Students can navigate IRCEP’s website to:
- Find a counsellor education programme located in and outside of the United States that is IRCEP approved and recognized.
- To identify a programme for studying abroad
- To identify a programme for collaborative opportunities in research, training, and service.
- To engage in IRCEP events and forums that focus on international/global areas
The International Registry of Counsellor Education Programs (IRCEP) was developed by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) to respond to a growing request for an international quality assurance recognition review process for Counsellor education and training programmes around the world.
IRCEP, international affiliate of CACREP serves as the international quality assurance agency to foster excellence in the education and training of professional counsellors worldwide and empower programmes to develop counsellor training curricula appropriate to their country, regions, and/or culture, while simultaneously recognizing the broad tenets of education and training common to the practice of counselling regardless of practice location.
Counsellor education and training programmes that pursue and maintain IRCEP recognition demonstrate commitment to the Counselling profession and adherence to the rigorous international recognition review process.
Recognition by the International Registry of Counsellor Education Programs (IRCEP) facilitates:
- Global Standard of Quality
- Global Visibility
- Global Collaboration
- Shared Best Practice
- Global Recognition and Degree Mobility
IRCEP serves as the international quality assurance agency to foster excellence in the education and training of professional counsellors worldwide through a Registry of approved counsellor education and training programmes. These programmes have demonstrated adherence to the rigorous international recognition review process and have met the IRCEP Principles of Quality Assurance and Professional Standards.
IRCEP’s Principles are essential to the education and training of counsellors while culturally sensitive, rigorous, and flexible enough to be used by a variety of educational systems worldwide. They are designed to ensure value to stakeholders. The stakeholders include students, educators, academic programmes, employers, and community members.
The International Registry for Counsellor Education (IRCEP) does not evaluate credentials from overseas institutes.
There are two (2) organizations in the United States that can assist with this process:
World Education Services – www.wes.org
Education Credential Evaluators – www.ece.org
In the United States, counselling licensure is granted by the state not national government. If you know the state that you are moving to please contact the state’s licensure board for their specific requirements.
IRCEP empowers programmes to develop counsellor training curricula appropriate to their country, regions, and/or culture, while simultaneously recognizing the broad tenets of education and training common to the practice of counselling regardless of culture, country, region, work practice setting, or educational system.
Programmes address culturally sustaining content and strategies across the eight (8) foundational curriculum areas:
- Professional Counselling Orientation and Ethical Practice
- Social and Cultural Identities and Experiences
- Lifespan Development
- Career Development
- Counselling Practice and Relationships
- Group Counselling and Group Work
- Assessments and Diagnostic Processes
- Research and Program Evaluation
For questions about IRCEP international/global opportunities please contact IRCEP representatives via email [email protected]
The IRCEP website is updated on a regular basis. Through the website, you may sign up to receive E-Updates, including the IRCEP Connection newsletter, as well as follow IRCEP on Facebook and Instagram.