You may qualify for Associate membership if you meet the following criteria:

1.  Receipt from a university or seminary that possesses accreditation, with such accreditation being to the satisfaction of the Board, of a Master's degree in counselling, psychology or other recognized mental health, social work, or related discipline.

The first three items are REQUIRED:

• Counselling Theory...(3 credit hours)

...includes focused studies of counseling theories, principles and techniques and their application to professional counseling settings.

 

• Supervised Internship...(100 supervised client-contact hours)

please provide a positive letter of recommendation from the approved supervisor(s) of the internship and/or a positive letter of recommendation from one of the your counselling class professors…this refers to counseling experience in an appropriate work setting of at least 100 supervised direct client contact hours.   

Note:  If your program did not require 100 hours of client contact, you may apply as a student member and you have one year to complete the rest of the supervised client contact hours, at which time you may change your membership to Associate.

• Professional Orientation and Ethics (3 credit hours)

includes studies that provide a broad understanding of professional roles and functions; professional goals and objectives; professional organizations and associations; professional history and trends; ethical and legal standards; professional preparation standards; and professional credentialing. All new Associate and Certified Member candidates must provide evidence of having passed an Ethics in Counselling course from an accredited educational institution.

 Note:  If your program did not require a course in Professional Ethics, you  may receive a conditional approval with 1 year given to complete a course in Ethics.

• Plus any six of the following:

• Counselling Theory and Techniques
…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of philosophic bases of helping processes; counseling theories and their applications; basic and advanced helping skills; consultation theories and their applications; client and helper self-understanding and self-development; and facilitation of client change.

• Psychological/Theological Integration
…includes studies which seek to integrate contemporary knowledge and understanding of counseling principles and practices within a theological framework.

• Marriage and Family Therapy
…includes studies that approach working with couples and families from a systemic orientation.

• Human Growth and Development
…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels; normal and abnormal human behavior; personality theory; life-span theory; and learning theory within cultural contexts.

• Group Dynamics and Processing
…includes studies that provide broad understanding of group development, dynamics, and counseling theories; group leadership styles; basic and advanced group counseling methods and skills; and other group approaches.

• Counselling and Abuse
…includes indepth studies of the various types of abuse, including neglect, sexual, physical, emotional, spousal and ritual abuse and appropriate counselling interventions.

• Crisis Counselling and Intervention Strategies
…includes training in the assessment and treatment of clients in crisis, using interventions drawn from contemporary theoretical approaches. Exploration of the time-limited nature of crisis intervention, legal and ethical issues, and interfacing appropriately with other service providers should be considered.

• Psychopathology/Exploring Problems in Living
…includes biblical and theological reflection on, and examination of common issues and concerns normally associated with the need for psychological treatment. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment/care around issues of depression, anxiety, loneliness, addictions, gender issues, and human sexuality, etc. will be important components.

• Psychological Assessment
…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories and approaches to assessment; data and information gathering methods; validity and reliability; psychometric statistics; factors influencing assessment; and use of assessment results in helping processes. Additionally, this may include training in the ability to administer and interpret tests and inventories, to assess abilities, interests, and identify career options.

• Research and Evaluation
…includes studies that provide a broad understanding of types of research; basic statistics; research-report development; research implementation; program evaluation; needs assessment; publication of research information; and ethical and legal considerations.

• Addictions
…includes studies specific to addiction theory in which basic assessment, intervention, and treatment techniques in working with individuals and families are explored.

• Gender Identity
…includes studies that focus on issues of identity and the impact of culture and sexuality across the developmental stages.

• Administration…includes studies that have specific application to organizational leadership and administration within agencies and private practices whose primary function is the delivery of therapeutic services.

3.  Adherence with the Statement of Beliefs of the Association.

4.  Adherence with the Code of Ethics of the Association.

5.   Provide voluntary disclosure of academic and professional credentials.

6.  Provide application for the PACCC's liability insurance coverage or proof of malpractice liability insurance coverage equivalent to that of the PACCC policy indicated below.

7.  Provision of a Security Letter from the Child Abuse Registry of their Province of residence (in provinces where this applies). This is usually obtained from Community Services or related agency in your province.

For example, in Calgary the information is:

8.  Provision of a Letter of Clearance/Criminal Record Check from the police department of the municipality in which the person is resident or from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

9.  Complete, submit, and sign all applicable sections of the PACCC application form.

10.  Payment in full of the fees for membership in the Association for the ensuing year.

11.  Participate in PACCC Annual General Meetings a minimum of every 2nd year if it is within a 100 km radius of the member's home.

