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Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3)

Description

This qualification is for learners who have acquired a recognised qualification in counselling skills and want to take the next step in their counselling training.  The course is pre-practitioner training, building on the counselling theory, ethics and mental health topics covered at Level 2, to prepare candidates to work as a professional counsellor in an agency setting.  â€‹This course runs fortnightly during the academic school year from September to July.  Assessment is via written course work and tutor observation.

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This qualification will enable successful candidates to work as skilled support workers within a range of job and career opportunities.  These include but are not limited to different types of support and care workers, child-line administrators, contact centre staff, healthcare professionals, and in public services, including probation, substance misuse agencies and the criminal justice sector.

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CPCAB counselling qualifications are formally recognised by the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), the UK’s leading counselling ethical body.  The 90 formal learning hours you earn on this course count towards the 450 minimum hours of core training required for BACP membership.  Membership to the BACP (or equivalent body) is necessary if you wish to become a counselling practitioner, including working privately or for organisations such as the NHS.

 

​This is an Ofqual Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) qualification number 600/5104/8, full details available here.

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Entry Requirements

Successful completion of the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2), or equivalent training, is required to start this Level 3 course.  In this context, 'equivalent training' means completing a face-to-face or remote 'synchronous' counselling course (online, via Zoom for example) with a training group and tutor at Level 2 with at least 75 Guided Learning Hours (GLH).  These hours must total 75 or more 'contact' hours with the tutor-led training group.  If you have completed a distance learning course (self-directed and alone), then unfortunately this does not meet the requirement.

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The minimum age for this course is 19 (age requirement is linked to Ofqual’s system for categorising qualifications).

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Cost & Requirements

£800 (options to pay in full or by deposit and monthly interest-free instalments - small admin fee applies). 

CPCAB candidate registration fee (currently £189).

 

Course Dates

This course is fortnightly and runs from September to July following the academic calendar in terms of half terms, Easter & Christmas.

 

Next available course dates: ​​​​

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Cohort 1 (Online delivery)

Tuesday 2nd September 2025, 4 pm to 9 pm (breaks provided).

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Cohort 2 (In-person)

Tuesday 9th September , 2025, 4 pm to 9 pm (breaks provided).

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Training Venues

Our courses are delivered online via Zoom and in-person at Cranfield Park Rd, Wickford, Essex SS12 9EP.

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Guided Learning Hours & Course Credits

This course is 90 hours and has a total of 20 credits.

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Get in touch to register your interest, we will send you an application information pack.

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