Counselling - CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Applied Counselling Studies

The new Level 3 Certificate in in Applied Counselling Studies introduces you to the three main theoretical approaches to counselling and shows you what you can expect from working with counselling agencies.  You will also learn about the application of counselling skills in a range of occupational settings.  

It will not teach you to be a counsellor, but it will prepare you to undertake workplace experience as a trainee counsellor. 

The qualification is made up of two mandatory units:  

• Unit 1 Counselling Studies  


• Unit 2 Application of Counselling Skills in a Range of Occupational Settings 

With the other learners in your class you will learn more about counselling theory and agency work through the following learning outcomes: 

• Prepare to work within an ethical framework for counselling


• Understand the counselling relationship


• Understand difference and diversity issues to develop empathetic understanding


• Work within a user centred approach to counselling


• Use counselling to develop self-awareness in counselling practice


• Understand theories of counselling


• Use feedback, reflection and supervision to support counselling studies


• Understand how counselling skills can be use in a range of occupational settings

Please be aware that in addition to your timetable classes there will also be 6 supervised study sessions. These will be remote sessions so you will not need to attend a centre. The dates and times will be discussed at the start of your course.   

You can volunteer to work for an agency in a non-counselling capacity alongside this course. Working on an agency-based project is also an effective way of securing a work placement for further counselling experience. 

A variety of learning activities will be used on this course, including tutor presentation and demonstration, practical application of skills, individual and group work, discussions, Q&A, internet research, individual research and project work. Where relevant, your learning will enable you to develop skills and knowledge required for work. There may be vocational specialist guest speakers, or employers, invited to share their skills and experience. 

Regular home study will be necessary to successfully complete this course. You will be supported to develop good study skills. 

Your tutor will also support you to improve your English and maths skills alongside your learning of your vocational subject. This will include assessing your current skills and planning learning activities related to your subject that are designed to develop your skills in these areas. To support this, you will undertake some e-learning modules, where appropriate, as homework. 

If you have declared at enrolment that you are unemployed, you may be invited to meet with an Information, Advice and Guidance Officer or employability member of staff, to identify other learning opportunities that will support you to secure employment or improve your employment prospects. We highly recommend that you engage fully in any other learning opportunities that we help you identify.   

This is a vocational course leading to a qualification, and the cost of it is subsidised by public funding. You will be required to complete all of the necessary coursework/assignments or exams by the given deadlines. 

Please note: if you do not successfully complete the course within this academic year, you will not be able to repeat it at the subsidised fee.  

For further information on the syllabus for this course please go to https://www.cpcab.co.uk/qualifications/cast-l3 

You will be required to attend an Admission Session prior to enrolling on this course. Please go to www.skillsandlearningace.com/counselling-academy/ to apply online. 

At this session, you will receive: 

• full details of what is covered on the course


• Information as to the pre-requisite skills or qualifications needed prior to enrolling


• Information as to the home study requirements and commitment


• A Skills Check for English/or Maths as appropriate


• Details of learning or financial support that may be available to you.


• Please note: Our online courses are not compatible with iPads or mobile phones. To access the courses, you must use a desktop or laptop computer.

There will be an opportunity to ask any further questions you may have.  If you have any certificates for qualifications in this subject area, or for English or Maths, please bring them with you to the admission session. Please note - places on some of our courses will be in high demand and if you have been offered a place but no longer require it, please advise us immediately, as you may be preventing another learner from taking the place. Where learners do not attend the first session, without having given prior notice, Skills & Learning reserve the right to offer the place on the course to another learner (see Cancellation policy). 

For term dates please refer to www.skillsandlearningace.com/course-dates 

This is a Level 3 assessed course. Once completed, your work will be marked and internally verified. An external verifier from the awarding body will visit to review your work before you receive your certificate. 

As soon as your certificate is received by Skills & Learning it will be forwarded to you. 

Course work is also required to be completed during the course. 

Awarding body: CPCAB 

Assignments/Course work: You will complete a candidate portfolio of evidence to include an assignment, self-review, a tutor-observed counselling practice session, a practice case presentation, peer feedback and 10 hours of simulated group training supervision  

Presentation: You will complete a research project as part and present your findings to your tutor.  

You will negotiate a Personal Learning Plan with your tutor identifying the areas you need to develop; this will be reviewed at regular intervals.  

Please note that this qualification must be completed within the deadline set. It may be possible to re-sit the examination within the academic year at an additional fee. 

Please note that your tutor will be assessing your progress throughout the course and may be asked to make a recommendation about your progression route.   