12.  Complete 40 hours of continuing education units (CEU's) every two year period.  See PACCC's Continuing Education Policy for details...Continuing Education Policy-Self-Regulation

Associate Membership Fees are $135.00 per year

This is an insured, voting membership category.

Once a counsellor has been approved as an Associate Member, and has been a member in good standing for 1 year, they may apply for Certified status, pending they meet the criteria as shown below.

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Definition of Terms:

Supervision is defined as “an intervention provided by a more senior member of a profession to a more junior member of that same profession. This relationship is evaluative, extends through time, and has the simultaneous purposes of enhancing the professional functioning of the more junior person(s), monitoring the quality of professional services offered to client(s) she/he, or they see(s), and serving as a gatekeeper of those who are to enter the particular profession” (Bernard & Goodyear, 2002)

Supervisor is a PACCC member in good standing who has attained Supervisor status and who meet the requirements for Supervisor (CEUs, formal training in Supervision, etc).

Supervisee is a PACCC member in good standing who is seeking Certified Member status.

Steps of the Certification Process:

Step 1:      Member will notify PACCC administrator of intent to pursue supervision using the Supervision Proposal Form A.  The administrator would direct the member to the section of the website dedicated to Supervision.  This would include a spreadsheet listing all PACCC supervisors and information about their practice, contact information, etc.

Step 2:       The supervisee completes Form B (Assessment of Supervisee).  This would be based on a list of Core Competencies (to be developed from the Code of Ethics).

Step 3:       Supervisee contacts a supervisor, and receives that supervisor’s Professional Disclosure Statement (Form C)

Step 4:       Supervisee and Supervisor complete and submit the Supervision Agreement & Log (Form D).  This begins the supervisory working alliance.

Step 5:       Annual CEU report is submitted by supervisee to Administration, including supervision/client hours and supervisor’s signature.

Step 6:    Evaluations (formative and summative) are provided to the supervisee for growth and development of practice/competence.  These are completed using the Evaluation template (Form E).

Step 7:       Completion of 500 client hours and 50 supervision hours – Final submission of Form D

For a copy of all forms and Certification documentation, please see Certification Guidelines (all forms and process)-.pdf

Certified Supervisor Requirements

The next step after achieving Certified status, is Certified Supervisor.  To receive the designation of PACCC Supervisor, an individual must have held and practiced as a certified member for a minimum of two years during which time you were a member in good standing.

In addition to the criteria for Certified membership, those applying for Certified Supervisor status must:

1. Complete a graduate level course in supervision fundamentals from an accredited university or seminary that possesses accreditation, with such accreditation being to the satisfaction of the Board.
2. Complete fifteen (15) hours of supervision of your supervision by a PACCC approved supervisor (either a PACCC Certified Supervisor some someone that has a Master's Degree in counselling or higher, has taken the supervision fundamentals course, and is approved by PACCC prior to supervision).
3. Applicants for Certified Supervisor status are required to have the following letters of reference:

How to apply to become an approved PACCC Supervisor?

To apply for the designation of PACCC Supervisor, an individual must:

1. Complete the Approved PACCC Supervisor Application Form.

2. Include: a transcript noting the completing of a course in supervision fundamentals and the two letters of Recommendation.

3. Upon approval, payment of the prorated fees for Supervisory status.

This is an insured, voting membership category.

Supervisor Membership Fees $165.00 per year

Subject to the approval by the Board for membership in the Association, a person may qualify for the status of Allied Professional Member by:

Maintaining professional standing in an association allied to counselling that requires:

1. a Master's degree or higher, from an accredited university or seminary that possesses accreditation, with such accreditation being to the satisfaction of the Board, and
2. in which active membership is dependent upon completion of Continuing Education equivalent to or greater than PACCCs.*  See PACCC's Continuing Education Policy for details...Continuing Education Policy-Self-Regulation
3. Providing voluntary disclosure of current and active membership in their professional association.
4. Adherence to the Statement of Beliefs of PACCC.
5. Adherence to the Code of Ethics of PACCC.
6. Payment in full of the fees for membership in PACCC for the ensuing year.
7. Provision of a Security Letter from the Child Abuse Registry of their Province of residence 
8. Provision of a Letter of Clearance/Criminal Record Check from the Police Department of the municipality in which the person is resident or from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This is a non-insured, voting membership category.

