Counsellor, Psychotherapist or Psychologist? UK Titles and Registration Explained

Job adverts in mental health are full of titles that sound similar but mean very different things legally. Getting them right matters for your career and your employability.

Legally protected: practitioner psychologists

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulates practitioner psychologists and protects nine titles: clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational, and sport and exercise psychologist, plus "practitioner psychologist" and "registered psychologist". It is a criminal offence to use these titles without HCPC registration. The HCPC regulates over 26,000 practitioner psychologists.

Not protected: psychologist, counsellor, psychotherapist, therapist

The word "psychologist" on its own is not protected, and neither are counsellor, psychotherapist or therapist (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology). Anyone can use these titles, which is why employers look for membership of a Professional Standards Authority (PSA) accredited register, such as BACP, UKCP or NCPS.

Chartered psychologist

This is a grade of British Psychological Society membership and is also legally restricted.

Other registrations you'll see in adverts

• NMC: mental health nurses and nursing associates
• GMC: psychiatrists
• HCPC: occupational therapists and arts therapists, as well as psychologists
• Social Work England: social workers in England
• BABCP: accreditation for CBT therapists
• BPS or BABCP: registration or accreditation for PWPs

What this means when you apply

Read the person specification carefully. "HCPC registration essential" rules out anyone without it, however experienced. "BACP accredited or working towards" signals a counselling post that values post-qualification experience.

On Mental Health Jobs you can search for the registration you hold, for example "HCPC" or "BACP", to see the roles that ask for it.