Approved Education Programs
Link to CPCA Approved Counselling Education Programs
The Canadian Professional Counsellors Association is a unique counselling association for several reasons. The most important reason is that the CPCA is the only counselling association that adheres to a Competency-Based Model of certification and registration. You can learn more about the CPCA Competency-Based Model by clicking on the linked text above.
If you are unsure if your counselling program meets the required educational core competencies to become a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) or Registered Professional Counsellor Candidate (RPC-C) please go the Eligibility Tab for more direction.
If you are an Educator Provider looking for academic approval of your counselling program, please email the National Registrar at registrar@theCPCA.ca.
Education and Training
Continuing Education/Professional Development in fulfillment of renewal requirements will meet the following criteria:
1.CE is a training experience, whether (a) in-person or online, (b) whether by oneself or with a group, (c) whether live or previously recorded. (Previously recorded training must meet criteria 6 below)
​
2.CE must be educational, expanding your clinical knowledge and skills to better serve your clients clinically. Learning or instruction in counselling, counselling psychology, psychology, or psychotherapy theory and/or research; therapeutic modalities; clinical techniques, interventions, or strategies for implementation in the therapy session; structured program for certification in a therapeutic specialty (e.g., EMDR, DBT, EFT, Sand Tray, etc.). Professionally relevant development of Self specific to authentic and effective engagement in providing mental health services.
​
3.CE must come from an individual who has the appropriate training, experience, and expertise to do the training: (a) a master’s degree or equivalency, (b) a minimum of 5 years in clinical practice, (c) in good standing of their credentialing professional association, and (d) hold the appropriate title required to provide the training.
​
4.CE must be aligned to an approved Counselling Approach. To see a full list of approved counselling modalities, please go to your Member Dashboard and click on Counselling Approaches.
​
5.CE needs to align with the CPCA Counselling Core Competencies.
​
6.CE must be approved, signed off, or certified by the Trainer offering the CE verifying successful completion of the CE. Many times, a certificate is granted to attest to the successful completion of the CE. If not, you can request a letter or have them sign off on your documentation verifying your successful completion of the CE or use the Continuing Education Record Form below.
This Continuing Education Record form can be used to record any continuing education or professional development training completed. It also helps to track which core competencies you are further developing as you balance your knowledge and skill as a counselling therapist.
Third-party verification is required for courses not listed on the website.
CPCA CONTINUING EDUCATION RECORD Form
​