Allied Professional members must be intentional about taking five (5) CEU opportunities in each two (2) year period that reflects a theological and psychological integration.

Allied Professional Membership Fees: $135.00 per year

The next generation in the professional counselling ministry lies with our students.  PACCC desires to be a resource for you as you begin your ministry.  Your ministry as a professional counsellor will be a source to serving those around you well into the 21^st century.

There is the opportunity for students to have a strong voice in the Professional Association of Canadian Christian Counsellors.  And it is growing every day as PACCC seeks student input on important issues that face Christian Counsellors today.

Today’s students will be tomorrow’s volunteer leader of PACCC.  From a seat on the National Board, to active roles on various local branches, there are multiple ways for the needs and views of students to be heard.

Student Membership Requirements

1. Be enrolled in a university or seminary that possesses accreditation, with such accreditation being to the satisfaction of the Board, and working toward the completion of a graduate degree in counselling, psychology or other recognized mental health, social work, or related discipline.

 

2. Those students applying for insurance through PACCC's liability insurance policy must have completed a minimum of a 2-year degree program with all required courses. For programs of study that are longer than 2 years, students must have completed a minimum of 90% of the required coursework in that program in order to qualify for insurance through PACCC.

 

3. Those student members who are completing their required internship hours for Associate membership are required to submit a plan to complete the required student supervision hours with a MA degree (or comparable) supervisor, who must be approved by PACCC.

 

4. Those applying for insured student status, who have completed the course requirements but are short of the required 100 hours of supervision to gain Associate Status, may request an extension of student status for up to one year. The request should be in writing to the PACCC administration office and should identify a qualified supervisor and plan for completing the required hours of supervision.  When completed, a Student to Associate Membership Application Form can be submitted to the National Office requesting Associate membership transition.

The following letters of reference are also required to be accompanied with the PACCC Application form:

1. A letter of reference from a counselling instructor.
2. A letter of reference from their pastor attesting to their participation in a church community and their continuing growth in Christian maturity.
3. A letter of reference from a supervisor/someone familiar with the applicants' clinical work (must be different from the counselling instructor).

* This is a non-insured/insured, non-voting membership category.

Student (no Insurance) Membership Fees: $55.00 per year

Student (requiring Insurance) Membership Fees: $80.00 per year

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Benefits to Membership:

Speaker’s Connections:  Free advertising and promotion on the PACCC website to the public of seminars and workshops that you have the ability to present.

Professional Identification:  Identification with a professional association of Christian counsellors committed to integrating faith and clinical practice.  You may attach 'PACCC' after your name to identify you as a counsellor who is held accountable by a professional association.  This show of membership acknowledges your faithfulness to the support and endorsement of Christ-centered counselling practice and to further education and knowledge in the counselling field.  

Code of Ethics Standard:  Ethical guidelines which help you run an effective and reliable practice. While ethics guide your ministry, they also act as a protection for you and your clients.  This also provides an opportunity to learn about and develop best practice.  It allows you to share your professional experiences with counsellors with a wide range of experiences, framework and skills.

Certification:  Certification identifies to the public and your peers those counsellors who have met specific supervised requirements and professional standards.

Professional Development:  The opportunity to participate in annual conferences, and branch workshops, which provide you with fresh, innovative ideas and techniques to help you meet the needs of your clients. The conferences/workshops allow you to share ideas and beliefs, renew acquaintances and make new friends both on a provincial and national level. 

Discussion Forum:  Through our on-line Discussion Forum, members are able to exchange information with each other and present their own views and experiences through the association.

Networking:  Connection with other Christian counsellor to help you on your professional journey.

***FREE MEMBERSHIP*** :

PACCC is offering a first year free membership to graduating students from the psychology/sociology/counseling departments who wish to become a member of the PACCC organization. This is for the PACCC membership fees only, not including insurance coverage. This offer is for the 1 st year post-graduation, and individuals must meet PACCC requirements for membership for ALLIED or ASSOCIATE status. The applications must be made within 6 months of graduation.

Affiliate Members Requirements:

1. Affiliate Members must agree with the PACCC Statement of Beliefs and share an interest in the goals and objectives of the Association.

 

2. Affiliate members are not permitted to promote their membership in a professional capacity, including the use of the PACCC logo on printed materials.

 

* This is a non-insured, non-voting membership category.

Affiliate Membership Fees: $30.00 per year