CCC – Canadian Certified Counsellor
This designation means your counsellor has met national standards through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), including specialized training, supervised clinical experience, and a strong commitment to ethical, compassionate care.
To maintain this designation, CCCs are also required to complete continuing education every year — staying current, accountable, and committed to best practices in the field.
*Or the playful version...* Basically, this means your counsellor didn’t just wake up one day and decide to give advice for a living. They've completed specialized training, logged supervised hours, and follow strict ethical guidelines, all thanks to the CCPA. In other words — fully qualified *and* fully invested in supporting you.
RPC-C – Registered Professional Counsellor-Candidate
This designation means your counsellor has fully completed their counselling education and is already certified to work independently with clients. As part of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA), RPC-C’s are in the final phase of their professional journey — completing extended supervision hours before advancing to the full RPC designation. They’re knowledgeable, capable, and supported by an experienced supervisor as they continue growing their skills.
As part of maintaining good standing, RPC-Cs must complete 6 hours of supervision and 12 hours of continuing education each year — because great therapists never stop learning.
*Or the playful version...* Think of this as the “in-training but already awesome” stage. RPC-C counsellors have fully graduated and are already certified to work on their own, but they're completing extended supervision hours to earn the full RPC designation. They work under experienced supervisors (hi, that's me!) and bring fresh knowledge, compassion, and dedication to their work — with a little *backup* they grow.
RPC – Registered Professional Counsellor
RPCs are fully registered with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA), meaning they’ve met the requirements for education, supervision, and ethical practice. They’re trained, vetted, and ready to help you sort through life’s messiest moments with skill, heart, and a whole lot of listening.
RPCs are required to stay sharp and current with 6 hours of supervision and 12 hours of continuing education credits every year — because staying excellent is part of the job.
*Or the playful version...* RPCs are the real deal. They’ve jumped through the educational hoops, survived the paperwork jungle of supervision, and earned their title through compassion, consistency, and showing up for clients again and again. If you’re working with an RPC, you’re in capable, caring hands.
MPCC – Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling
This advanced designation from the CPCA recognizes senior-level counsellors who have extensive clinical experience, post-graduate training, and a proven commitment to ethical, effective practice. It’s basically the black belt of counselling — earned through dedication, expertise, and years in the field.
Even Jedi need refreshers. MPCCs also complete 6 hours of supervision and 12 hours of continuing education each year to maintain their advanced standing.
*Or the playful version...* This is the “counselling Jedi” level. MPCCs didn’t just stop at the basics — they kept learning, kept practicing, and built up the kind of experience that makes them the go-to for complex stuff. Think: Yoda with a clipboard.
QCS-P – Qualified Clinical Supervisor – Provisional
This designation means your counsellor is approved by the CPCA to provide clinical supervision to newer counsellors, while still completing some final steps toward full supervisor status. They’ve completed specialized supervision training and bring both experience and mentorship to the table — offering guidance, support, and a strong ethical foundation to developing therapists.
QCS-Ps continue to develop their supervision skills through 6 hours of annual supervision and 12 hours of continuing education — part of CPCA’s commitment to confident, ethical supervisors.
*Or the playful version...* QCS-Ps are like the Padawans of the supervision world — wise, well-trained, and almost ready to take on the galaxy solo. They’re finishing their 100 hours of supervised supervision (aka Jedi training), and backed by CPCA’s stellar standards, they’re already guiding, mentoring, and supporting others with confidence and heart — lightsabers optional.
QCS – Qualified Clinical Supervisor
This is the full supervisor designation granted by the CPCA. QCS holders have completed all supervision training, demonstrated extensive clinical experience, and are fully approved to provide ethical, skilled, and supportive supervision to other professionals. They’re the go-to mentors for therapists who want to grow with confidence.
To maintain their full supervisor status, QCSs are required to complete 6 hours of supervision and 12 hours of continuing education credits each year — lifelong learning at the leadership level.
*Or the playful version...* QCSs are the seasoned supervisors who’ve been around the block — probably more than once. They’ve got the credentials, the experience, and the “I’ve seen that before” calm. Basically, they're the people other therapists go to when things get sticky.
*Want to know more? You can learn about each designation by visiting the CPCA (www.cpca-rpc.ca) or CCPA (www.ccpa-accp.ca) websites.*