Counsellor Accreditation Programme

The Times Higher Education Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) is designed for counsellors working in high schools from all over the world who provide advice to students on career and university selection.

Counsellors do not need any previous qualifications or minimum experience in the industry to complete the programme. They do however need to be actively working at a specific school and have an official school email address. Once the counsellor has gained the THE CAP Accreditation, the school will also become a THE Accredited Counsellor School for the duration of time the counsellor is working there and accredited.

We recognise that counsellors play a truly pivotal role in helping students make life changing decisions on their future studies and careers, and this programme aims to enable their development as practitioners. Through innovative content, expert-generated resources, thought-provoking discussions, and unparalleled access to industry-led best practices, this is an accreditation programme that is truly relevant and valued by the education sector.

This accredited programme is completely free.

The programme comprises of 12 modules that take approximately 12 hours to complete in total. The content is in English, available online and on demand so can be completed at your own pace. Upon completion, participants are required to submit written and video-based reflections and action plans, which are reviewed by the THE Editorial Team and may be published on the THE website at their discretion.

The programme is made up of six core themes:

1. Admission processes and funding – empowering students to understand the practicalities and processes when connecting with potential universities.

2. Counselling – adopting a social-emotional learning approach to being an effective counsellor for students.

3. Managing stakeholders – having challenging conversations built on a partnership of respect and trust.

4. Reporting and advocacy – championing the role of counsellors in institutions and externally with employers as producers of top talent.

5. Resilience – ensuring one’s own resilience and wellbeing, and fostering it in students.

6. Sector trends – staying ahead of emerging trends in student behaviour, careers and universities, and communicating it to key stakeholders.

When you successfully complete the programme and submit the assessment, you will receive a personalised certificate, e-mail signature and social media badges that accredit you as a Times Higher Education Accredited Counsellor, which you can proudly display. The school you work at will also be listed on the THE website.

The 2023/4 THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme is valid until 31/12/2024. After that, there is an expectation that accredited counsellors undertake “top up” modules to maintain their accreditation, to ensure they keep abreast of the latest sector trends and developments. Midway through 2024, counsellors who are already accredited will be able to build credit for their 2025 accreditation status.

You take your accreditation with you and your new school will be listed on the THE website. Your previous school will need to ensure that the new counsellor is already accredited or ask the new counsellor to complete the THE Counsellor Accreditation Program (THE CAP).

The course can be taken completely online once the new modules are released in October 2023.

Modules are also offered at THE/ BMI in-person International Schools Forums & Workshops throughout the world, offering an opportunity to network face-to-face with other counsellors from your region and meet universities and colleges from across the world in pre-scheduled meetings.

The THE/ BMI in-person International Schools Forums & Workshops take place throughout the world and are completely free of charge but fill up quickly.

You apply via the event website and will receive a response within 48 hours. Participation is completely free and normally includes one nights deluxe hotel accommodation – normally the same place as the event -  on the first day, a welcome reception and dinner as well as breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks on the second day. Events fill up quickly so its best to apply as soon as possible.

Please note the Global Event, which will take place in London or Sydney in 2024, is by invite only. It includes: return airfare from your country, 4 – 7 nights accommodation, most meals, THE CAP sessions and visits to universities.

Only counsellors who have attended the regional events in their own country will be considered for this event. In countries where there are no in-person events, invitations are reviewed and sent out by the events committee.

THE is developing an innovative resource-sharing platform with four partners:

• UCAS - the UK's admissions service for higher education
• UCL - London’s global university
• Huron University College - Canadian liberal arts university
• Unifrog - the universal student destinations platform.

THE Counsellor, launching later in the year, will focus on peer-to-peer content-sharing for counsellors by counsellors and enable you to connect with peers around the world where you can share advice, lesson plans and best practice. This will be complemented by a range of resources shared by the partners. More information will be released soon.

Pre-register here to be the first to know once the new modules are released online in October 2023. Also check if there is an in-person event in your country/region and you can participate in those events to get a head start.

If you are changing schools, just let us know at counsellor@timeshighereducation.com and we’ll ensure that your details are updated. If you are moving into a role outside of a school, however, your accreditation will not be valid, as it is currently only for counsellors employed by a particular school. In due course, we are looking to expand our professional development offering to adjacent sectors (such as independent counselling), however, the THE CAP is currently only for counsellors employed by a particular school.

If you have any questions or comments about THE CAP or THE Counsellor please get in touch with us via email counsellor@timeshighereducation.com