Accrediting organisations for medical psychotherapy
We have worked with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), to provide a pathway for medical psychotherapists wishing to become members of the UKCP.
Medical psychotherapists who hold GMC specialist registration in medical psychotherapy with a licence to practise are eligible to apply for UKCP membership.
What is AcOMP?
AcOMP is an organisational member of the UKCP existing within the UKCP College of Medical Psychotherapists. It is also a sub group of our Faculty executive committee.
The UKCP’s organisational members are conduits for membership and all applicants must apply via an organisational member. AcOMP is the UKCP's organisational member able to accredit those with medical psychotherapy training.
AcOMP also offers membership to those with medical psychotherapy specialist registration who already hold UKCP membership.
AcOMP exists solely to lead and manage the accrediting process, and in so doing contributes to the liveliness and development of medical psychotherapy.
Find out more about the benefits of UKCP membership.
Applicants who are not already UKCP members
The UKCP requires new applicants to be recommended by one of their organisational members. You are eligible for membership of the organisational member AcOMP if you:
- practise in the field of medical psychotherapy and are in good standing for CPD*
- are currently registered with the General Medical Council with a licence to practise
- hold medical psychotherapy specialist registration or dual specialist registration with the General Medical Council, either by the CCT or CESR route
- hold one of the categories of membership of the College.
- pay the £250 registration fee
Your eligibility for membership will be reviewed after five years. At this time you will be asked to submit evidence of your clinical supervision, reflective process and professional indemnity.
*applicants within a year of completing their specialty training may submit an outcome 6 ARCP form instead of a CPD certificate.
Applicants who are already UKCP members
You are eligible for membership if you:
- hold GMC specialist registration in medical psychotherapy in the United Kingdom either via the CCT route or via the CESR route
- are currently registered with the GMC with a licence to practise and the College and are in good standing for CPD.
- are a current UKCP member.
If you would like to apply as an existing member please email us. You may join AcOMP free of charge.
The UKCP requires AcOMP to assess the eligibility of its individual members for UKCP membership.
To assess your application we require all of the following:
- completed AcOMP application form
- completed equal opportunities form (optional)
- photocopy of your passport or other form of identification
- photocopy of evidence of GMC registration
- photocopy of your certificate of good standing for CPD (or ARCP outcome 6 where applicable)
- payment of £250 accrediting fee (see AcOMP application form for payment method).
If you are deemed eligible, we will notify the UKCP that we recommend you for UKCP membership and you can make an online application.
Once accepted for membership of AcOMP you must notify us if your circumstances change in respect of any of the eligibility requirements. A change of circumstances may affect our ability to support your membership of the UKCP via AcOMP.
After five years of AcOMP membership we will contact you and invite you to apply for renewal. This is particularly important if your UKCP membership is via an AcOMP recommendation.
The UKCP's position is that all clinical members must be able to provide informed documentation, as set out by their College or Organisational Member which demonstrates and supports the way they are practising as a psychotherapist or psychotherapeutic counsellor. The process must be undertaken at a minimum of once every five years. The minmum requirements set by the UKCP are the checking of supervision records, CPD records, insurance cover and a reflective process.
If your UKCP membership is via AcOMP you will need to provide:
- Confirmation of your GMC registration, specialist registration and licence to practise
- Confirmation of your College membership
- Evidence of current CPD certification
- Evidence of professional indemnity insurance
- Evidence of clinical supervision
- Evidence of reflective process
- A renewal fee of £250
If your UKCP membership is not via AcOMP you will need to provide:
- Confirmation of your GMC registration, specialist registration and licence to practise
- Confirmation of your College membership
- Evidence of current CPD certification
- Evidence of your current UKCP organisational member
If you would like additional information about AcOMP membership please email us.
If your email relates to becoming a Psychiatrist or careers advice please contact careers@rcpsych.ac.uk and if you have a general enquiry please contact infoservices@rcpsych.ac.uk
The British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) offers accreditation to medical practitioners.
For more information, please email the BPC.