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Undertaking a psychology degree and counselling training are two different things;

While both cover similar aspects in relation to theory of personality, a psychology degree is a knowledge-based qualification which requires a high level of academic ability. This is compared to counselling training which is a relational activity which depends on personal qualities, self-awareness and soft skills such as the ability to build a trusting relationship, work with difference and diveristy and covey empathic understanding.

These aspects of counselling training are not included or assessed in most psychology degree programmes and have to be learnt and developed in a very different learning context.

The normal letters for the Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) is “Dip.Couns”.

Qualifications below level 4 would not normally be listed but there would be no objection to

“Cert.Couns.Skills” (CSK-L2)

or

“Cert.Couns.Studies” (CST-L3)

If you already hold counselling skills and theory qualifications from a different awarding body, NCCS will assess your prior learning based on the number of guided learning hours (GLH) completed in a classroom setting and the course content, particularly in relation to theory and skills practice.

Your previous course should closely align with the curriculum covered in the equivalent CPCAB course.

To enter at Level 3, you must have completed a counselling skills course equivalent to at least 90 GLH. The course must have included live (synchronous) teaching, which may be online (not distance learning), as well as regular observed skills practice.

To enter at Level 4, you should have completed equivalent counselling skills and theory courses with a minimum of 180 GLH. Like Level 3, these courses must include live teaching (either in person or online, but not distance learning) and consistent, observed skills practice sessions. If you’re uncertain whether your prior learning meets these requirements, please reach out to NCCS to schedule a consultation. Note: NCCS does not recognize online or distance learning courses that lack live, synchronous teaching or regularly observed, assessed practical skills sessions.

CCS is an award-winning training center offering expert-led, accredited counselling courses approved by the Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB). The CPCAB, the only specialist awarding body in Europe focused solely on counselling, is managed by experienced counsellors, trainers, and supervisors.

As the UK's leading awarding body for counselling, CPCAB is dedicated to developing skilled, competent counsellors. Their unique structure—run by counsellors, for counsellors—ensures a focus on practical and relevant training. CPCAB courses provide a structured pathway, enabling students to progress from working in counselling agencies or private practice to supervisory roles.

Additionally, CPCAB courses fulfill the guided learning hour requirements needed for future accreditation as a practicing counsellor.

In a world where counselling is an unregulated profession, there is a wide-range of training available and there is a place for distance learning or online courses, usually for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) once the formal counselling training has been completed or when combined with high-quality classroom based learning (e.g. The Open University/CPCAB Foundation Degree).

Good quality counselling training has a solid relational foundation at its core and NCCS believe that in the first instance, this cannot be achieved via online or distance learning that doesn't involve live, synchronous teaching or regularly assessed skills practice sessions.

NCCS offers CPCAB courses which all incorporate regular live teaching and assessed skills practice sessions (either in the classroom or online) and provide the benefits of an environment that consists of experiential learning building counselling competence as each level of training is undertaken.

Professional membership bodies such as the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) or the National Counselling Society (NCS) require counsellors to register on an Approved Voluntary Register by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). To do this the membership bodies and PSA insist that a proportion of the would-be counsellor's training is provided by live teaching.

BACP state: "We believe that practising counselling skills under supervision, and with feedback from staff and fellow students, is an important aspect of training. Online and distant learning courses can offer an introduction to the use of counselling skills and theory, but do not have this relationship with staff and other students".

Any online or distance learning courses undertaken that are not synchronous and don't involve live teaching will also not count towards the training hours required for profession membership or accreditation should this be undertaken in the future once practicing.

As a private training centre, funding in the form of learning loans and remitted fees are not available. However, in order to help spread the cost an installment payment option is available once the deposit has been paid.

Please see the latest edition of our course brochure for the most up-to-date pricing of our courses.

you can find it

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Our Level 4 course forms part of the Open University Foundation Degree progression route.

The Foundation Degree is made up of the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, a mandatory Open University module (D240 Counselling: exploring fear and sadness) PLUS a choice of Open University modules and optional CPCAB level 5 practitioner qualifications.

More information can be found by watching this video.

CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) is an awarding organisation for counselling courses. These are sometimes called awarding bodies or examination boards.

This is compared to the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) and BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists) which is a professional membership body that student and 'qualified' counsellors can become a member of. The role of these professional bodies is to set standards, protect the public, hear and review complaints. They don't award counselling qualifications.

They don't award counselling qualifications. There are also other awarding bodies such as the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), for which our Level 4 is accredited with.

Other acronyms you may notice across the site are:

GLH - Guided Learning Hours TQT - Total Qualification Time PSA - Professional Standards Authority