HCPC, BACP and UKCP: who regulates psychologists and therapists in the UK
Three names get used almost interchangeably by people looking for a therapist in the UK, and they mean three genuinely different things. Here's what each one actually is, which is a legal requirement and which is a voluntary professional body, and why that distinction matters for your own practice.
HCPC: the statutory regulator
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the UK's statutory regulator across a range of health and care professions. It protects a specific set of "practitioner psychologist" titles, including Clinical Psychologist and Counselling Psychologist — using one of these titles without being registered is a criminal offence, not just a professional breach. As of 2020, the HCPC regulated more than 280,000 professionals across the 15 professions it covers, from several different health and care disciplines, not psychologists alone.
It's worth being precise here: the word "psychologist" on its own isn't a single protected title the way "Clinical Psychologist" is. The HCPC protects specific practitioner titles, so if you use one of them, you need to be on the relevant part of the register — check your own exact title against the HCPC's list rather than assume the general word covers you.
UKCP: a voluntary professional register for psychotherapists
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a voluntary professional body, not a statutory regulator. It brings together more than 75 accredited training organisations and holds a register of more than 7,000 professionals. Being on the UKCP register signals accredited training and adherence to a professional code of ethics — but, unlike HCPC registration for a protected title, it is not currently a legal requirement to call yourself a psychotherapist in the UK.
BACP: the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is also a voluntary professional body rather than a statutory regulator. It accredits training courses, holds its own register, and sets an ethical framework members agree to follow. It isn't a legal requirement to be a BACP member to practise as a counsellor or psychotherapist today — but many employers, insurers and directories treat membership as an informal baseline expectation, even where the law doesn't require it.
Statutory versus voluntary, in one line. HCPC registration is a legal requirement for its protected titles, and using one without registering is a criminal offence. BACP and UKCP registration are marks of accredited training and ethical accountability that most of the market expects — but neither is currently required by law.
Why "counsellor" and "psychotherapist" are not (yet) protected titles
Unlike "Clinical Psychologist", which the HCPC protects by law, anyone in the UK can currently call themselves a "counsellor" or a "psychotherapist" without belonging to any register at all. Voluntary registration with BACP or UKCP (or another recognised body) is a mark of training and accountability, not a legal gateway to using the title. If you use either of these titles, it's worth being explicit with clients about which voluntary register you hold, since the title itself doesn't guarantee it the way an HCPC-protected title does.
Keep your records ready, whichever register applies to you
Organised, encrypted, exportable session notes and client records — built for psychologists and therapists.
What this means for your own registration choice
Start by checking your actual title and qualification against the HCPC's list of protected practitioner psychologist titles. If none applies to you, decide which voluntary body — BACP, UKCP, or another recognised register — fits your training and the audiences (referrers, insurers, clients) who'll expect to see it. This isn't a one-off decision either: as you gain further qualifications, it's worth checking again whether a different or additional register now applies.
Frequently asked questions
Is “psychologist” a protected title in the UK?+
Not as a single blanket word. The HCPC protects specific “practitioner psychologist” titles, such as Clinical Psychologist and Counselling Psychologist — check the exact title you use against the HCPC's list rather than assuming the general word “psychologist” is covered.
Do I have to join BACP or UKCP to work as a counsellor or psychotherapist?+
Not legally, today — these titles aren't currently protected in law. Many referrers, insurers and directories still expect voluntary registration, so check what your intended market actually requires before deciding whether to register.
What happens if I use a protected HCPC title without being registered?+
It's a criminal offence to use a title the HCPC protects — such as “Clinical Psychologist” — without being on the relevant part of the register.
How many professionals does the HCPC regulate?+
As of 2020, the HCPC regulated more than 280,000 professionals across the 15 professions it covers, spanning several different health and care disciplines, not psychologists alone.
Keep organised, exportable records whichever register applies to you
Encrypted patient records and session notes, built for psychologists and therapists — 14 days free, no card.
14 days free, no card · No lock-in · We answer directly
Nerela is practice management software built for psychologists and clinics: scheduling and online booking, patient records and session notes, invoicing and reports — in one place, with data hosted in the European Union. You start with 14 days free, no card, and you talk directly to the people building the product.
Start on Nerela — 14 days free →