UPCA is an organisational member (OM) and accrediting body of University Training Colleges (UTC). UTC is one of 10 UKCP Colleges, all UKCP members have to belong to a college. The purpose of UPCA is to provide a route to UKCP membership, an ethical framework for trainee therapists work and to offer community of peers.

You may have joint membership of UPCA and UKCP if you wish.

You can join UKCP as a student, or as a trainee or wait until you have qualified as a UPCA accredited clinical member to apply to UKCP, in any case you will need to have maintained your UPCA membership to be admitted to UKCP. The UKCP application process is separate from the UPCA process and you can join online via the UKCP website. There is a separate charge to join UKCP, except for student members of UPCA who can join UKCP for free.

UPCA Non-Accredited Clinical Members can also apply for membership of UKCP. The UKCP does not have a Non-Accredited clinical category of membership, its equivalent is a Trainee member. You can remain in this category until you complete all the elements of your training. UKCP will ask UPCA to verify your application. The application process is separate from the UPCA process and you can join online via the UKCP website.

Accredited Clinical Members of UPCA who have maintained their membership can apply for Full Clinical Membership and for Registration with UKCP. UKCP will ask UPCA to verify your application. The application process is separate from the UPCA process and you can join online via the UKCP website.

Please note: UPCA membership must be maintained to retain UKCP registration.

Direct Membership of UKCP

Members sometimes enquire about the possibility of joining UKCP directly, rather than through their organisational member (eg, UPCA).

It is possible to do this, provided you meet UKCP’s terms and conditions for Direct Membership.

Direct Membership with UKCP means that your five-year reaccreditation is handled directly by the College your organisation is associated with (eg, UTC for UPCA).

To be eligible for UKCP Direct Membership members must;

  • Remain with their organisational member until the direct
    membership transfer is complete
  • Be on the UKCP National register and remain with their OM
    uninterrupted for 12 months before applying for Direct Membership
  • Not be due for re-accreditation in the same year of applying for direct membership transfer.

UKCP also advise members of the following: UKCP does not promote direct
membership and encourages members to stay with their OM, as it would easier to gain ethical advice, networking and support as part of a community.  UKCP have a good working relationship with their OMs and support a continuation of membership through them.

The fee for direct membership is £348 (direct debit) or £358 (card payment). Quarterly instalments are possible on direct debit and would be £89.50 every three months.