CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Applications will open in February 2026 for our September 2026 academic year. Please send applications to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Delivery of Courses : Face to Face Thursday evening - Saint Ives Cambrigeshire 6-9pm
Online Wednesday and Thursday evenings 6-9pm
Spaces are limited, As a small centre we only take a certain number of students. Our aim is to offer quality training. All tutors are friendly, approachable and knowledgeable in their delivery of the course.
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Applications are open and close in June 2025.
Both the online course and class room based course will follow the same format:
Online Course will take place via the platform Zoom- This course will take place on a Thursday evening from 6-9pm starting in September 2025.
Classroom based course - This course will take place on a Thursday evening from 6-9pm starting in September 2025.
Classroom venue:
Saint Ives, Cambridgeshire
Guided Learning Hours – 90 hours over 30 weeks
Total Qualification Time
196 Hours
You will be expected to do at least 5/6 hours of work outside of the classroom.
Cost : £950 plus vat £190. Total course fee is £1140. There is also a once off CPCAB Candidate Registration Fee of £189 Other additional costs of the course are the course textbook and printing and recommended books for further reading. (please note the CPCAB registration fee is subject to change as it has not yet been updated on the CPCAB website yet.)
This is a CPCAB qualification course intended for candidates who have already obtained their Level 2 certificate in counselling skills and want to:
- Take the next step in their training to become a qualified counsellor
- Learn more about counselling ethics, theory and mental health
- Be prepared for working as a professional counsellor in an agency setting
Course Outline
At our centre we believe the learning experience sets the foundation for building relationships and what this looks like between peers in the class. We work creatively with students to express themselves in different ways, we use group work to explore dilemmas and get a different perspective from all students in how they would approach a situation. We offer freedom to express yourselves so that you learn to become the counsellor you are meant to be. Presentations and self-exploration are a great way for students to bring their personality into the room. We also use skills practice session to help students build confidence in their skills.
There are seven learning outcomes that will be taught in a variety of ways including small group activities, lectures, student presentations, reflective writing, small group skills practice and more:
- Apply an ethical framework to counselling skills sessions; including looking more closely at the six ethical principles and how they can be used to support ethical and safe practice.
- Boundaries and the therapeutic frame; you will learn the importance of boundaries and explore how personal boundaries may impact professional boundaries.
- Understand the difference of your own prejudices and blocks to empathy.
- Your ability to remain focused on the client’s issues and concerns using active listening and showing awareness of your own implicit process (your own triggers, personal material, assumptions).
- Learn more about the structure of your personality, patterns of relating and your personal history. You will be given the chance to learn more about and explore your early defence mechanisms, shadow qualities and early relationships.
- Learn more about counselling theory and Common Mental Health Problems.
- Gaining a deeper understanding of theory: Humanistic CBT and Psychodynamic models and how the frameworks underpin the use of counselling skills.
- Mental health module will include a series of student-led presentations with the opportunity to research a mental health issue of your choice.
- Supervision and feedback. Learning about the role of supervision and how to engage in group supervision. The importance of ongoing feedback and how it is an integral part of counselling training. You will both be receiving and giving feedback to your peers during group supervision.
Entry requirements
In order to partake in this course, you will need to successfully completed your Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills or the have the equivalent units/ qualifications of at least 75 Guided Learning Hours.
Assessment
Internal assessment
Internal assessment: - consists of completing weekly journals, four assignments, tutor and peer feedback, various worksheets and 10 hours of personal counselling.
There is an expectation that journals and assignments are to be typed. At the beginning of the course you’ll be given a Candidate Guide detailing CPCAB’s seven learning outcomes and your tutor will be supporting you throughout the course.
In order to gain your Level 3 qualification internal assessments must be passed.
Additional Study Time
You will be expected to undertake additional study hours a week outside of the classroom to complete this course. Due to the amount of the course work it is important that you take into consideration how you will work this around your family life and work in order to afford yourself time to complete and commit to the course.
You will be expected to undertake a minimum of 6-10 sessions of personal therapy at your own cost.
Apply here- word document, opens in new window
Progression
Successful learners may progress onto the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. This is a two-year, part-time, professional training in which learners are participating in 100 hours of supervised practice, counselling clients 1-2-1. Learners will also be required to undertake a minimum of 45 hours of personal therapy.
Level 4 learners will also become student members of BACP (The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) or the NCS (National Counselling Society). Upon completion of their level 4 course individuals can gain employment as a counsellor and work towards registering on the BACP Register of Counsellor and Psychotherapists.
Level 3 Certificate in Applied Counselling Studies (CST-L3)
This qualification has been given NCPS Recognised Qualification CPCAB CST-L3 status by the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
This qualification has been assessed and deemed to have met the standards expected for introduction level training for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
This qualification forms an important part of a progression route in counselling training, but on its own, it does not allow a graduate to practice as a qualified counsellor, gain entry to an Accredited Register or refer to themselves as ‘a specialist’ in the subject matter unless they have other qualifications/training to support this.
