How to register with Bupa and AXA as a therapist
Insurer referrals can fill a caseload, but the entry criteria are strict and the paperwork is different from private work. Here is what Bupa and AXA Health ask for, and what to weigh up before you apply.
By the NoteSono team · Last reviewed · 3 sources checked
The short answer
To join Bupa's mental health network as a counsellor or psychotherapist you need accreditation with BACP, UKCP or NCPS, at least 3 years' full-time (or 5 years' part-time) experience after qualifying, an enhanced DBS check from the last 3 years, indemnity insurance and a supervisor reference. You apply online and Bupa aims to reply within 5 working days.
AXA Health recognises practitioners against its own criteria, pays at its own fee schedule, and asks for invoices electronically, preferably through Healthcode.
Bupa: who can join
Bupa publishes its criteria for its mental health and wellbeing network on its website.
| Requirement | Counsellors and psychotherapists | Psychologists |
|---|---|---|
| Professional body | Accreditation with BACP, UKCP or NCPS. CBT: BABCP. Family therapy: AFT and UKCP | HCPC registration |
| Experience after qualifying | 3 years full-time, or 5 years part-time (at least 2 days a week) | 1 year full-time, or 3 years part-time |
| DBS | Enhanced, with barred list check, within the last 3 years | Same |
| Insurance | Indemnity at the level your professional body advises | Same |
| Supervision | Follow your body's supervision guidelines and give a supervisor reference | Same |
| Conduct | A clean record | Same |
Registered or accredited?
How Bupa pays
- You invoice Bupa online, and Bupa pays by BACS.
- Bupa tells therapists: "Do not send invoices to customers."
- Sessions you provide before your confirmation email will not be funded.
AXA Health: recognition, fees and invoicing
AXA Health's published terms of recognition cover psychotherapists and psychologists. We could not confirm that AXA recognises counsellors as a separate group, so if you are a counsellor rather than a psychotherapist, ask AXA's provider team before applying. The terms say recognition is not "a right, based purely on qualifications and experience". The terms we could find date from around 2020 to 2021, so check AXA's provider site for the current version. They set out:
- full registration with the relevant regulatory or professional bodies, and professional indemnity insurance
- fees according to AXA's Schedule of Procedures and Fees, with overcharges repayable
- electronic invoicing, preferably through Healthcode
- payment monthly, with a remittance advice
- no extra charges to members, apart from an excess, a shortfall in their cover, or a permitted cancellation charge
Aviva, Vitality, WPA and employee assistance programmes
We could not find published recognition criteria from Aviva, Vitality or WPA on their own websites when we checked. Their requirements are usually similar to Bupa's: accreditation, post-qualification experience, DBS and insurance. Contact each insurer's provider team directly.
Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) recruit associates separately and pay a fixed rate per session, usually below private rates. Their criteria and rates are rarely published.
Healthcode and invoicing insurers
Healthcode is the electronic billing system many UK insurers use. AXA prefers invoices through it. You register with Healthcode, then submit each invoice with the member's policy number and authorisation code.
For each insured client, keep a record of the insurer, membership number, authorisation code, number of sessions authorised, and the date authorisation expires. Running over your authorised sessions is one of the most common reasons insurer invoices are rejected.
Is joining an insurer network worth it?
| For | Against |
|---|---|
| A steady source of referrals, without marketing | The insurer sets your fee, and it may be below your private rate |
| Clients who might not otherwise afford private therapy | Sessions are authorised in blocks, which can cut work short |
| Reliable payment from one payer | More admin: authorisations, coded invoices, reports |
| Credibility from being on a recognised list | Strict entry criteria rule out newly qualified therapists |
A sensible approach is to keep insurer and EAP clients to a set share of your caseload, so that a change in referral volume or fee does not upset your whole practice. See our guide on how much to charge for working out what a lower insurer rate does to your income.
Common questions
How do I become a Bupa approved therapist?
Check you meet Bupa's criteria (accreditation with BACP, UKCP or NCPS for counselling and psychotherapy, 3 years' full-time or 5 years' part-time experience, an enhanced DBS from the last 3 years, insurance and a supervisor reference), accept its terms, and apply through its online portal.
Can a newly qualified counsellor join Bupa?
Not usually. Bupa asks counsellors and psychotherapists for at least 3 years' full-time or 5 years' part-time experience after qualifying.
Does AXA Health use Healthcode?
AXA's terms of recognition ask for electronic invoicing, preferably through Healthcode.
How much do insurers pay therapists per session?
Insurers set their own fee schedules and do not generally publish them. Expect a fixed rate that may be lower than your private fee. Ask the insurer for its current schedule before you apply.
Can I charge an insured client the difference?
Generally not. AXA's terms limit extra charges to an excess, a benefit shortfall or a permitted cancellation fee, and Bupa tells therapists not to invoice its customers. Check your terms with each insurer.
Sources
Checked on 19 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on a figure.
- Bupa: mental health and wellbeing network for therapists — criteria, application and invoicing
- AXA Health terms of recognition for psychotherapists and psychologists — c. 2020 to 2021; may be updated
- Healthcode
Insurer criteria change. We have described what the insurers publish as of the date above. Always check the insurer's current terms before applying or invoicing.