CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills | Online
Course Length:
24 Sessions
Course Price:
£720 per person
(+£182 CPCAB Reg Fee)
Course Timings:
5:45pm to 9:30pm
Course Location:
Online via Zoom
Start Date:
September or January
Awarding Body:
CPCAB
Whether you’re taking your first steps toward a career in counselling, or looking to develop stronger communication and helping skills in your current role, the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills is the ideal place to start.
Delivered online via Zoom, this nationally recognised qualification gives you the practical foundations to use counselling skills ethically and effectively, in a format designed to fit around your work and family life.
There are no previous qualifications required. If you’re aged 18 or over and ready to learn, you’re eligible to apply.
Who is this course for?
This course attracts a wide range of students, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. You’ll be learning alongside people from very different backgrounds, all developing the same valuable skills.
This qualification is particularly well-suited to:
Those considering a career in counselling: The Level 2 Certificate is the recognised first step on the CPCAB training pathway. It gives you a genuine taste of counselling practice before you commit to the full qualification route, helping you confirm that this is the right direction for you.
People in helping roles who want to enhance their skills: If you work in health and social care, education, HR, management, or any role that involves supporting others, counselling skills will directly improve the quality of support you’re able to give. Many students find their learning makes an immediate difference in their working life.
Those seeking personal development: You don’t need a professional reason to study counselling. The self-awareness, listening skills, and empathetic communication you’ll develop benefit every relationship in your life, with family, friends, and colleagues.
Adults returning to learning: With no academic entry requirements and flexible evening delivery, this course is genuinely accessible to people who haven’t studied for some time. Many of our students are mature learners making a fresh start.
Those preparing for Level 3 and beyond: If you already know you want to become a qualified counsellor, the Level 2 Certificate is the required starting point for the full CPCAB training pathway leading to the Level 4 Diploma.
What will I learn?
By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills and self-awareness to:
- Use counselling skills ethically and safely across a range of contexts
- Establish and maintain appropriate helping boundaries
- Work empathically as a helper, focusing on the needs and concerns of the person you’re supporting
- Use self-awareness as a tool in helping work
- Apply a range of practical counselling skills to facilitate meaningful helping interactions
- Use feedback and reflection to continuously develop your skills
These aren’t abstract concepts. Throughout the 24 sessions, you’ll practise these skills actively with your peers, receiving structured feedback that helps you grow in confidence and ability.
Course Structure
- Format: Online via Zoom
- Sessions: 24 sessions in total
- Day and time: Wednesdays (September start) or Mondays (January start) , 5:45pm – 9:30pm
- Duration: across 7-8 months
Each session combines tutor-led learning with practical skills practice. You’ll work in pairs and small groups to practise counselling interactions, giving and receiving feedback in a supportive environment. Between sessions, you’ll complete short reflective written tasks that form part of your assessment portfolio.
The online format uses live, interactive Zoom sessions, not recorded lectures or self-directed study. You’ll be in a real learning group with your tutor and fellow students throughout.
Assessment Process
There are no formal written exams on this course. Assessment is carried out through two methods:
Written assignments: Short written tasks completed throughout the course, including a reflective learning journal. These are designed to be manageable alongside work and family commitments. You won’t be facing large essays or timed exams.
Observed skills practice: Your tutor and fellow students will observe your counselling skills practice during sessions. This is a supportive, developmental process. The purpose is to help you improve, not to catch you out.
Assessment is integrated into the learning process rather than bolted on at the end, which most students find much less stressful than traditional exam-based courses.
Entry Requirements
There are no minimum academic entry requirements for this course. You do not need any previous qualifications, counselling experience, or psychology knowledge to enrol.
The only requirements are:
- You must be aged 18 or over
- You must have reliable access to a device with a camera, microphone and stable internet connection for the online sessions
Some students choose to complete our CPCAB Level 2 Award in Introduction to Counselling Skills beforehand, as the Level 2 Certificate builds on that introductory learning. However, this is entirely optional. Many students begin directly with the Certificate.
Course Fees
Fee | Amount |
Course fee | £720 per person |
CPCAB registration fee | £182 (payable directly to CPCAB) |
The course fee covers all 24 teaching sessions, tutor support, and course materials. The CPCAB registration fee is a separate charge paid to the awarding body, which covers your qualification registration and certification.
If you have questions about fees or payment, please contact us before applying.
Where next after Level 2?
The CPCAB Level 2 Certificate is the first step on a clearly structured training pathway. Here’s where it can lead:
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills ← You are here
↓ Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies Deepens your theoretical knowledge and counselling practice. The next step for those working toward professional qualification.
↓ Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling The minimum qualification required to practise as a counsellor in an agency setting. Leads to eligibility for BACP membership.
↓ Level 5 / 6 Advanced Qualifications Specialist training in areas such as supervision, trauma, CBT, and psychosexual therapy for qualified practitioners.
On successful completion of the Level 2 Certificate, you are eligible to apply directly for our CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies.
Upcoming Course Dates
We have two intakes of this course during the 2026/27 acdemic year, a September 2026 start and a January 2027 start.
Details and dates for these two intakes are as follows:
September 2026 (Online via Zoom – Wednesday’s 5:45pm to 9:30pm)
Wednesday 9th September 2026
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Wednesday 7th October 2026
Wednesday 14th October 2026
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Wednesday 4th November2026
Wednesday 11th November 2026
Wednesday 18th November 2026
Wednesday 2nd December 2026
Wednesday 9th December 2026
Wednesday 16th December 2026
Wednesday 6th January 2027
Wednesday 13th January 2027
Wednesday 20th January 2027
Wednesday 3rd February 2027
Wednesday 10th February 2027
Wednesday 17th February 2027
Wednesday 3rd March 2027
Wednesday 10th March 2027
Wednesday 17th March 2027
Wednesday 7th April 2027
Wednesday 14th April 2027
Wednesday 21st April 2027
January 2027 (Online via Zoom – Mondays 5:45pm to 9:30pm):
Monday 4th January 2027
Monday 11th January 2027
Monday 18th January 2027
Monday 25th January 2027
Monday 1st February 2027
Monday 8th February 2027
Monday 15th February 2027
Monday 22nd February 2027
Monday 1st March 2027
Monday 8th March 2027
Monday 15th March 2027
Monday 22nd March 2027
Monday 5th April 2027
Monday 12th April 2027
Monday 19th April 2027
Monday 10th May 2027
Monday 17th May 2027
Monday 24th May 2027
Monday 7th June 2027
Monday 14th June 2027
Monday 21st June 2027
Monday 5th July 2027
Monday 12th July 2027
Monday 19th July 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any qualifications to start this course?
How much does the course cost in total?
What do I need for the online sessions?
How long does the course take to complete?
Will I be qualified to practise as a counsellor after completing Level 2?
What is the difference between the Level 2 Certificate and the Level 2 Award?
Is the qualification nationally recognised?
What happens after I complete Level 2?
How is the course assessed? Are there exams?
I haven't studied for a long time, will I be able to keep up?
Ready to take the next step?
The CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills is a practical, accessible qualification that develops skills you’ll use for the rest of your life. Whether you go on to qualify as a counsellor or simply want to become a more effective, empathetic person in your existing role.
Our next courses begin in September or January. Places are limited, so we encourage you to apply early to secure your spot.
Questions before you apply? Contact us, we’re happy to help.
Apply
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