Qualification:
Level 3 Certificate
🏷️
£1,080 per person +£189 CPCAB registration fee
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies | Online
If you’ve completed your Level 2 Certificate and you’re ready to deepen your understanding of what counselling really involves, the CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies is the next stage of your training journey.
This is the qualification where counselling stops being a set of skills you practise and starts becoming a way of working you genuinely understand. You’ll move beyond the basics into counselling theory, ethics, mental health, and the deeper self-awareness required of a professional practitioner.
Delivered online via Zoom over 24 weekly evening sessions, the course is designed for adult learners who want to continue toward a career in counselling without putting their working life on hold.
Overview
Who Is This Course For?
The Level 3 Certificate sits at an important point in the CPCAB training pathway. It’s not the introductory course (that’s Level 2) and it’s not yet the practitioner qualification (that’s Level 4). It’s the bridge between them, and it’s designed with that role in mind.
This is a more demanding course than Level 2. There is more reading, more reflective writing, and more theoretical content. We’re upfront about that because we want students who arrive prepared for the step up.
This course is particularly well-suited to:
Those who have completed Level 2 and want to keep going:
If you finished your Level 2 Certificate and you think that counselling is the path you want to take, Level 3 is the natural next step. It builds directly on what you learned and prepares you for the more demanding Level 4 Diploma.
Those who completed counselling training elsewhere:
If you’ve completed at least 90 hours of recognised counselling training but not specifically the CPCAB Level 2, you may still be eligible to apply. We’ll talk you through this when you enquire.
Those still deciding whether to qualify as a counsellor:
Level 3 is the stage at which many students confirm (or reconsider) their commitment to becoming a practitioner. The deeper exposure to counselling theory, ethics, and mental health gives you a much clearer picture of what professional practice actually involves before you take on the full Level 4 commitment.
People in helping professions seeking deeper understanding:
If you work in mental health, education, social work, or another role where you support people who are struggling, the theoretical grounding at Level 3 will significantly enhance how you understand the people in front of you and the dynamics at play.
Learning Outcomes
What You'll Learn
Level 3 broadens your knowledge in four directions: theory, ethics, mental health, and self-awareness. By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills and understanding to:
- Work within a recognised ethical framework for counselling practice
- Understand the structure and significance of the counselling relationship
- Engage thoughtfully with difference and diversity to develop empathic understanding
- Apply the principles of a user-led approach to counselling
- Use counselling theory as a tool for developing your own self-awareness
- Understand foundational theories of counselling and key concepts in mental health
- Use feedback, reflection, and supervision constructively as part of your ongoing development
Where Level 2 was largely about doing, Level 3 is about understanding why. You’ll start to see the theoretical scaffolding that supports the skills you’ve already been practising, and that understanding is what separates a skilled helper from a trainee counsellor.
Course Details
Everything You Need to Know
Course Structure
Format: Online via Zoom · Sessions: 24 sessions in total · Day and time: Wednesdays, 5:45pm – 9:30pm · Duration: Across approximately 8 months
Each session combines tutor-led teaching with group discussion, theoretical exploration, and structured reflection. You’ll continue to engage in skills practice with your peers, but you’ll also spend significantly more time examining the ideas behind what you’re doing, exploring how different theoretical models understand the human experience, and what that means for the work.
Between sessions, you’ll complete reflective writing tasks, case-related work, and reading that supports the in-session learning. The total time commitment outside the live sessions will typically be a few hours each week.
The online format uses live, interactive Zoom sessions throughout. You’ll be working with your tutor and the same group of fellow students every week. A continuity that matters even more at Level 3, because the personal exploration involved is deeper.
How You'll Be Assessed
There are no formal written exams on the Level 3 Certificate. You’ll be assessed through three integrated methods:
Written assignments:
A portfolio of short written tasks, including a monthly reflective journal that runs throughout the course. The journal is a working document that supports your developing self-awareness, not an academic essay.
Case presentations:
You’ll prepare and present case-related material to the group, demonstrating your developing ability to think theoretically about counselling practice.
Professional practice presentations:
Toward the latter half of the course, you’ll present on aspects of professional practice (ethics, supervision, working with difference) as part of preparing you for the responsibilities of practitioner training at Level 4.
Assessment is ongoing and developmental rather than concentrated at the end of the course. Most students find this approach far more manageable than traditional exam-based qualifications.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for the Level 3 Certificate, you must meet one of the following:
- You have completed (or are due to complete) the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, or
- You have completed equivalent recognised counselling training of at least 90 hours
You must also be aged 19 or over, and you’ll need reliable access to a device with a camera, microphone, and stable internet connection for the online sessions.
