Only applicants who have successfully completed an IACP Accredited course are eligible to apply for IACP Pre-Accredited Membership. To check if your course is eligible, please see here -  Register of accredited courses.  

An applicant will be considered to be eligible following the issue of a final transcript of results that has been ratified by the exam board. 

Applicants from Non-IACP Accredited courses, including applicants from outside Ireland, may still apply for First Time Accreditation by applying directly to the Accreditation Committee (once they have satisfied the relevant criteria).  

It is an IACP requirement that all Pre-Accredited Members must have current and valid IACP Garda Vetting.  IACP Garda vetting remains valid for a period of 3 years.

The IACP are responsible for their own Garda vetting of all members, regardless of whether they have recently been vetted through another organisation.  

A processing fee of €30 applies per IACP Garda Vetting application. Vetting applications may take from 4 weeks up to 20 weeks to complete. Waiting time depends on the level of demand in the National Vetting Bureau at the time of application.

Read more about Garda Vetting 

1. Click on the blue button on this page ‘Apply for Pre-Accredited Membership’.

• Please tick the box for ‘Already a Student member’ only if currently an active Student member 
• Please tick the box for IACP Garda vetting only if you do not have current and valid IACP Garda vetting  
• Following payment completion, check all inboxes (including spam/ junk folders) to receive a link to your online application form. If applicable, your Garda vetting application forms will be attached to this email. 
  
  

2. Complete and submit your online application form, which includes uploading the following 3 documents: 

• Evidence of successful course completion: certificate/ final transcript/ graduation letter (must include your name and the title of your qualification) 
• Confirmation of professional liability insurance inc. dates of coverage
• Supervisors Report for Pre-Accredited Members (this form will be attached to the email containing the link to your application form)
  
  

3. You will then receive an email acknowledgement of your application.  If there are no queries on the application, the processing time is approximately 1 month. If there is a query on the application, you will be notified by email.   

Apply for Pre-Accredited Membership

The cost of IACP Pre-Accredited membership is €194 per annum. IACP memberships run from January 1st to December 31st. 

Existing Student members - All outstanding Student membership fees must be paid up to date before changing your IACP membership category.  Upon application for Pre-Accredited membership, an additional pro rata fee will be payable. The full membership fee will apply for the following year. 

Non-Student members - When applying for membership during the year, a reduced pro rata fee will apply and will cover membership only until December 31st. The full membership fee will apply for the following year. 

It is an IACP requirement that all Pre-Accredited Members log 10 hours of CPD per annum. These 10 hours must take place over the 12 months from when your Pre-Accredited membership took effect. Up to 3 hours of CPD can also be supervision received.
> IACP Members CPD Framework

Pre-Accredited Members must comply with IACP Supervision Requirements. 

Who Can Supervise?

It is required by the IACP that a Counsellor / Psychotherapist or a Student Counsellor / Psychotherapist must choose a Supervisor who is one of –

a) an IACP Accredited Supervisor
b) a BACP* Accredited Supervisor or
c) an IAHIP Accredited Supervisor

(Please note – it is the supervisee’s responsibility to check that their Supervisor is accredited with one of the above organisations).

*BACP Accredited status for a minimum of 5 years, plus supervisor qualification. These requirements are due to the BACP reconfiguring membership categories (16/10/2023) – if contracting with a BACP Accredited Supervisor, please ensure that the above criteria are met. If you have any queries regarding a pre-existing contract, please contact the IACP).

In order to ensure that the supervisor can be seen to be objective and have no conflict of interest with regard to the supervisee, supervision after completion of the core course must not be undertaken with an Accredited Supervisor (IACP, BACP* or IAHIP accredited) who:

- Was their personal therapist during training
- Had any involvement* in the Course/College/Institute or Organisation during the student’s training (the external individual supervisors contracted with during training are exempt).

*Involvement of a supervisor with the Course/College/Institute or Organisation is deemed to extend for 2 years following the termination of their period of employment or engagement with the Course/College/Institute or Organisation.

Please note that Pre-accredited members must be supervised by the same Accredited Supervisor (IACP, BACP or IAHIP) in the 12 months preceding their application for first time accreditation. An explanation must be provided for any change in supervisor during this 12 month period, and this will be reviewed by the Accreditation Committee.

