CPCAB logo
You are here: Home > Assessment > Internal Assessment > IA Methods

Internal Assessment Methods

In order for a tutor to carry out an assessment, trainees need to complete a portfolio of their coursework (i.e. collect evidence of their learning) and complete a Candidate Learning Record (CLR) which references such evidence for each criterion of the qualification concerned. The CLR is normally placed in the front of the portfolio. 

The User Guides for both tutors and candidates include a CLR, which contains complete unit specifications – units, elements and criteria – for the qualification concerned. 

In the CLR, alongside each of the qualification criteria there are brief notes to help trainees understand these, together with pointers on how s/he can best practise the learning tasks (unit criteria) and record their learning in their portfolio. In the Tutor User Guides we have also included guidance on assessing whether or not your trainees have completed the learning tasks. In the Candidate User Guides, in the blank spaces provided (in the CLR) for this purpose, candidates can enter cross-references to their portfolio of course work, when they feel that a particular criterion has been met. 

The following table provides a summary of required internal assessment methods – in relation to the CLR – for each CPCAB qualification:

Summary Internal Assessment Requirements
Qualification Each criterion must identify a minimum of: The CLR must reference all 3 types of portfolio course-work: The CLR as a whole must additionally reference a minimum of:
ICSK-L2 1 portfolio reference Within the CLR as a whole
  • The Learning Review . This is an on going review of learning during the course (also called a “learning journal”).
  • 1 written tutor assessment of a tutor-observed* initial counselling skills practice session.
    • Tutor-observed counselling skills practice sessions (ICSK-L2, CSK-L2 and CSK-L3) and tutor-observed counselling practice sessions (CST-L3, TC-L4 and PC-L5) can form a part of the course and do not need to be formal assessments.
  • Peer/helpee feedback
CSK-L2 2 portfolio references Within the CLR as a whole
  • The Learning Review
  • 1 Self-Review – i.e. self-evaluation of learning, goals, progress, learning needs and completion of the learning tasks (unit criteria).
  • 2 tutor-observed counselling skills practice sessions (1 via audio or video tape)
  • 1 written assignment (assignments are designed to assess understanding of, for example, theory and/or the professional framework).
  • Peer feedback
CSK-L3 2 portfolio references Within the CLR as a whole
  • The Learning Review
  • 1 Self-Review
  • Record of work with four helpees (one can be a learning group member)
  • 1 review of 10-minute tape transcript
  • 1 work-based manager’s or supervisor’s report
  • 1 counselling skills case presentation and written report (this may include the 10 min. tape review)
  • 1 Tutor-observed counselling skills practice sessions.
  • Peer feedback
CST-L3 2 portfolio references Within the CLR as a whole
  • The Learning Review
  • 1 Self-Review
  • 1 tutor-observed counselling practice session
  • 1 practice case presentation. For example, trainee presents (within group training supervision session) material from a counselling practice session.
  • 1 assignment
  • Peer feedback
CSU-L4 2 portfolio references Within each unit
  • The Learning Review
  • 1 Self-Review
  • 1 Tutor Observed Skills Assessment
  • 1 Assignment
  • 1 Case presentation. This can be linked to the structured Case Review sent to CPCAB for External Assessment.
  • A Supervisee record (15 hours)
  • Supervisory Supervision Record (5 hours)
  • 1 work-based manager’s report and 1 supervisor’s report
  • Peer feedback
TC-L4 2 portfolio references Within each unit
  • The Learning Review
  • 2 Self-Reviews
  • 4 tutor-observed counselling practice sessions (this includes the external assessment audio tape) - 2 via audio and/or video tapes.
  • 2 assignments
  • A client record (100 hours with 5 different clients)
  • 2 case studies
  • 2 case presentations. The case study and case presentation may be linked.
  • Supervision record
  • 1 supervisor report
  • 1 agency report and/or feedback
  • A personal counselling record (10+ hours min)
  • Peer feedback
PC-L5 2 portfolio references Within each unit
  • The Learning Review
  • 1 Self-Review
  • 1 Tutor-observed counselling practice session: 30 min. session (audio/video taped for trainee review).
  • 1 Case presentation. Trainee presents material from counselling practice session.
  • 1 Assignment
  • A client record (60 hours)
  • Supervision record – 10 hours minimum. CPCAB recommends that the candidate’s agency provides appropriate clinical supervision to meet BACP supervision guidelines for trainees – currently a min. of 11⁄2 hours individual supervision per month (or the equivalent if the trainee is in group supervision), or else 1 hour of supervision for every 8 hours of client work.
  • Review of 15-min. transcript of clinical work - can be part of tutor-observed skills assessment (these two pieces of work are linked)
  • 1 Supervisor report
  • Peer feedback
TCSU-L6 2 portfolio references Within each unit
  • The Learning Review
  • 1 Self-Review
  • 1 tutor-observed supervision practice session
  • 1 assignment
  • A Supervisee record (15 hours)
  • A Supervisory Supervision Record (5 hours)
  • 1 case presentation
  • 1 Supervisor’s report
  • Peer feedback