A Guide to Understanding Counsellors Credentials
What do all those letters behind their name mean?
Many people don’t realize that the terms “counsellor”, “therapist” and “psychotherapist” are not regulated in British Columbia. This means that anyone can refer to themselves this way, even if they have no degrees or credentials. It really is a situation of buyer beware.
Their Degrees
In most cases the first letters you see will refer to the counsellor’s degree. In many instances the therapist will have a minimum of a master’s degree in counselling psychology or social work with a minority of folks possessing a bachelor’s degree. Reputable counsellors will list where they have received their degree from which will then allow you to investigate whether the university is accredited and legitimate. The information below is specific to academic degrees and professional designations in British Columbia.
MSW – Master of Social Work (this is what we have) A master’s program which varies from 1-2 years in duration following the completion of a bachelor’s degree. MSW students have the option of concentrating their studies in counselling and psychotherapy although not all do. It’s good to ask!
MA – Master of Arts – This is a common master’s degree for clinical counsellors in Vancouver. Many have an MA in Counselling Psychology (MACP). Still, it’s important to ask “what is your MA in?”
M.Ed – Master of Education – Some counsellors have chosen to pursue their counselling psychology training in the faculty of education. Like the MA, this is a very reputable degree.
MC – Master of Counselling, offered by some Canadian and international universities.
M.Sc – Master of Science – This degree has research and thesis requirements. Again, it’s important to ask what the person has their M.Sc. in. Some universities offer M.Sc degrees in psychology or counselling psychology.
BA – Bachelor of Arts. Many counsellors will have a bachelor’s degree but have often pursued Master’s level training following their BA.
BSW – Bachelor of Social Work (this is what we have) – This degree is known for its practical, skills-based component, typically including one or several practicum placements.
Their Professional Designations (The last set of letters)
RSW – Registered Social Worker (this is what we have). A designation available to social workers with Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in social work, providing they meet other professional standards and pass the registration exams. All RSWs are members of the BC College of Social Workers. https://bccsw.ca/
RCC – Registered Clinical Counsellor. This is a common counselling designation in BC. Open to practitioners with counselling-related master’s degrees and meeting other clinical standards. RCCs are members of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. https://bcacc.ca/
CCC – Canadian Certified Counsellor. A Canada-wide designation (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association) that counsellors with varied counselling education backgrounds may be eligible for. Its voluntary professional organization also requires the counsellor to meet other professional standards. https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/
RPC & MPCC– Registered Professional Counsellor. The RPC’s member organization (Canadian Professional Counsellors Association), describe the RPC designation as competency-based, which they define as “a combination of verified education and validated experience,” which meets certain criteria. Some RPCs are referred to as master practitioners in clinical counselling (MPCC); this term is not the same as a master’s degree, but is a separate class of membership. https://www.cpca-rpc.ca/default.aspx
RTC & MTC- Registered Therapeutic Counsellors (we also have this). These counsellors are registered with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT) and are regulated by the ACCT Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. They are dedicated to providing a high standard of competent professional counselling services by ensuring their members meet education, supervision and clinical practice hour requirements. Similar to the previous designation, Some RTCs are referred to as Master theraputic Counsellors (MTC); this term is not the same as a master’s degree, but is a separate class of membership that requires advanced training, supervision and years in practice. https://acctcounsellor.com/
Which designations will my extended health plan cover?
Some workplace extended health plans will provide coverage for counselling or mental health benefits, while others will not. For those who do, Registered Psychologists are the most commonly covered counselling professionals, while other plans cover Registered Social Workers or Registered Counsellors (usually not both) and a minority of other credentials. It’s always very important to check with your benefits department which counselling providers you are covered for, as plans differ so widely depending on what your employer has paid for and the plan they have selected. It is also important to check your yearly maximum so you can decide how many sessions will actually be covered.
What is the difference between counsellors who belong to a college vs. an association?
When your health professional is a member of a college, the college’s mandate is to serve and protect the public interest by regulating the practice of the profession and governing its members. Colleges also have particular legislation, defining their member’s scope of practice, that members are required to abide by. The mandate of an association is typically to represent the “voice” of a profession and may also have standards of education, supervision and clinical experience requirements to become a member.
