FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What qualifications do I need to become a counsellor?

The counselling profession is regulated as some other professions are, this means that the job description of ‘counsellor’ is not protected by law. Unfortunately, this means that some individuals with minimal training can set themselves as a ‘counsellor’. There are however, benchmarks set by professional bodies such as the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or the NCS (National Counselling Society) which stipulate clearly what training is needed to become a registered or accredited member. The absolute minimum training requirement is a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling or above. All the courses offered by Cara Online are CPCAB courses which is statutorily regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualification Wales in Wales and CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland.

How long will it take for me to qualify as a counsellor?

Generally, it will take you between 3-4 years to qualify depending on your training route.

Once I have successfully achieved the levels 2 and 3 can I apply to do a level 4 course?

The entry requirements onto the level 4 Diploma are the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and the CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies or their equivalent. As the courses we offer are nationally recognised, your qualification is transferable and should be recognised as part of your level 4 application.

Why isn’t the level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling qualification offered online?

The level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is taught in person, although some the the CPCAB level 4 course offer blended learning. Counselling online offers access to people who may not have access to seeing someone is hugely valuable. Counselling in person is different and requires different considerations. We feel it is important that our students are trained to be able to do both. Some CPCAB level 4 courses do offer a blended Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, however up to 25% of the course is offered online and you would need to attend 75% in person.

Is there any funding available to help with the costs of training?

As a private training provider we regret that we are unable to provide a loan facility for our learners.