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Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies

Introductory Summary
Qualification title: Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3).
QCA Accreditation Number: CST-L3 is accredited into the National Qualifications Framework by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA). The QCA's Qualification Accreditation Number for CST-L3 is 100/4905/8.

The QCA Accreditation Number also appears in the Learning & Skills Council's on-line Learning Aims Database (which can be used to ascertain funding eligibility), except there it is called the “Learning Aim Number”.
Target candidates: This qualification is for learners who have already acquired some counselling skills and now want to continue their training. It will not teach learners to be counsellors, but it will prepare them to undertake workplace experience as trainee counsellors.

CST-L3 is intended for candidates who, having already acquired CPCAB's Level 2 Certificate In Counselling Skills (or its equivalent), want to:

  • take the next step in training to become a counsellor;
  • learn more about counselling theory and agency work.
Summary list of units
Unit
 Unit No Unit Title
1 Y/101/5176 The Professional Framework of the Counsellor
2 D/101/5177 The Counselling Relationship
3 H/101/5178 Client Diversity
4 K/101/5179 The Service User-Centred Approach
5 D/101/5180 Personal Awareness in Counselling
6 H/101/5181 Counselling Concepts
7 K/101/5182 Supervision and Self-Reflection

All of the units are based on CPCAB's model of practitioner development and proficiency.

A complete unit specification (including unit learning outcomes, unit-elements and element-criteria) is given in both the CST-L3 Tutor User Guide and the CST-L3 Candidate User Guide.

Qualification Details
External Assessment
CPCAB DVD and Feedback paper under exam conditions. For further information see the CST-L3 Tutor User Guide.
Further information
Status of qualification:
  1. Accredited into the National Qualifications Framework by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA): Accreditation Number 100/4905/8. This allows funding of eligible courses by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC).
  2. Formally supported by the Employment National Training Organisation (ENTO).
  3. CPCAB qualifications attract a Band C Programme Weighting in the LSC's funding formula and are eligible for LSC funding.
Course length: 90 - 150 Guided Learning Hours (GLH): minimum 90 GLH.
Minimum age: 19 years.
Entry requirements: Candidates are required to have undertaken counselling skills training - e.g. CPCAB's Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) or its APL and/or APEL equivalent. A Candidate Entry Validation Form can be found in the downloads section.
Progression: Successful candidates may progress onto CPCAB's Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) – provided that our Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2), or its APL and/or APEL equivalent, is first acquired in addition to CST-L3.
Recommended maximum group size: Maximum of 18 learners with one tutor, or a maximum of 24 learners with two tutors.
Assessment: Candidate Portfolio and externally-assessed written paper.

Candidates must pass both the internal and external assessment to receive the qualification.
Additional study time: Approx. 2 hours per week.
Personal counselling or therapy (for trainee): None required.
Work-place experience (for trainee): None required.
Supervision Requirements: CPCAB requires that candidates experience a minimum of 10 hours of simulated Group Training Supervision during the course. See Appendix 3 of the CST-L3 Tutor User Guide for further information.
Staffing and other resources: Only one tutor-assessor is needed for internal assessment.

Staffing and other resources must reflect the Band C Programme Weighting factor available for this qualification.
Internal moderation and verification: Centres are required to have robust internal moderation and verification processes which are externally verified by CPCAB.
CPCAB candidate registration fee: £105 per candidate.
Centre application for CPCAB approval to offer the qualification: Centre application fee: £79 (one-off fee).

Centres can design their own training programmes (*) or use approved course material (**) written to CPCAB specifications.

* All Centre-designed courses must be submitted to CPCAB for approval before candidates can be registered. Although the delivery of courses may differ from Centre to Centre, all delivery must enable the candidates to achieve the learning outcomes specified in the units.

** Please contact CSCT on 0870 163 6900 or visit www.counsellingtraining.com for further details.
For further details contact: Tel. 01458 850350. Email: admin@cpcab.co.uk