How to apply for an ECP

There are two possible ways to apply for an ECP, one way is the Direct Award (DA) through one of the European Accredited Psychotherapy Training Institutes (EAPTIs), and the other way is to apply to an EAP National Awarding Organization (NAO).

More detailed information on applications | 3 step application checklist

1. Direct award (DA):

Psychotherapists who graduate from an EAP accredited psychotherapy training program with a European Accredited Training Institute (EAPTI) are entitled to apply directly for an ECP after graduation. All EAPTIs are subject to a rigorous quality assurance process by the EAP Training Accreditation Committee (TAC) and before acceptance, have to verify that their students graduate at the ECP standard from their training program. Graduation from an EAPTI psychotherapy training program is therefore accepted as a qualification for ECP applications.

Documents for direct award application:

ECP Direct Award Procedure (pdf 104,5 KB)
ECP Direct Award Application Form (2023) (MS word, 301 KB)
ECP Direct Award Cover Sheet (MS Word, 33,5 KB)
ECP Direct Award CV (MS Word, 31,0 KB)

2. Grandparenting through NAO and EWAO:

For qualified psychotherapists who have completed a psychotherapy training(s) (or equivalent) that conforms to the ECP standard and who, after graduation, have practiced psychotherapy for a minimum of three years. ECP applications through grandparenting can only be made through a National Awarding Organisation (NAO), normally in the applicant’s country of residence. This application process is suitable for psychotherapists who are qualified in one of the modalities recognised by the EAP and represented in EAP by an European Wide Awarding Organization (EWAO). Grandparenting applications require acceptance from both the appropriate NAO and EWAO before an ECP can be awarded.

2.1. Grandparenting through NAO and the EAP Grandparenting Advisory Panel (GAP):

For qualified psychotherapists who have completed a psychotherapy training(s) (or equivalent) that conforms to the ECP standard in one of the modalities recognized by the EAP for which there no EWAO is established in EAP. These applications are also administered and presented by the appropriate NAO. The GAP meets two times per year and is responsible for reviewing applications for modalities that are not represented by EWAOs. The GAP is also responsible for reviewing applications that are subject to an appeal.

Documents | ECP Application Forms by grandparenting:

ECP application – CV form grandparenting (GAP-EWAO) (MS Word, 30,0 KB)
ECP Notification Form – ECP award by grandparenting (MS Word, 33,5 KB)
ECP Registration form (PRF) – grandparenting (MS Word, 228,5 KB)

ECP document –

Important Information for ECP (European Certificate of Psychotherapy) Application

ECP Official document. Version 7.0. voted AGM Vienna February 2017
ECP Document 7.0. (pdf, 165,6 KB)