Frequency, Ratio and Forms of Supervision

Frequency: Individual Supervision must take place for at least one hour per month when the Counsellor / Psychotherapist if actively seeing or available to see clients. 

Ratio: The required minimum ratio of supervision for Pre-Accredited members is one hour of supervision for every 10 client contact hours (1:10) continuously. There should not be more than 10 client hours in between supervision sessions.  

At the time of application, the Accreditation Department will require a yearly breakdown of client work, confirming that the 1:10 supervision ratio was followed annually prior to submitting for full Accreditation. 

 
Forms of Supervision - Online and In-Person: 

(a) One to one supervision 

• Sitting in on the counselling session followed by a review of the session.
• Viewing the Counsellor/Psychotherapist through a window or by video, followed by a review of the session. 
• Using case-notes, verbatim notes or tape-recording of the session.

During the 450 hours of post-trainee counselling/psychotherapy practice, at least 75% of supervision time must be in individual supervision.

(b) Group supervision - where the Supervisor takes responsibility for the supervision of two or more Counsellors/Psychotherapists.

In order to include group supervision as part of a Pre-Accredited member’s supervision requirements for accreditation, it is required that:

The maximum number of supervisees in the supervision group is 6 (not including the group supervisor)

and

A group of 2 meet for a minimum of 1 hour a month (this would be counted as 1 hour supervision for each member)

A group of 3 meet for a minimum of 1.5 hours a month (this would be counted as 1.5 hours supervision for each member)

A group of 4 meet for a minimum of 2 hours a month (this would be counted as 2 hours supervision for each member)

A group of 5 meet for a minimum of 2.5 hours a month (this would be counted as 2.5 hours supervision for each member)

A group of 6 meet for a minimum of 3 hours a month (this would be counted as 3 hours supervision for each member)

(c) Once qualified, up to 100% of supervision can be done online.

In the Pre-Accreditation period, a minimum of 45 hours of supervision is required to comply with the ratio of 1 hour supervision to 10 counselling hours. Within this 45 hours, 12 supervision hours can be met by group supervision, where the group meets the above requirements. When applying for Accreditation the applicant must be able to show a range of client experience. Supervisor and supervisee should discuss this in their contracting and at each review of the supervisory contract.

For IACP Members Working Towards Accreditation Outside of 32 counties:

To fulfil the IACP Supervision requirements, Audio (tele) or Videoconferencing (VC) Supervision can be accepted for the purpose of accreditation/ reaccreditation as long as it is done with the use of a safe medium. The onus is on the IACP Member/ Supervisor to make sure that the medium is secure and all aspects of confidentiality are protected. Also, the IACP Member/ Supervisor must have an appropriate insurance cover for such working arrangement and be aware of the legal requirements of the country that they are working in.

Formal recognition of your qualifications and experience through our accreditation process.

Professional Support on Standards of Practice and Education: IACP assists with all types of member enquiries and puts you in touch with the right experts. Members can access a range of information from the office and receive information (by speaking to someone, viewing online or receiving printed guidelines) on practical, ethical, and professional matters. Members can also access IACP publications ranging from the latest professional guidelines to public information leaflets. 

Representation: The IACP champions the contribution of Counsellors, Psychotherapists and the profession. We strongly lobby (Government, Political parties, Department of Health and Children, Health Committee’s, Allied Health Professions and other National Bodies) on key issues and priorities. The central aim of the Statutory Regulation of Counselling and Psychotherapy forms a large part of this work. We also influence policy development and plans through Responses and Submissions. 

Continuing Professional Development (Free Members Seminars): IACP provides several free seminars and webinars for members annually.

IACP Workshops at reduced Rates: IACP supports the provision of workshops countrywide by the IACP regional committees. These workshops cover a wide range of interesting topics.  Members receive a discounted rate for all IACP Regional Workshops.

Reduced Professional Insurance: IACP negotiated professional indemnity insurance schemes. O’Brien Finlay: Qualified Therapist - €75 discount, Students - €160 discount.

E-news: Regular e-mail circular containing information and employment/placement opportunities.

Quarterly Journal: The IACP journal, 'The Irish Journal of Counselling & Psychotherapy' including articles, ‘Notice Board’ and Advertising is sent to members four times a year.

Attendance at AGM: The AGM is an excellent opportunity for you to ensure that you are fully informed of current policies, standards and activities. It is also a great opportunity to network with colleagues and fellow members.

