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Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling

Download a PDF at a glance guide to our Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling

Qualification information
Ofqual Accreditation Number: PC-L5 is accredited by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) into the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The qualification number for PC-L5 is 500/8386/7.
Qualification structure: 1 mandatory unit:
H/600/9058 Counselling in independent practice
Target candidates:

This qualification is intended for candidates who have acquired the CPCAB
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling or its RPL (prior learning) equivalent
and wish to continue to develop their understanding and skills in order to:

  • establish and maintain an appropriate framework for independent practice;
  • practice as a senior counsellor within an agency;
  • develop their proficiency to work with clients at CPCAB Service Level B21;
  • deepen their ability to work with the counselling relationship;
  • develop their proficiency in one particular counselling approach;
  • facilitate understanding of working in health settings;
  • carry out client assessments (including identifying and referring clients with
    severe and complex mental health problems).
Level 5
Guided learning hours 120 (minimum)
Credit value 46
Minimum age 19 years2
Entry requirements

Candidates must have obtained the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic
Counselling (TC-L4) or its RPL equivalent (minimum 420 Guided Learning
Hours), in addition to appropriate pre-TC-L4 (or equivalent) training.

Also see candidate entry requirements in section 5 of the Qualification Document.

Progression

Successful candidates may progress onto:

See section 6 of the Qualification Document for details.

Assessment

Tutor assessment of candidate portfolio evidencing minimum assessment
requirements.

Additional assessment requirements Externally assessed case review (3,000 –3,500 words).4
Grading system Pass
Personal counselling or therapy (for trainee) Candidates need to have completed a minimum of 40 hours of personal counselling by the end of the course. This can include hours undertaken prior to the start of the course but at least 10 hours of personal therapy must be undertaken during the training year itself.
Client work requirements A minimum of 60 hours formally-contracted counselling (one-to-one) including client assessment.
Supervision requirements Supervision – in the form of either group or one-to-one supervision – to meet BACP minimum requirements.
Staffing and other resources

At least two tutor-assessors must be involved in all aspects of internal candidate assessment.

See section 4 of the Qualification Document for details of required tutor-assessor qualifications and experience.

Internal Moderation and Verification Centres are required to have robust internal moderation and verification processes that are verified by CPCAB.
Candidate Registration Fee £209
Centre application for CPCAB approval to offer the qualification

Centre application fee: £219 (one-off fee).

Centres are expected to design their own training programmes.5

1Working with common mental health problems at this implicit level often involves the exploration and working through of ‘no-go’ areas. These are areas of personality, personal history and interpersonal relationships that are very uncomfortable for the client and have tended to be psychologically separated off and ‘left untouched’. See the PC-L5 Tutor Guide for a description of these (and other) service levels.

2This age requirement is linked to Ofqual’s system for categorising qualifications.

3To access the OU Foundation Degree, candidates need to have completed our Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) and be working on either PC-L5 or our Level 5 Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills and Theory (CBT-L5).

4Candidates must be Proficient in both internal and external assessment to receive the qualification.

5All 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 unit.