Please note that CPCAB removed the exam (external assessment) component from its qualifications on the 1st September 2024. Candidates registering on courses aft...
FAQ - Qualifications
CPCAB’s progression route qualifications are regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales in Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland. This means that the des...
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) are the number of delivery hours your awarding organisation has assigned to the qualification. This is the minimum number of hours o...
UCAS tariff points apply to Level 3 qualifications regulated by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA. Therefore, the following CPCAB qualifications carry UCAS ...
The video below explains how to put together a portfolio for a CPCAB qualification. This information applies to all CPCAB qualifications.
The Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework is a shared standards framework, developed and adopted in 2022 by six Professional Standards Authority ac...
Training to become a competent, safe and effective counsellor requires good quality training with a high level of direct human interaction due to its experienti...
In addition to successful completion of the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and the CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies or Level 3 ...
It is not usual to put anything after your name until level 4 has been reached. The normal letters for the Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) is “Dip.Co...
A psychology degree is a knowledge based qualification which requires a high level of academic ability. Counselling is a relational activity which depends on pe...
Tutors can refer to the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) website to explore the aims of the SCoPEd framework and what this means for c...
The qualification's Assessment Criteria are designed to cover all contexts of autonomous practice. Tutors can use scenarios and role play activities to prepare ...
Yes, tutors should make small adjustments to the scheme of work to ensure delivery for the new Assessment Criteria (1.5 & 1.6). Tutors might also review learnin...
When a centre first registers with CPCAB they receive initial approval to run for one year. In order to meet the requirements of its regulators [Ofqual in Engl...
New registrations for the Open University Foundation Degree
in Counselling ended on 11th September 2025 when the Open University
retired the qualification. They...
All candidates must undertake sufficient client hours to demonstrate their ability to work with adults. In practice this means that only a proportion of client ...
Yes - if you have lost a certificate please complete form CR8 which explains what identification is required and the administration fee that is chargeable.
If you have already gained counselling skills and theory qualifications with a minimum of 150 GLH with another awarding organisation, it may be possible to star...
CPCAB offers qualifications which are assessed to a national standard. These qualifications are regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales in Wales an...
Although all CPCAB qualifications are credit rated these credits are not directly equivalent to HE credits or CAT (Credit Accumulation and Transfer) points.Howe...
No. The Relate qualifications offer a specific training for working for Relate, they are not equivalent to a generic counselling training qualification for work...
The qualifications required as entry to the Level 4 Diploma are CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and the CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling...
All CPCAB regulated qualifications have a credit value and are on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Their individual credit values can be found in...
Some CPCAB qualifications are eligible for funding. However, access to this funding will depend on the funding status of the training centre and the eligibility...
No, the additional requirements for this qualification must be present throughout the 2 years of the course.
Candidates can use their own devices but there are some minimum system requirements listed here:A laptop or computer running Windows 7+ or Mac OS 10.8+ (it isn'...
For candidates that haven't met the 70 hour requirement in time for the first scheduled Certificate of Proficiency, centres can schedule a second date.
Centres should choose which type of qualification suits their candidates best, as only one option is available at each centre.
There are different types of distance learning. CPCAB’s regulated qualifications are only provided through live in-person training in a classroom, or through li...
Candidates with Relate Level 4 and Level 5 qualifications can progress to Relate’s own higher level qualifications run through their centres.
Yes, it is possible. If a centre considers a new applicant suitable, having undertaken year 1 of the same qualification at another centre, they can accept them ...
Yes, centres must have CPCAB approval for TC-L4 when applying to offer the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification.
You can find your nearest centre approved to offer the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification using our centre finder.
The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification has a few additional centre requirements to meet BACP approval. The qu...
The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) offers an overarching framework for establishing equivalence across qualifications in Europe. CPCAB qualifications d...
Please read our webpage about how to make a complaint.
Yes you can, however, all centres will be asked to update their application to confirm they are happy to meet the terms of the new contract BACP Approved Prac...
Yes, a student can gain the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) without having gained the Certificate of Proficiency. In these cases, CPCAB will ...
This additional £25 registration fee is payable once in the first year of the 2-year qualification.
Yes, CPCAB will provide tutors with support and guidance including online events for this qualification.
BACP charge an additional fee of £25 per candidate. This will be included in the candidate registration fee that centres pay to CPCAB.
The scheme offers a smooth transition from the existing Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling to the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Appr...
The candidate will have a stated period of time to re-sit the test.
CPCAB worked in partnership with BACP to agree a pilot phase for this qualification in 2020-2022. During this pilot phase CPCAB was the only Awarding Organisati...
CPCAB and BACP are working in a qualification partnership to support qualification standards and provide an enhanced pathway to becoming a BACP registered couns...
The CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) is made up of 90 GLH (Guided Learning Hours). This is the time spent in the classroom and should no...
Centres make arrangements with BACP for candidates to take the Certificate of Proficiency (COP) after the completion of 70 client hours as part of the qualifica...
CPCAB qualifications are delivered in FE Colleges, Adult Education Centres and Private Training Centres. Use our training centre finder to find your nearest CPC...
Centres offering the BACP APQ will deliver this qualification through blended delivery (mostly face-to-face but with a proportion of online delivery). As online...
No, centres must 'opt in' to deliver this qualification. Otherwise they can continue to offer their existing TC-L4 courses.
Yes, if your centre was approved under the pilot phase and is progressing to year 2 in 2022-23, you can register these candidates as your pilot approval will st...