If you’re not sure whether your previous training qualifies, please contact us before applying. We’re happy to talk it through with you.
Course Fees
Fee | Amount |
Course fee | £1,080 per person |
CPCAB registration fee | £189 (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 directly to the awarding body, which covers your qualification registration and certification.
If you’d like to discuss fees or payment options, please contact us before applying.
Upcoming Course Dates
We have one intake of this course during the 2026/27 academic year, starting in September 2026.
September 2026 (Online via Zoom – Wednesdays 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 November 2026
- 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
How To Apply
To apply for this course, click the ‘Apply Now’ button on this page, or head to our application form here.
Where next after Level 3?
The Level 3 Certificate sits in the middle of a clearly defined CPCAB training pathway:
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills — The introductory step on the pathway. Most Level 3 students complete this first.
↓ Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies ← You are here
↓ 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 / 7 Advanced Qualifications — Specialist training in areas such as supervision, trauma, CBT, and psychosexual therapy for qualified practitioners.
It’s worth being clear: Level 3 on its own does not qualify you to practise as a counsellor. It’s pre-practitioner training designed to prepare you for the full Level 4 Diploma, where the practitioner training really begins. On successful completion, you’ll be eligible to apply directly for our CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
If you’d like to read more about what Level 3 specifically prepares you for, our article on what you can do with a Level 3 counselling qualification covers the career and progression options in more depth.
Your Training Pathway
Your Path From Level 3
L2
INTRODUCTION
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
L3
You Are Here
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
L4
qualify
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
L5-6
Advance
Level 5 / 6 Advanced Qualifications
L7
Specialise
Level 7 Specialist Diplomas
On successful completion of the Level 3 Certificate, you’ll be eligible to apply directly for our CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
View all our CPCAB counselling courses.
everything you might need to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have done Level 2 to enrol on Level 3?
You’ll either need to have completed (or be in the process of completing) the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, or to have done at least 90 hours of equivalent recognised counselling training elsewhere. If you’re not sure whether your prior training qualifies, please get in touch and we’ll talk it through with you.
How much does the course cost in total?
The course fee is £1,080 per person, plus a £189 CPCAB registration fee payable directly to the awarding body. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss payment options.
What's the difference between Level 2 and Level 3?
Level 2 is a practical introduction to counselling skills focused on doing. Level 3 is a more in-depth study of counselling focused on understanding. You’ll cover counselling theory, ethics, and mental health in considerably more depth, and the personal and reflective work goes a step further. It’s also more academically demanding than Level 2.
Will I be qualified to practise as a counsellor after Level 3?
No. The Level 3 Certificate is pre-practitioner training. To practise as a professional counsellor, you’ll need to progress to at least the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. Level 3 prepares you for that next step, both practically and personally.
How much work is required outside the live sessions?
You should plan for a few hours of additional work each week, reading, reflective writing, and case-related preparation. The exact amount will vary by week and by individual, but it’s a meaningful step up from Level 2.
Can I do Level 3 entirely online?
Yes. The course is delivered live via Zoom throughout. You’ll need to attend the live sessions in real time rather than watching recordings, as the group work and discussion are central to the learning.
Is the qualification nationally recognised?
Yes. The CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies is an Ofqual-regulated qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). This qualification has also been given recognised status by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) CPCAB is the specialist awarding body for the counselling profession and is widely regarded as the gold standard for counselling qualifications in the UK.
What happens after I complete Level 3?
You’ll be eligible to apply for the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, the practitioner-level qualification that allows you to begin working with clients under supervision. Many of our Level 3 students go on to complete their Level 4 with us.
How is the course assessed? Are there exams?
There are no written exams. You’ll be assessed through a portfolio of short written assignments (including a reflective journal), case presentations, and professional practice presentations during sessions. Assessment is ongoing throughout the course rather than concentrated at the end.
I've been out of education for a long time, will I be able to keep up with the theory?
Many of our students are returning to learning after a gap, and the course is designed with adult learners firmly in mind. The teaching is supportive and paced for people who haven’t studied recently. That said, Level 3 is more academically demanding than Level 2. If you have any concerns, we’re happy to have a conversation before you apply.
Do I have to commit to Level 4 if I do Level 3?
No. While Level 3 is designed as a stepping stone to Level 4, plenty of our students complete Level 3 and pause, either to take time to reflect, save for Level 4, or apply their learning in a non-counselling role. There’s no obligation to continue.
Ready to take the next step?
The CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies is the bridge between learning counselling skills and learning to practise as a counsellor. It’s where the theoretical understanding starts to deepen, the personal reflection gets richer, and the path to qualifying becomes much clearer.
Our next course begins in September 2026. Places are limited, so we encourage you to apply early to secure your spot.