We have designed this course to support you with working in the support and care sector. Successful completion of this course will provide skills and knowledge required for job roles working in a variety of  posts supporting the well-being of individuals. 

You can check the suitability of this course for a preferred career path or route to employment by looking at various job profiles on the National Careers Service website https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/">https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk 

You need to have successfully completed a Level 2 Counselling course of a minimum of 75 hours before enrolling on this course. The course is for learners who have or can demonstrate the following: 

Ability to translate intra-personal experience into language 

Able to benefit from self-development 

Emotional stability 

Evidence personal insight 

Ability to form a counselling relationship  

Awareness of difference and diversity 

Able to cope with course content  

Identify reasons for training beyond just personal development 

Be motivated towards developing as a counselling practitioner 

This qualification is not suitable for those who are currently in a state of severe emotional difficulty or severe psychological confusion. Please be aware that the course involves experiential elements that will involve some personal disclosure and associated personal developmental activities. If your tutor does not feel that the course is right for you, during the first weeks of the course they will advise you and discuss deferring the course until a future date. 

If you have completed your Level 2 Counselling course with Skills & Learning, a recommendation from your tutor will be required to confirm your suitability to progress onwards. If you completed your course with another training provider you will need to provide a copy of your certificate and a reference from your course tutor. You will also need to attend an admission session following receipt of your application. 

There is an expectation that if you enrol on this course, you are willing to commit fully to the period of time involved in this course, the associated home study and the assessed work required, and intend to sit the examination if applicable.  

English language skills at Level 2 are required. You will be asked to complete an online assessment in English after submitting a course application.  

You will need a pen and paper, plus a folder for your own work and any information given. There may be a requirement to obtain course books or other resources to support your study. You will be guided by your tutor prior to any purchase. 

Course costs for Level 3 and 4 courses. 

For information regarding any funding for this course please please refer to the Finance page on our website https://www.webenrol.com/SkillsAndLearningace/?page=finance. 

PLEASE NOTE - Our online courses are not compatible with iPads or mobile phones. To access the courses, you must use a desktop or laptop computer.Details of the fees and cancellation notice periods required are available on request. 

You may wish to consider further courses such as the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. 

Other courses may be offered by Skills & Learning or other local providers. 

Need support planning your next steps? Our experienced Careers Advisors at Skills & Learning can offer personalised guidance on choosing the right course, exploring career paths, developing interview skills, updating your CV and much more. Book a FREE appointment today and get the support you need to achieve your goals. Visit: https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/learning-with-us/next-steps/. Call us at 01202 123444 for more information.

English, maths and computing skills: all of our courses support the development of relevant English, maths and computing skills.

Refunds: please see details of our cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions on our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/terms-and-conditions or in our brochure.

Attendance: before enrolling you should ensure that you can attend all classes offered as far as possible.

Places on courses: many of our courses are in high demand. If you have been offered a place but no longer require it, please advise us immediately as you may be preventing another learner from taking the place. Where learners do not attend the first session, without having given prior notice, Skills & Learning reserve the right to offer the place on the course to another learner; you will not be eligible for a refund it it is outside of the terms outlined in our cancellation policy.

Fully funded learners: if you have been offered a fully funded place on a course and no longer require it, you must advise us before the course starts so that your place can be offered to someone else. We reserve the right to withdraw future offers of fully funded places if you regularly do not start or complete funded courses.

Home study: you will be required to do significant study at home between sessions to assist with your learning and progress.

Qualification Levels: there is further information about qualification levels on our website.

Proof of identity: please bring photographic ID and your National Insurance number with you to your first session. You will also need to provide it for any external examinations you take.

Off-site activities: with some courses, there may be the opportunity for off-site enrichment activities at additional cost, for example: gallery, museum or exhibition visits. Where this is an integral part of the course, your tutor will discuss the arrangements with you during your induction.

Parking at centres: parking at centres may be limited; please be prepared to use on street parking or pay and display car parks. For information regarding each centre, please visit the venue section of our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/.

Refreshments: tea/coffee or vending machine(s) are available at some venues. Further information can be found in the venue section of our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/.

Unspent Criminal Convictions we require learners to disclose any unspent criminal convictions. Please refer to www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/disclosure-of-unspent-convictions.

If you have any accessibility or disability issues that we need to accommodate or if you think you may need any other support to complete your chosen course, please contact: 01202 123444 or e-mail enquiries@salbcp.com. All enquiries are treated in confidence.