The THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) has been developed to provide school counsellors with world-class professional development entirely free of charge. The programme is a unique combination of Times Higher Education’s data and insights in global higher education and Common Purpose’s expertise in running leadership development programmes all over the world. Designed by counsellors, for counsellors, the development of the programme has been driven by the THE International Schools Advisory Board, who play a pivotal role in shaping the course structure and content.
The Times Higher Education Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) is designed for counsellors working at international and bilingual high schools from all over the world who provide advice to students on career and university selection. Counsellors do not need any previous qualifications or minimum experience in the industry to complete the programme.
We recognise that counsellors play a truly pivotal role in helping students make life changing decisions on their future studies and careers, and this programme aims to enable their development as practitioners. Through innovative content, expert-generated resources, thought-provoking discussions, and unparalleled access to industry-led best practices, this is an accreditation programme that is truly relevant and valued by the international education sector.
This accredited programme is completely free.
The programme comprises of 12 modules that take approximately 12 hours to complete in total. The content is in English, available online and on demand so can be completed at your own pace. Upon completion, participants are required to submit written and video-based reflections and action plans, which are reviewed by the THE Editorial Team and may be published on the THE website at their discretion.
The programme is made up of six core themes:
1. Admission processes and funding – empowering students to understand the practicalities and processes when connecting with potential universities.
2. Counselling – adopting a social-emotional learning approach to being an effective counsellor for students.
3. Managing stakeholders – having challenging conversations built on a partnership of respect and trust.
4. Reporting and advocacy – championing the role of counsellors in institutions and externally with employers as producers of top talent.
5. Resilience – ensuring one’s own resilience and wellbeing, and fostering it in students.
6. Sector trends – staying ahead of emerging trends in student behaviour, careers and universities, and communicating it to key stakeholders.
When you successfully complete the programme and submit the assessment, you will receive a personalised certificate, e-mail signature and social media badges that accredit you as a Times Higher Education Accredited Counsellor, which you can proudly display. The school you work at will also be listed on the THE website.
The 2023/4 THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme is valid until 31/12/2024. After that, there is an expectation that accredited counsellors undertake “top up” modules to maintain their accreditation, to ensure they keep abreast of the latest sector trends and developments. Midway through next year, counsellors who are already accredited will be able to build credit for their 2025 accreditation status.
You take your accreditation with you and your new school will be listed on our website. Your previous school will need to accredit another counsellor.
The course can be taken completely online once the new modules are released in Autumn 2023. Occasionally some modules are also offered at THE and BMI in-person events throughout the world, offering an opportunity to network face-to-face with other counsellors from your region.
Yes! THE is developing an innovative resource-sharing platform with four partners:
- UCAS - the UK's admissions service for higher education
- UCL - London’s global university
- Huron University College - Canadian liberal arts university
- Unifrog - the universal student destinations platform.
THE Counsellor (provisional name), anticipated to launch at the start of the 2023/4 school year, will focus on peer-to-peer content-sharing for counsellors by counsellors and enable you to connect with peers around the world where you can share advice, lesson plans and best practice. This will be complemented by a range of resources shared by the partners. More information will be released soon.
Pre-register here to be the first to know once the new modules are released online in Autumn 2023
The following schools have counsellors who have successfully completed the THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme 2023/4: