Considering a career in CBT? To ensure the best opportunity to becoming an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (CBP), the right training is essential.
CBT training will be at least the equivalent of a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma or a Masters’ degree. Lower-level CBT courses exist but may not meet our accreditation criteria, which is essential for many CBT jobs.
What background do I need to train in CBT?
A mental health background is required for entry. Your background should include experience in health or social care, along with a degree or equivalent academic achievement. A solid understanding of research, human development, distress, and social context is also essential.
Our accreditation criteria recognises certain mental health and care professions as strong foundations for CBT training – these are called ‘BABCP core professions’. If you don’t have a BABCP core profession, you may still train via our equivalence route, known as the ‘Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes’ (KSA) portfolio. Some health and social care roles meet some KSA requirements, even if they’re not classed as core professions.
If you’re new to mental health, gaining training and experience can help you decide if it’s the right path. Many roles are rewarding careers in their own right, not just a route to a career as a CBP.
While we can’t recommend a specific route, you should work towards gaining a core profession or meeting KSA requirements to pursue CBT training and accreditation.
