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Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

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Introductory Summary
Qualification title: Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4).
Ofqual Accreditation Number: TC-L4 is accredited by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) into the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The Ofqual qualification accreditation number for TC-L4 is 100/5034/6.
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.
Summary list of units
Unit
 Unit No Unit Title
1 A/101/4585 Work Ethically and Safely as an Agency Counsellor
2 F/101/4586 Work within a Counselling Relationship
3 J/101/4587 Work with Client Diversity
4 L/101/4588 Work within a User-Centred Agency Approach
5 R/101/4589 Work with Self-Awareness in the Counselling Process
6 J/101/4590 Work within a Framework of Counselling Theory & Skills
7 L/101/4591 Work Self-Reflectively as an Agency Counsellor

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 TC-L4 Tutor User Guide and the TC-L4 Candidate User Guide.

Qualification Details
External Assessment
Audio Tape and Review Paper under exam conditions. For further information see the TC-L4 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 100/5034/6.*
  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: 420 - 690 Guided Learning Hours (GLH): minimum 420 GLH.
Minimum age: 19 years old.

However, please see CPCAB candidate entry requirements in section 5 of the Information Summary.
Entry requirements: Candidates must have acquired both CPCAB's Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) and Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3), or their APL and/or APEL equivalents.

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.
Progression: Successful candidates may progress onto CPCAB's:

Note that to 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.

To access the OU Foundation Degree, candidates need to complete TC-L4 and be working on either PC-L5 or CBT-L5.
Assessment: Candidate Portfolio and externally-assessed audio tape and written paper.
Candidates must pass both the internal and external assessment to receive the qualification.
Additional study time: Approx 6 - 8 hours per week - to include (for example) assignments, supervision, client work experience and personal therapy.
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.
Client work requirements: A minimum of 100 hours formally-contracted counselling with at least 5 different clients in an agency setting.
Supervision Requirements: Candidates require clinical supervision for their agency client work. 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 Information Summary for tutor 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:
  • Year 1 - £199 per candidate
  • Year 2 - £199 per candidate
Centre application for CPCAB approval to offer the qualification: Centre application fee: £199 (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