS Accredited Registrant Membership and the NCPS Professional Register.
How Else Do CPCAB and NCPS Work Together?
Beyond qualification recognition, CPCAB and NCPS collaborate to promote high standards in counselling training and practice through their joint Therapeutic Relationships: The Human Connection campaign (link). The campaign raises awareness of the vital role of human connection in both counsellor training and therapeutic practice, particularly as digital learning, AI tools, and online mental health support become increasingly common.
Supported by research involving counselling professionals, tutors, learners and members of the public, the campaign highlights the importance of live interaction, empathy, trust and meaningful therapeutic relationships. Together, CPCAB and NCPS advocate for informed choice, transparency and the continued prioritisation of human-centred counselling training and therapy, while recognising that digital tools can complement - but not replace - the value of human connection.