Home - Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body
You are here: Home > Qualifications > Current Qualifications > Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse

Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse. Click to download an at a glance summary

Introductory Summary
Qualification title: Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse (USM-L2).
Ofqual Accreditation Number: USM-L2 is accredited by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) into the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The Ofqual qualification accreditation number for USM-L2 is 500/4684/6.
Target candidates:

This qualification is intended for candidates who wish to develop their knowledge of substance misuse in order to:

  • raise awareness of substance misuse and its consequences;
  • improve the knowledge, awareness, understanding and effectiveness of those:
    • currently working in the field of substance misuse;
    • supporting people involved in substance misuse;
    • working to prevent substance misuse.

Qualification Details
Further information
Status of qualification:
  1. 1Accredited into the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) by the Office of the Qualifications & Examination Regulator (Ofqual): accreditation number 500/4684/6*.
  2. Has been developed in relation to Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS).
  3. Formally supported by Skills for Health (the Sector Skills Council for the UK health sector).
  4. This qualification attracts a Band B 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: 30 Guided Learning Hours.
Minimum age: 16 years.
Entry requirements: No previous training or experience is required.
Progression: USM-L2 is a stand-alone qualification. However, progression is available to Level 2 or Level 3 National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in Health & Social Care (H&SC), and/or level 2 counselling skills qualifications and/or level 3 substance misuse qualifications.
Assessment: Internally assessed and moderated candidate portfolio, plus independent (CPCAB) verification of that assessment.
Additional study time: 30 hours over the life of the course.
Credit value: 6 credits (30 GLH + 30 hours additional study)
Staffing and other resources: Only one tutor-assessor is needed for the internal assessment of candidates.
Internal moderation and verification: Centres are required to have robust internal moderation and verification processes which are independently verified by CPCAB.
CPCAB candidate registration fee: £38 per candidate.
Centre application for CPCAB approval to offer the qualification: Centre application fee: £89 (one-off fee).

Centres can design their own training programmes (*) 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.
For further details contact: Tel. 01458 850350. Email: admin@cpcab.co.uk