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Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies

Download a PDF at a glance guide to our Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies

Introductory Summary
Qualification title: Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3).
Ofqual Accreditation Number: CST-L3 is accredited by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) into the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The Ofqual qualification accreditation number for CST-L3 is 100/4905/8.
Target candidates:

This qualification is intended for candidates who want to:

  • take the next step in training to become a counsellor (having already acquired counselling skills);
  • 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 Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual): accreditation number 100/4905/8.*
  2. Formally supported by Skills for Health (the Sector Skills Council for the UK health sector).
  3. Attracts a Band C Programme Weighting in the LSC’s funding formula and is eligible for LSC funding.

*The Ofqual accreditation number also appears in the LSC’s on-line Learning Aims Database (which can be used to ascertain funding eligibility), except there it is called the ‘Learning Aim Number’.

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 - i.e. CPCAB's Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) or its APL and/or APEL equivalent. Also see candidate entry requirements in section 5 of the Information Summary.
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.
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.

See section 4 of the Information Summary for details of tutor-assessor qualifications and experience.

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: £116 per candidate.
Centre application for CPCAB approval to offer the qualification: Centre application fee: £149 (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.

* 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