CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Approved as a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ)

We’re pleased to announce that, as of 10 June 2025, the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) has been formally approved by Skills England (formerly the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education - IfATE) as a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ). This will apply to all new registrations from September 2025.

This approval confirms that the qualification meets nationally recognised employer-aligned occupational standards and is eligible for funding via government-supported finance routes, including the Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) and Office for Students (OfS) mechanisms.

What This Means for Centres

HTQ approval offers immediate and long-term benefits to both centres and candidates. Here's what you need to know:

• No Changes to Delivery
  The delivery of the qualification will remain exactly as it is now. The key change is the addition of the HTQ quality mark, which signifies employer recognition and national endorsement.
• Listing on Skills England’s Approved HTQ List
  The approved HTQ status is now visible on the Skills for England website.
• Centre Management Systems (CMS) and Branding
  For centres that already hold Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) allocations or are registered with the Office for Students (OfS), no action is needed in terms of funding setup, your existing arrangements remain valid.
• Potential New Funding Streams for Eligible Centres
  OfS funding streams have never before been accessible for the TC-L4 qualification. But now centres in England with an OfS funding arrangement can make use of additional qualification funding options for learners.

The approved Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) status is now visible on the Skills for England website. Centres with Advanced Learner Loans allocations or OfS registration can now add the qualification to their relevant Centre Management Systems (CMS). Full guidance for funded centres is available in the Toolkit for Funded Centres linked at the end of this article.

For centres not currently holding ALL allocations or OfS registration, you can still deliver the HTQ-approved TC-L4 qualification. While your learners may not yet be eligible for government-backed tuition fee loans and means tested maintenance loans the key benefits of HTQ delivery including national recognition, employer relevance, and enhanced learner outcomes — still apply. Promoting the qualification’s HTQ status can help attract learners and demonstrate the high quality of your offer.

Looking ahead, the Department for Education (DfE) has indicated that the Advanced Learner Loan application process for new providers is expected to open in October 2025 as part of its next tendering round. This may provide a more accessible route for centres looking to offer government -funded pathways in the near future. We will notify centres as soon as the window opens, and guidance becomes available.

Regarding OfS registration, please note that the Office for Students has paused all new provider applications for 2025. While this is understandably frustrating for centres exploring this option, we are monitoring developments closely and will continue to provide updates. In the meantime, ALL may offer a more viable route for centres looking to support adult learners through funded qualifications at Levels 3 and 4+.

We also recommend subscribing to DfE updates for the latest information on tenders and guidance. You can do this by clicking "Get emails about this page" at the top of this link: DfE Update – GOV.UK

Why HTQ Approval Matters: Key Benefits for CPCAB and Centres

• National Endorsement of Quality
  HTQ approval confirms that the qualification has met rigorous quality standards, ensuring it is aligned to real-world employment needs. This enhances CPCAB’s reputation as a leading technical awarding body in the counselling profession.
• Greater Recognition by Employers and Providers
  HTQ status ensures our qualification is instantly recognisable by employers and education providers as government -endorsed and industry -aligned, improving both learner outcomes and employment prospects.
• Attractiveness to Learners
  Today’s learners are seeking qualifications that are:
  • Nationally endorsed
  • Government funded
  • Career focused
• Competitive Advantage
  CPCAB is now among the few awarding bodies to offer an HTQ -approved Level 4 qualification, and one of only two awarding bodies to offer a HTQ approved counselling qualification. This sets us apart from qualifications that:
  • Lack formal occupational alignment
  • Don’t qualify for the same funding streams
  • Cannot carry the HTQ quality mark
• Strategic Policy Alignment
  HTQ status places CPCAB in line with national priorities, including:
  • The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)
  • Ongoing technical education reforms
  • Government strategies focused on skills-based, employer-led pathways
• Enhanced Quality Assurance Profile
  The HTQ approval process includes in-depth evaluation of a qualification’s content, outcomes, delivery model, and employer relevance, which our qualification has passed with flying-colours!. This is a strong endorsement of CPCAB’s internal development processes and quality standards.

Next Steps

We have created two tailored toolkits to support this rollout: one for centres delivering the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) HTQ with access to Advanced Learner Loans or OfS registration, and another for centres without access to these funding routes. Please refer to the toolkit that’s most relevant to your centre.

We are also pleased to share the HTQ logos and brand guidelines for all centres delivering the TC-L4. We request that all centres delivering this qualification add the HTQ branding to their promotional materials (website page, course brochures etc.) by the end of the 2025/2026 academic year.

We will be in touch shortly with further updates. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Thank you for your continued partnership and your commitment to delivering high-quality counselling training.

Toolkit: Funded Centres Toolkit: Non-Funded Centres Logos & Brand Guidelines