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
What our 2025-26 students say about our Level 3 training
"Working on my L2 and L3 counselling skills training with Abingdon has been life-changing. I have felt wholly supported by my tutors and peers, especially in moments of personal struggle. I have learned so much, broadened my self-awareness, and developed my empathy and understanding. I feel prepared to begin a L4, and grateful to everyone involved in making that the case. Cannot recommend these courses enough." - M (June 2026)
"This was an incredibly thorough course, with an excellent tutor and support, from Sarah and Bill! I felt supported, challenged, and seen, throughout the course. Sarah, our tutor, was funny and warm as well as informative, and offered a wealth of experience which really gave us great insight into counselling life. Though online, the course is thorough and interactive, with lots of group work, and live experience. Highly recommended! - FM (June 2026)
"The last 2 years have been amazing and that is down to to the support of Sarah and Bill. The teaching has been exceptional and I have never felt so engaged in learning. Even though it was all online, we all knew each other so well and it felt like we were learning in a class room.
The systems used to track your progress was so user friendly. I always knew what my next step were and how I could improve. Sarah was always there if needed and there was such a supportive understanding of how hard it can be balancing employment and higher education."
- L (June 2026)
"This course has been of the highest standard with excellent support and teaching. I couldn't have asked for a more professional yet personal approach from Sarah and Bill. I have learnt so much about counselling and myself and feel I am in a great position to continue on to the level 4 diploma in counselling. If you are trying to decide where to study the level 3 I can say with 100% confidence that you will enjoy studying here and won't regret it!" - K (June 2026)
"Completing the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies has been a truly valuable and transformative experience. The course not only developed my counselling knowledge and skills but also encouraged significant personal growth and self-awareness. Sarah created a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental learning environment where everyone felt able to contribute, reflect, and learn from one another. Her teaching style encouraged curiosity, critical thinking, and self-reflection, helping me to develop both personally and professionally." - DR (June 2026)
"This course has genuinely been life-altering for me. It gave me far more than theoretical knowledge. It encouraged self-awareness, empathy and reflection in ways that have influenced every area of my life, including my creative work. The tutors modelled the qualities they were teaching, and the supportive atmosphere made it possible to challenge myself with confidence." - J (June 2026)
"The course was really well set up, it built on the skills learnt from the L2 course but went into much more depth with skills and exploring different modalities. It was also a great platform for those continuing on the L4 as the course is set up to give learners lots of preparation for that, which is great. The course tutors are knowledgeable and personable, they make sure you are listened to and guided on your journey, overall it has been a fantastic experience." - NR (June 2026)
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.