Reduced rate to attend the IACP Annual Conference: The new annual conference is a great opportunity to meet other members, hear keynote speakers, attend the Gala Dinner with Carl Berkeley Memorial Award, and participate in different Counselling & Psychotherapy workshops.

Regional Support:  Support and networking opportunities are available at regular Regional meetings nationwide.

Regional Participation: All members are also automatically members of their Regional branch and can network with local colleagues and help influence the Association’s priorities.

Awards: Members are eligible for nomination for Carl Berkeley Memorial Award that recognises outstanding contribution to counselling and psychotherapy development.

International Representation: The IACP represents members’ views internationally and continues to work with the BACP (with whom we have full reciprocity), the International Association for Counselling, Counselling in Scotland (COSCA), amongst others.

Publicity: One of IACP’s main aims is to inform the public of Counselling and Psychotherapy benefits. We do this through our public relations and communications strategy, which concentrates on public events, press releases, interaction with the media and direct advertising. Our communications work highlights the importance of Professional Standards and the services that IACP and its members offer the public.

Students can start counting the 450 client hours towards accreditation after full completion of the currently required minimum 100 student placement hours (120 trainee hours if the course began September 2020 or later), even if still in training on an accredited course. Students are not required to change their Supervisor while in training, and have the option to change their Supervisor after qualifying/graduating from the course. The supervision ratio remains 1:5 for the duration of the core course, until receipt of final transcript of results. 

Students must have completed a minimum of 2 academic years on the course and finished the required 50 hours of personal therapy before they start counting the 450 hours. It is Course's responsibility to manage all client work while in training. IACP recognise supervision with IACP, BACP* or IAHIP Accredited Supervisors only.

A) The 450 hours of client contact work must cover a variety of presenting issues.

B) Complete one hour of supervision for every 5 hours of client contact work as a student, and increase to every 10 hours of client contact work post-qualification. Please see the Supervision Requirements page for full details on the supervision criteria for those working towards accreditation.

Frequency: Individual Supervision must take place at least once a month when the Counsellor/Psychotherapist actively sees or available to see clients

C) Client work for the purpose of first-time accreditation may consist of couple, family or group Counselling/Psychotherapy hours as 25% of the required 450 post-trainee hours. (Client Work refers here to specific one-to-one Counselling/Psychotherapy sessions with clients over 18 years of age – i.e. not minors)

D) Up to 25% of the 450 hours required for the purpose of First Time Accreditation can be with clients who are under 18 if all the criteria and competencies listed in the Standards for Working with Under 18s are met. There must be proof provided of completion of a minimum certificate level additional qualification to work with children & adolescents that encompasses the following modules/themes:

• Child Development
• Atypical psychology
• Neurodevelopment of the brain
• Play skills for the therapist and techniques for working with children
• Legal Training/Children’s Rights/Child Protection Policy/Child Welfare/Consent/Report
• Writing
• Systemic issues/working with parents/guardians/care-givers
• Personal therapy/Group process
• Working with disabilities/special needs clients
• Practical element in training required under strict supervision

The onus is on the applicant to comply with the Standards for Working with Under 18s if the applicant counts such hours towards IACP Accreditation. A copy of the certificate will be required from an applicant at the time of applying for First Time Accreditation as proof of holding an additional qualification to conduct this type of work.

*BACP Supervisors must have held full BACP accreditation for a minimum of 5 years and hold a qualification in Supervision to be eligible

Important Information RE Maximum Amount of Remote Hours 

From June 1st, 2022, 50% of the 450 hours post 1st June 2022 may be completed online/remotely dependent on your membership category. Any hours completed online before this date will be honoured. 

Remote supervision is accepted for Pre-accredited Members (qualified) who work with clients both face to face and remotely.

Members who wish to work with clients via telephone or online must follow the IACP Code of Ethics and Practice and IACP guidance and criteria for the provision of online counselling. Please note that there is also a free CPD training course on online counselling in the CPD Portal in our Members Area.

IACP Guidelines; Working Therapeutically Online

Supervisor Report for Pre-Accreditation Application

Supervisor Report Form for First Time Accreditation

IACP Working Therapeutically Online Practice Guidelines and Competencies 2024
SAMPLE Pre-Accredited Membership Application

(Optional) IACP Client Log