
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3)
*** ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND ONLINE COURSES ***
It seems that many online Level 2 and Level 3 courses have become increasingly popular lately. Unfortunately, most of these online courses aren’t acceptable as entry requirements for our courses unless they meet the following criteria:
- The course was run in a regular group setting
- You engaged in regular peer-to-peer observed skills practice
- The level 2 course was made up of at least 90 guided learning hours
- The level 3 course was made up of at least 196 hours
We do accept applicants who have completed online training as long as the above criteria has been met.
We accept prior learning from applicants who have extensive 1:1 work experience in a supporting role capacity where active listening skills were used and especially with a mental health focus and this would be discussed further at the interview stage.
Counselling is very much a specific and specialist training so where possible we would urge you to consider starting at level 2 to ensure you engage in robust and comprehensive training which will better prepare you for training at Diploma level should this be your route of choice.
About the Course
The course has been designed around the person-centred approach developed by Carl Rogers.
This qualification is intended for candidates who have already acquired a recognised qualification in counselling skills and want to:
- Take the next step in training to become a counsellor
- Learn more about counselling theory, ethics and mental health
- Prepare for work as a professional counsellor in an agency setting
This 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.
South Coast Wellbeing and Training is committed to providing individual and intensive counselling training at all levels of qualification. To achieve this, the group size is kept to between 8 and 14 trainees. The trainers’ experience over the years is that smaller groups bring out the best in trainees whereas in larger groups many trainees often get lost and find it difficult to find their voice.

66113Entry Requirements
You must have undertaken counselling skills training, e.g. the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills or equivalent units/qualifications of at least 75 Guided Learning Hours.
NEXT L3 CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELLING STUDIES
MARCH-JULY 2024
Start date: Wednesday, March 6th 2024
End date: Wednesday, July 10th 2024
Attendance: Wednesday evening of each week of the course From 4pm-9pm
There will be an additional Saturday workshop TBA from 10am-4pm
Credit value of the course: 20 credits
There are 90 guided learning hours on the course.
Course Details
Experiential work is central to learning on the course in which students contribute significantly to each other’s learning. These factors require students to spend the maximum amount of time learning with and from each other and make a high level of attendance necessary. The overall attendance requirement is 85%.
A student’s day will involve tutor contact in a combination of theory in relation to counselling practice, engagement with peers in a tutor facilitated personal development group, and practice-based work. Learning is organised around tutor input, experiential exercises, and with a set period on each session for counselling practice.
The focus of learning on the course is to develop the knowledge, understanding, and practical use of counselling skills.
Learning on the course is through:
- A formal tutor input intended to develop knowledge about counselling skills and related topics followed by examination of its effects upon the student
- By experiential work designed to raise understanding of counselling skills and related topics.
- Counselling practice for new learning and the development of existing skills
Learning Outcomes
Through developing knowledge, and understanding of counselling theory and practice students will be able:
- Prepare to work within an ethical framework for counselling
- Understand the counselling relationship
- Understand difference and diversity issues to develop empathic understanding
- Work within a user-centred approach to counselling
- Use counselling theory to develop self-awareness in counselling practice
- Understand theories of counselling and mental health
- Use feedback, reflection and supervision to support counselling studies
Assessment and Progression
To achieve the qualification, candidates must be assessed as Proficient in all 7 learning outcomes and must be assessed as Proficient in both internal and external assessment.
Internal Assessment:
Tutor assessment of the evidencing of proficiency in all 7 learning outcomes.
External Assessment:
Candidates must complete a CPCAB online external review paper assessment in their own time and have a week to complete and return the paper to the tutor/s
Successful candidates from the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3) will be eligible to progress on to The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4).
Venue
South Coast Wellbeing and Training
10/12 The Broadway
Hampden Park
Eastbourne
BN22 20S
Interviews
For applicants not progressing from the South Coast Wellbeing and Training L2 Certificate in Counselling Skills there is a formal individual interview for this course. The interview will be with one of the course tutors and will focus on the written application form you must submit before an interview can be offered.
Fees and Payment Option
Course
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3)
Tuition & Resources Fees
£893.00 including CPCAB registration fee
CPCAB Registration Fee
£193.00
Total Course Fee
£893.00
Payment Options
Option 1
£293 deposit. (Deposits are non-refundable)
The balance of £600 to be made at the start of the course
Option 2
£293 deposit. (Deposits are non-refundable)
The balance of £600 spread over 4 equal payments of £150 through the life of the course
The deposit for the course is to be made on acceptance to the course.
Apply now by downloading an Application Form