Individual Membership
Membership Applications - Date of Next Meeting
Membership applications are considered four times per year - the application submission deadline for the next meeting is noon on Wednesday 1st April 2026.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 22nd April 2026. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within 3 weeks of the meeting, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Submitting Membership Applications
Before submitting your application for individual membership with COSCA, please ensure that you meet all membership requirements.
It is your responsibility to submit a fully completed application, including all required supporting documentation to christina@cosca.org.uk by the stated submission deadline date. COSCA will not normally contact applicants to request missing documents or additional information post submission.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Your application must clearly demonstrate that you meet all membership criteria.
Completed applications must be submitted in pdf format using Adobe Reader or by post.
Application Withdrawal and Administration Fee
If you choose to withdraw your application, whether due to incompleteness or for any other reason - an administration fee of £20 will be deducted from any refund due.
If COSCA is unable to accept your application because it is incomplete, the same £20 administration fee will be deducted from any refund issued.
Please note the following:
· COSCA holds quarterly meetings to approve membership applications. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within 3 weeks of the meeting, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
· Only fully completed applications will be considered by the COSCA Corporate Affairs Group.
· Payment must be made in full at time of application submission.
· Following the award of COSCA membership, no membership fees will be refunded.
Membership Information Leaflet
An information leaflet on the COSCA membership categories and the criteria for each.
Please check this leaflet to see which category of membership you should be applying for.
Individual Membership Terms, Conditions and Information Document
This is a generic document giving the terms, conditions and information for individual membership of COSCA. Discrete terms, conditions and information document is issued for each category of individual membership.
Individual Subscribership Application form. Any person or organisation wishing to keep in touch with news and developments within the field of counselling/psychotherapy, the use of counselling skills and counselling supervision, may become a subscriber. Subscribers are not members of COSCA but are encouraged to abide by COSCA’s Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice.
Retired membership application form.
This category is open to:
· existing members of COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) who will be retiring from the practice of counselling or psychotherapy and who reside in Scotland
· those whose membership of COSCA has lapsed within the last three years, who are not currently in practice and who do not intend to practise in the near future.
Student Membership Application form.
This category is open to students on counselling/psychotherapy courses.
COSCA Counselling Skills Member
This category of membership is for those who have successfully completed the COSCA Counselling Skills Certificate Course (or equivalent).
Associate Membership Application form. This application form is for those involved in the delivery of COSCA Validated counselling skills/specialist courses.
Counsellor Member (Organisations)
Counsellor Members (Organisations) application form. This category of membership entitles you to practise as a counsellor/psychotherapist in organisations that are members of COSCA. It does not entitle you to practise independently as a counsellor.
Application form for Counsellor Membership of COSCA. Applicants should have completed a Diploma or equivalent, please see the Members Information leaflet for further information.
Application form for Practitioner Membership of COSCA. Applicants require to have two years post the successful completion of core training in counselling/psychotherapy.
Accredited (BACP) Counsellor/Psychotherapist
Accredited (BACP) Counsellor/Psychotherapist Member of COSCA Application form for use by BACP Accredited Counsellors to join COSCA at this category of membership.
Change from Accredited (UK Professional Body) to COSCA Accredited Counsellor
This membership category is to change from Accredited (BACP) Counsellor/Psychotherapist member of COSCA to COSCA Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist.
Accredited (Other UK Professional Body) Counsellor/Psychotherapist Member of COSCA
Application form for Accredited (Other UK Professional Body) Counsellor/Psychotherapist member of COSCA.
Application for Return to Membership after Lapsation
Application for Return to Membership after Lapsation. You can complete this application within 6 months of your expired renewal date.
Career Break from Practice Application Form
COSCA Associate, Counsellor, Counsellor (Organisations) or Practitioner Members may apply for a career break from practice of up to one year. This form should be completed and submitted to COSCA.
Application to Return to Practice After a Career Break
Application for return to practice after a career break.
Qualification Map: Training Provider Application Form
This proforma should be completed by Training Providers who wish to apply to have their counselling training/qualifications mapped by COSCA for the purpose of individual membership applications.
