The CBP is a Grief Australia certification for people who support bereaved clients. There is no written exam. You apply online and an assessment panel reviews your application. This page lists the confirmed fees, processing time and renewal rules. It also links to free practice sets on grief theory, crisis support, ethics, cultural care and counselling techniques, so you can check your knowledge before you apply.

CBP Exam at a Glance

What changed for CBP in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to Online application reviewed by an assessment panel (no written exam) (previously Online application reviewed by a panel (no written exam)).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Score release changed to 4–6 weeks (previously About 4–6 weeks).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Exam fee changed to A$230 non-member / A$150 ACGB member (previously A$230 non-member / A$150 ACGB member (non-refundable)).^[1]

What the CBP is and how it works

According to Grief Australia, “An application for certification is undertaken completely online and therefore an application can be made at any time.”^[1]

The Certified Bereavement Practitioner (CBP) credential is awarded by Grief Australia through its ACGB certification program. Unlike many credentials, it has no written exam. You complete the whole application online, and an assessment panel decides whether it meets the requirements. Because the process is online, you can apply at any time, and applications are accepted year-round.

Fees. The application fee is non-refundable. It is A$230 for non-members and A$150 for ACGB members.

Decision time. On average, processing takes around 4–6 weeks from the closing date. It can take longer if your application lacks detail or is incomplete, so send a thorough, well-documented application to avoid delays.

If you are unsuccessful. You can reapply once you meet the requirements the panel specifies, or you can appeal the decision through the panel's appeals process.

Keeping the credential. Certification is valid for 2 years. Renewals are payable on the anniversary of your initial award.

Grief Australia sets the eligibility requirements and decides which documents you must supply. They are not repeated here because they can change. Before you start, read the Certification Information page on grief.org.au, which is the official source.

Worked examples: how to reason through CBP questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: In Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model, what is the first stage?

1. Plan and conduct a thorough biopsychosocial and lethality assessment
2. Establish rapport and rapidly build the relationship
3. Develop and formulate an action plan
4. Identify major problems

Answer: A. Plan and conduct a thorough biopsychosocial and lethality assessment

Explanation:

A is correct. Roberts' model opens with a biopsychosocial and lethality assessment. The practitioner must know whether the person is at immediate risk of harm before doing anything else.

• B, establishing rapport, is the next stage. Rapport often starts during the assessment, but the model puts assessment first.
• D, identifying major problems, comes after rapport is in place.
• C, developing an action plan, comes later still, after problems, feelings and alternatives have been explored.

Rule to remember: in crisis work, safety and lethality come before building the relationship and solving problems. When a question asks what a crisis worker does first, look for the option about assessing risk.

Example 2

Question: Which approach is most appropriate when a counselor recognizes strong personal reactions to a client's loss that resemble the counselor's own past bereavement?

1. Disclose the full story of their own loss to bond
2. Ignore the reactions to stay objective
3. Seek supervision to address countertransference
4. Terminate the counseling relationship immediately

Answer: C. Seek supervision to address countertransference

Explanation:

C is correct. Strong reactions tied to the counsellor's own loss are a form of countertransference. Supervision is the standard place to examine them, so they do not shape decisions about the client.

• A puts the counsellor's story at the centre. Long self-disclosure takes the focus off the client and can burden them.
• B fails because ignoring feelings does not remove them. Unexamined reactions tend to leak into the work.
• D is an overreaction. Noticing countertransference is not, on its own, a reason to end the relationship, and ending it suddenly can feel like another loss to a grieving client.

Rule to remember: when your own grief is stirred, take it to supervision and keep sessions focused on the client. Refer the client on only if supervision shows you cannot work with them effectively.

Example 3

Question: What is the first step in psychological first aid (PFA)?

1. Refer to psychiatric care
2. Ensure safety and provide comfort
3. Analyze trauma history
4. Prescribe medication

Answer: B. Ensure safety and provide comfort

Explanation:

B is correct. Psychological first aid begins by making people safe and comfortable. That means moving them away from danger, meeting basic needs such as water or warmth, and being a calm, reassuring presence. Little else works until people feel safe.

• A is wrong because PFA does not start with referral. Specialist referral comes later, and only for people who need it.
• C is wrong because PFA deliberately avoids probing trauma histories. Pushing for detailed accounts can increase distress.
• D is outside the role. Helpers from many backgrounds deliver PFA, and it does not involve prescribing.

Rule to remember: PFA is practical support that does not intrude. It starts with safety and comfort, then moves to needs, information and connection.

How to use these practice tests

The CBP is assessed on your application, not on a test. Use the practice sets to sharpen the knowledge your application has to show, not to rehearse an exam.

1. Read the official requirements first. Open the Certification Information page on grief.org.au. List each requirement and the evidence you will need for it. Incomplete applications take longer to process.
2. Check your theory. Start with Theories of Grief and Loss and Complicated Grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder. Note any model you cannot explain in your own words.
3. Review practice skills. Work through Assessment Methods, Grief Counseling Techniques, Treatment Planning and Crisis Intervention.
4. Cover ethics and diversity. Use Ethics and Boundaries, Cultural Competency and Child and Adolescent Bereavement.
5. Link knowledge to your own work. For each weak area, write a short note on how you handle it in practice. These notes can help you describe your work clearly in the application.

Sources & last verified

1. Grief Australia — exam fee, retake policy, validity, delivery (official source). “The non-refundable application fees are listed below: CBP Application Fees ACGB Member Applicant $150 AUD Non-Member Applicant Applicant $230 AUD” Verified Oct 27, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.