Your steps to becoming a counsellor

Choosing the best route into counselling is a vital decision – a proper training takes time and costs money. To help you make the right choice first time, we've put together a step-by-step guide. Take your first step by clicking on the button to the right.

The benefits of counselling studies training

We have created a slideshow presentation (in Powerpoint format) about counselling studies and the associated CPCAB qualification. It includes three short videos and aims to help prospective students:

• Discover what our counselling studies qualification prepares you for.
• Get a sense of what happens on a counselling studies course and understand its main purpose.
• Find out the benefits of this training.
• Learn more about the qualification.

Download the slideshow here and click 'save' or 'save as' when prompted.

Also see our slideshow on the benefits of counselling skills training.

If you don't have Powerpoint you can download a free Powerpoint viewer.

Open University delivers first graduates of the Foundation Degree in Counselling

The value of the counselling profession to improve well-being and quality of life is increasingly recognised in society - and the the OU has just delivered the first graduates of its Foundation Degree in Counselling.

"As a counsellor this course has complemented what I do by enabling me to gain a better understanding in my current role from another perspective. The FD has enhanced my (dare I say it) 'credibility' in my work," said Shereen Glean, who graduated this year and works as a high school counsellor.

Read more about this news

What our students say about CPCAB

CPCAB's research-informed model

The structure and content of CPCAB qualifications are based on a model of practitioner development and proficiency. The model has been developed through a process of educational design research over a twenty year period with respect to thousands of courses at hundreds of training centres.

• Read our Introduction to the contemporary research that informs the CPCAB model of practitioner development and proficiency
• Read our overview of the CPCAB model
• Read CPCAB's Service Levels Framework and Counselling Care Continuum
• View a pyramid diagram showing how our research-informed qualifications are designed to lead to evidence-based practice

Foundation Degree in Counselling

CPCAB, in partnership with the Open University, has developed a Foundation Degree in Counselling. The degree combines CPCAB’s expertise and specialist knowledge of the field with the Open University’s expertise and experience in delivering flexible learning.

The Foundation Degree requires candidates to complete 240 credits in total. This is made up of 150 credits derived from CPCAB work-based qualifications delivered in Further Education Colleges or in private training centres:

• CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling plus
• CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling or
• CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills and Theory

and 90 credit points from Open University knowledge-based modules.

The entry requirements for the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma are:

• CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) or its equivalent plus
• CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3) or its equivalent.

In addition to these academic qualifications applicants for the diploma will need to demonstrate some knowledge of counselling agencies, growing self awareness and ability to skilfully form a helping relationship. See the TC-L4 Qualification Document for full guidance to entry.

It is important to note that progression on to the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma is not an automatic process and is dependent upon a successful interview with the training provider.

The 90 credits from the OU knowledge-based modules are gained from:

• The mandatory module D240 Counselling: exploring fear and sadness (30 credits) and
• The additional 60 credits which must be taken from a combination of the following OU psychology or mental health options:

  DSE 212 Exploring psychology (60 credits)
  ED 209 Child development (60 credits)
  K225 Diverse perspectives on mental health (30 credits)
  K272 Challenging ideas in mental health (30 credits)
  K260 Death and dying (30 credits)
  SDK228 The science of the mind: investigating mental health (30 credits)

The workbased and the knowledge based components can be taken in any order to suit the convenience of the candidate. In other words candidates may do all or some OU modules before the CPCAB qualifications or the other way around.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read CPCAB's answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Foundation Degree.

Further Information

For further information about the Foundation Degree in Counselling please visit www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01G14

To keep up-to-date with new information about the Foundation Degree in Counselling please send an email to clare@cpcab.co.uk.