Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Qualification Document
- Downloadable Documents
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Qualification information |
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| Qualification Number | TC-L4 is accredited by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) into the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The qualification number for TC-L4 is 500/8088/X. | |
| Qualification structure | 7 mandatory units: Working ethically, safely and professionally as a counsellor (R/600/9346) Working within a counselling relationship (T/600/9355) Working with client diversity in counselling work (J/600/9358) Working within a user-centred approach to counselling (F/600/9472) Working with self-awareness in the counselling process (H/600/9478) Working within a coherent framework of counselling theory and skills (K/600/9482) Working self-reflectively as a counsellor (F/600/9486) |
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| Target candidates | This qualification is intended for candidates who want to train to become a counsellor working in a counselling service agency. Successful completion of this course means that the trainees will be able to provide a therapeutic counselling service within the context of an agency's service framework. | |
| Level | 4 | |
| Guided learning hours | 420 (minimum) | |
| Credit value | 120 | |
| Minimum age | 19 years.1 However, please see CPCAB candidate entry requirements in section 5 of the Qualification Document. | |
| Entry requirements | Candidates must have acquired both CPCAB’s Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) and CPCAB’s Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3), or their RPL (prior learning) equivalent. See also CPCAB candidate entry requirements in section 5 of the Qualification Document and RPL guidance on the tutor CD. Tutors can allow progression onto the first year of TC-L4 to candidates who have not yet completed their assessment for CST-L3. However, such candidates must successfully complete the assessment prior to entry into the 2nd year of TC-L4. |
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| Progression | Successful candidates may progress onto CPCAB’s:
See section 6 of the Qualification Document for details. |
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| Assessment | Tutor assessment of candidate portfolio evidencing minimum assessment requirements. |
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| Additional assessment requirements | Externally assessed audio recording of counselling session with a peer, plus an associated written paper taken under exam conditions4 | |
| Grading system | Pass | |
| Personal counselling or therapy (for trainee) | Minimum of 10 hours personal therapy during the life of the course (to accommodate a range of theoretical approaches), but centre requirements must be consistent with the counselling model being offered - in practice this is usually more than 10 hours. | |
| Work-place experience (for trainee) | A minimum of 100 hours formally-contracted counselling (one-to-one) with at least 5 different clients in an agency setting. | |
| Supervision requirements | Candidates require clinical supervision for their agency client work.5 In addition, candidates require 30-50 hours group training supervision as part of the course. | |
| 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. |
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| Internal Moderation and Verification | Centres are required to have robust internal moderation and verification processes that are verified by CPCAB. | |
| Candidate Registration Fee | £249 Year 1 £249 Year 2 |
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| Centre application for CPCAB approval to offer the qualification | Centre application fee: £249 (one-off fee). Centres can design their own training programmes6 or use approved course material written to CPCAB specifications.7 |
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1This age requirement is linked to Ofqual’s system for categorising qualifications.
2To progress directly from TC-L4 to TCSU-L6, candidates require at least two years (part-time) of additional, post-TC-L4 (or equivalent) qualifying experience.
3To access the OU Foundation Degree, candidates need to complete TC-L4 and be working on either PC-L5 or CBT-L5.
4Candidates must be Proficient in both internal and external assessment to achieve the qualification.
5CPCAB recommends that the candidate’s agency provides appropriate clinical supervision to meet BACP supervision guidelines for trainees – currently a minimum of 1.5 hours individual supervision per month (or the equivalent if in group supervision) or 1 hour of supervision for every 8 hours of client work.
6All 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.
7Please contact CSCT on 0121 321 1396 or visit www.counsellingtraining.com for further details.
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