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Delivery Method:
In-class
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Duration:
84 weeks (82 weeks with a 2-week reading break)
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Optional Private Practice Courses:
Additional 6 weeks
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Starts:
Twice a year (April & October)
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Credential:
Diploma
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Designation:
Prepares graduates to pursue professional designations with the ACCT and CPCA
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Wages:
Typically $80-$100/client hour in Private Practice
About the Career
As a Counselling Therapist, you’ll find opportunities for employment in:
- Employee Assistance Programs through third-party billing from employee health benefits
- Private practice
- Health and wellness clinics
- Treatment centres
- Government
- Not-for-profits organizations
This program is also great to enhance your skillset and expertise in careers that work with people, such as:
- Human Resources
- Career Counselling
- Customer Service
- Health Care Professionals
Based on employment statistics gathered by Stenberg College, Counselling Therapists in private practice typically charge clients $80-$100/hour.
Professional Designations
This program prepares you to meet the requirements to become registered with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists in Canada (ACCT) and the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA).
Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA)
CPCA is a nationally recognized, independent, self-regulated, non-profit association whose members are held to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Their members meet rigorous standards for education, training and clinical experience before they can use the RPC (Registered Professional Counsellor) designation. Our Counselling Therapist Diploma program includes a course designed to prepare you for the CPCA Qualifying Examination, which is a requirement for membership with the CPCA. Below is a summary of the designations available through CPCA:
Student Member
- Students enrolled in a college/university program which meets minimum education requirements OR enrolled in one or more courses which, in addition to previously acquired education, meet the minimum education requirements
RPC-C – Registered Professional Counsellor Candidate
- Practicing counsellors who have not yet obtained the minimum clinical supervision required and are considered interns in the mental health field
RPC – Registered Professional Counsellor
- Minimum 600 hours in counselling and/or psychotherapy under clinical supervision by a mental health professional(s)
- Include minimum 150 supervision hours, 250 direct clinical contact hours (DCC), and 200 practice hours
MPCC – Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling
- Practiced in the counselling field for a minimum of 5 of the last 8 years
- Completed minimum 1250 clinical practice hours including 750 DCC hours and 250 clinical supervision hours
QCS – Qualified Clinical Supervisor
- CPCA member and/or mental health professional who provides clinical supervision to other mental health professionals
Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists in Canada (ACCT)
ACCT is a self-regulated competency-based professional association, registering counsellors with the designation of Registered Therapeutic Counsellor/Accredited Counsellor (RTC/AC), Master Therapeutic Counsellor (MTC) and Registered Counselling Supervisor (RCS). Below is a summary of each ACCT designation:
Student Applicant
- Presently enrolled in registered counselling certificate, diploma, or degree program
- Must not practice counselling except when supervised and part of training
RTC – Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
- Certificate, diploma, Bachelor’s, Postgraduate, Master’s degree or PhD in Counselling or related, or equivalent experience/training as determined by ACCT Team
- Minimum 150 hours clinical practice with supervision, practicum
- Must provide proof of Ethics Course
MTC – Master Therapeutic Counsellor
- Certificate, diploma, Bachelors, postgraduate certificate, Master’s degree or PhD in counselling or related, or equivalent experience/training as determined by ACCT Team
- Minimum 1000 hours direct client contact, 500 in Canada, 50 under supervision
RCS – Registered Counselling Supervisor
- Be an MTC, or have an equivalent professional designation from another association
- At least 5 years, over 1,000 hours experience, 120 hours supervised
- Proof of supervision training course completion