Apply for Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation

Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation with the BABCP demonstrates to the public and to employers that you meet our high standards of training and experience in CBT.

You will appear as registered on the CBT Register UK and Ireland once you have been awarded Accreditation. You will be asked to submit your First Accreditation Audit once you have completed 12 months of supervised practice after your accreditation.

***We are making significant improvements to our applications process. This includes an online application form, which we anticipate will be available in spring 2025. Please be aware that we will be announcing a cut-off date for accepting paper form applications. This date will be notified to all members when it is known, and it will also be confirmed here.***

Accessibility 

Please let us know if we need to make reasonable adjustments to support you in accessing our processes and completing applications. Email us at accreditation@babcp.com telling us the best way we can contact you.

Application Forms and Guidelines

There are two different application forms – the form you should complete will depend on the course you completed - 

Level 2 BABCP Accredited Course Application Form

If you have completed a Level 2 BABCP Accredited course you should complete this form - 

Application Form for BABCP Accreditation as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist for Graduates of BABCP Accredited Level 2 Courses

If you are completing the Level 2 form, you don’t need to submit any of the other documents below on this page. 

Level 1 BABCP accredited or non-accredited course Application Form

If you completed a Level 1 BABCP Accredited course or a non-accredited post-graduate CBT training course, please use this application -

Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation Application Form [Word]

Resources for your Level 1 course or non-accredited course application

Please consult these guidelines and webpages before making an application -

• Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation Guidelines [PDF]
• Case Study Guidelines – Explanation of requirements for case studies 
• Close Supervision Guidelines – Explanation of the requirements for closely supervised cases
• Minimum Training Standards - Accreditation Criteria
• Core Curriculum – Requirements for the content of your CBT Training
• Core Professions – Training and experience prior to your CBT qualification
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) – Alternative training and experience prior to your CBT qualification

There is additional information for graduates of BPS accredited Clinical Psychology Doctorates - please click here. 

If you have previously been accredited with us, you will apply via the Return to Practice for Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists route. 

Further required documents and information if you completed a Level 1 BABCP accredited or non-accredited course 

Supervisor's Report  

You must supply a Supervisor's Report - Supervisor's Report [Word]

• The report must be from your current or most recent CBT clinical supervisor. They must be a BABCP accredited CBT therapist or meet the criteria described here.

• The report  must show that they have included regular ‘live’ assessments (in-vivo, video, audio) of your clinical Practice. If your current supervision arrangements have been in place for less than six months, you must also provide a Supervisor Report from your previous Supervisor.
• Further information regarding supervision requirements for accreditation can be found in the above Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation Guidelines.

Professional Reference

You must supply a Professional Reference, this must be from a different person to the author of your Supervisor's Report - Professional Reference [Word]

• The reference must be provided by a BABCP accredited CBT therapist or a member of one of our recognised Core Professions. The latter does not have to be a BABCP member or a CBT therapist, but can still provide the reference if they are.
• The referee must have had regular professional contact with you during the last 12 months of practice in order to comment on your suitability for accreditation.
• Further information regarding  Professional Reference requirements for accreditation can be found in the above Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation Guidelines.

Training Cases

Criterion 3 of the Application form asks for you to provide evidence of 8 training cases. You can find more information about these in the Guidelines.

Closely supervised cases - if you need to provide evidence of further closely supervised cases, you and your supervisor should consult  Close Supervision Guidelines.

Case studies – if you need to complete further case studies after your training, please consult our Case Study Guidelines. These include guidance on how to find a suitable assessor and an optional feedback sheet which independent assessors may choose to use when marking your case studies.

Reflective Statement for Equality, Equity, Diversion and Inclusion Awareness

This statement template is required for Criterion 3f of the application form. 

EEDI Reflective Statement [Word]

Criteria Summary

To become Accredited as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, you must 

• be a BABCP member
• be a resident of the UK, its territories or Ireland
• have a relevant mental health core professional training to degree level or provide evidence of equivalence by completing a KSA portfolio
• show how your CBT training meets our Minimum Training Standards (MTS) and adhere to our Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for the Practice of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies
• use Cognitive and/or Behavioural therapies as your main (or one of your main) therapeutic models in clinical practice
• show at least two episodes of live supervision in the 12 months practice prior to application

Instructions for submission and payment

Please don't send anything to us by post.  These instructions will tell you how to submit your application and supporting documents online.

Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation - Online Document Submission Instructions