Receiving a BACP CPD audit notification can feel alarming — but the process is far more straightforward than most members expect. This guide explains exactly what happens, what BACP looks for, and how to respond without stress.
How does BACP select members for audit?
BACP selects members for CPD audit on a random basis. Being chosen is not a sign that anything is wrong with your practice or your membership standing — it is simply a quality assurance process that applies to any member. Accredited members and registrants on the BACP Register are most likely to be audited, but all membership categories can be selected.
BACP typically contacts you by email, giving you a deadline — usually four to six weeks — to submit your CPD evidence. You cannot appeal against being selected, but if you have genuine extenuating circumstances (serious illness, bereavement), you can request an extension.
What evidence does BACP ask for?
BACP requires evidence that you have met the CPD requirements for your membership category over the relevant CPD year. For most members, the CPD year runs from 1 January to 31 December, and the requirement is a minimum of 30 hours per year (for accredited members, some of which must be in specific categories such as supervision).
BACP does not prescribe a single format, but your submission should typically include:
- A CPD log or summary — a list of activities, dates, hours, and learning outcomes. This can be a spreadsheet, a Word document, or an export from a digital CPD tool.
- Supporting evidence — certificates of attendance, receipts for courses, notes from conferences, reading lists, or supervision records. You do not need to provide evidence for every single activity, but you should be able to substantiate the key ones.
- Reflective statements — BACP places significant weight on reflection. For each activity, you should be able to explain what you learned and how it has informed or improved your practice. A sentence or two per activity is usually sufficient.
What format is acceptable?
BACP accepts submissions by email (typically PDF or Word attachments) and via their online member portal. There is no mandated template, but the simpler and clearer your submission, the easier it is for the assessor to verify your compliance.
A well-organised CPD log — whether a table or a structured list — with dates, activity names, hours, provider (where applicable), and a brief reflection will meet the standard. Auditors are looking for evidence of genuine engagement with learning, not a polished document.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Logging hours without reflections. BACP specifically asks how your learning has influenced your practice. Activities without any reflection can be queried.
- Submitting a total hours figure with no supporting breakdown. Auditors need to see individual activities, not just a grand total.
- Forgetting supervision hours. Supervision counts towards your CPD total and is a distinct requirement for accredited members. Ensure sessions are logged separately and verifiably.
- Using a CPD year that does not match BACP's. Your own internal tracking may run to a different calendar — double-check that the dates in your submission correspond to the BACP CPD year being audited.
- Leaving it until the last minute. Scrambling to reconstruct a year's worth of learning from calendar entries and email receipts is stressful and risks incomplete records.
How to prepare — before you receive the letter
The best preparation is building a habit of logging activities as you go. Each time you attend a workshop, read a journal article, attend supervision, or complete an online course, record it immediately — date, duration, provider, and a brief note on what you took away. This takes two minutes per activity and makes audit preparation trivial.
Keep certificates and receipts in a single folder (physical or digital). If your supervisor can confirm sessions in writing — even a brief email — keep those too.
How HourlyCPD helps
HourlyCPD is designed to make BACP audit preparation straightforward. You can log each activity with a category, date, hours, and reflection as you go. When an audit notification arrives, you generate an audit-ready PDF export covering your selected CPD year — formatted to include all the information BACP assessors look for. Evidence files (certificates, letters) can be attached to individual entries and are included in the export pack.
Because HourlyCPD tracks your CPD year against BACP's own calendar, you will always know whether you are on track — not just at renewal, but throughout the year.