CST-L3 Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Start: 14th October 2026
End: 30th June 2027
Duration: 30 weekly sessions
Location: online
Guided Learning Hours: 90
Fee: £1125
Our Level 3 qualification is for candidates who have successfully completed the counselling skills training, CPCAB's CSK-L2 Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, or equivalent.
You can apply for Level 3 while your Level 2 training is in progress, as long as your Level 2 course end-date is before the start date of your Level 3 training. Your place on the course may be offered conditional to successful completion of trainings which you are currently undertaking.
This qualification is intended for candidates who have already acquired CPCAB's Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) or equivalent and want to:
- take the next step in training to become a counsellor
- learn more about counselling theory, ethics and mental health
- be prepared for work as a professional counsellor in an agency setting
Our Level 3 qualification does not lead to employment. It is designed as a pre-practitioner training for professional counselling qualifications but it could also lead to employment in a related field.
To apply for this course you must have successfully completed or be in the process of completing CPCAB's CSK-L2 counselling skills course or equivalent. We do not recognise experiential evidence in the absence of a CSK-L2 qualification, and we do not accept qualifications in related disciplines (such as nursing, teaching, social work, medicine or psychology).
Course fees are inclusive of CPCAB registration fee.
Candidates who achieve this level of training or equivalent can proceed to Level 4 BACP-Approved Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, which would normally involve a substantial element of on-location training at a training location within travelling distance of you. You can find a list of centres providing access to Level 4 trainings on the CPCAB website's Centre Finder. Individual centres may differ in the model of counselling that they train in, and may have specific prerequisites, so we advise that you check those out with the centre concerned.
