History of the SCoPEd framework
The Scope of Education and Practice (SCoPEd) partnership was formally established in 2017 with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapists (UKCP) recognising the need for a shared competency framework that could bring more coherence to the profession. In 2020, the Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC), Humans Givens Institute (HGI) and National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) joined the partnership.
The six partners identified that the lack of unified standards across the profession created confusion for practitioners, government, employers, commissioners and clients, making it difficult to differentiate between levels of training, qualifications and competency.
This led to the creation of the Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework.
Framework consultation
By 2019, the first draft of the framework was published for consultation, outlining the core training, practice, competences and responsibilities within the counselling and psychotherapy profession.
This draft framework underwent several rounds of consultation with stakeholders, including professionals, training organisations, the members and registrants of partners and clients and patients.
In January 2022, a significant milestone was reached with the publication of the SCoPEd framework. This version brought together the insights gained from multiple rounds of consultation and provided a clear structure for the profession, helping both practitioners and the public to better understand the qualifications and competences of professionals within the field.
Since its initial release, the SCoPEd framework has been adopted by all PCPB partners who are aligning their membership categories to the SCoPEd framework columns. In 2025, a minor update was introduced to ensure the framework remained current and aligned with new research and best practices. This update refined the wording of key competences and adjusted membership categories, enhancing the framework’s clarity and application.
The SCoPEd framework is designed as a living document. It will continue to adapt in response to changes in the profession, education, training and societal expectations. The framework will undergo a major revision process every five years. This will be based on consultation with stakeholders, input from experts in the field and the lived experiences of service users.
