CPCAB Level 3 Course:
Certificate in Counselling Studies
Helping you prepare for a career in counselling
For anyone wanting to become a Professional Counsellor and who has studied at Level 2, this course is the next step on the path to becoming fully qualified.
However, it’s so much more than that, too!
It’s also for anyone who wants to fundamentally improve the counselling skills they learned at Level 2. We move from the communication and relationship skills learned at Level 2, to thinking about how counsellors create long-lasting change with their clients and make a true difference in their lives. At Level 3 you’ll learn a range of new skills which start to help people make a difference to how they think, and from that how they feel. The skills you will learn will help support others to start to make real changes in their lives.
The course is highly practical, meaning that you’ll learn as much through practical experience counselling others as you will from learning techniques from your tutors. This also means that you’ll spend a lot of time as the person being supported. You’ll find yourself both being deeply listened to and challenged to start considering how to change your own thinking. Many who attend find the changes they make on their Level 3 course truly transformative for them.
Level 3 is also where you start to learn more about what it takes to succeed as a Professional Counsellor, learning key counselling principles such as ethical practice, boundary management and working with a diverse range of clients, starting you on your path to Professional Practice.
You’ll learn in a supportive, non-judgemental environment with expert tutors who guide you through practical, hands-on exercises. As well as 13 full days (or 26 evening sessions) live with your tutors and classmates, you’ll also have access to our course videos, workbooks and live seminars to help you get to grips with all the concepts you’ll learn along the way.
As for the qualification itself, CPCAB are the UK’s leading awarding body for counselling qualifications. They accredit what are probably the most prestigious qualifications in the industry. Taking their Level 3 and Level 4 courses will enable you to gain membership of either the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists or the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society), allowing you to practice professionally in the UK.
So, whether you’re taking the first step towards a new profession, aiming to enhance your current career, or simply wish to learn how to support others to create noticeable long-term change in how they think and feel, our Level 3 course is the ideal place to continue your journey.
“I’m having a wonderful experience with Astranti Connect! I did a Level 2 course with them last year, and was taught by Lindsey, who was a fantastic tutor. The enquiries team were also very responsive and helpful whenever I emailed them questions about the wider course.
I unhesitatingly enrolled for a Level 3 course with Astranti this year, and so far I’m having a lovely experience. The tutor Marion is very knowledgeable and experienced, and teaches in a warm yet thought-provoking manner. I highly recommend Astranti Connect!“
Focused on you
Experienced counsellors supporting you at every stage
Small group sizes so tutors are always on hand
Added to an active online community for peer support
Flexible study options
Classroom or live online learning to suit your needs
Daytime and evening courses are available
Pay with an instalment option to spread payments
Study with confidence
Course approved by CPCAB
Over 20 years of teaching experience
Supported by the Astranti group with a Trustpilot rating of 4.8
What you’ll learn…
Our level 3 course is focused on developing your counselling skills, teaching everything you need to take your next big step towards becoming qualified.
Here are just a few of the skills that you will pick up along the way…
More about our course content…
Building on the solid foundation you established at Level 2, this course dives deeper into what it takes to communicate effectively with clients, and adds the element of learning how to start to change their thinking to make a difference in how they think and feel, by studying and practising the topics of reframing, exception seeking and readiness for change.
You’ll work under an integrated approach to therapy, and be shown how that relates to some of the major theoretical approaches in counselling: person-centred counselling, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, gestalt and solution-focused brief therapy.
You’ll also learn many of the counselling skills required to become a professional counsellor, learning how to apply principles such as setting boundaries, ethical practice, contracting with clients and making suitable referrals where you lack the skills to support someone yourself. You’ll be introduced to the significance of clinical supervision and start to experience how that works through a series of supervision sessions undertaken in class.
You will also develop a deeper understanding of common mental health problems, the hallmarks of positive mental health and what this means for how you work with people as a counsellor.
By the end of the course, you will be equipped with the skills needed to make a positive impact on people you support in your professional or personal life, and in various counselling settings, ultimately setting you on the path to begin your Level 4 studies.
Also included with your course:
Video series, session notes and study texts
As you begin your training journey with us, you will receive access to our studyHUB. On here, you’ll find our complete set of on-demand tuition videos, tailored for each session. These videos, which come complete with detailed session notes and focused study texts, are specifically designed to help you deepen your engagement with the key topics and truly embed your learning as you progress.
Seminar subscription
With two live sessions every month, our seminars cover a wide range of fascinating topics and provide numerous opportunities for collaboration, sharing, and discussion. A combination of our in-house tutors and expert guest speakers brings a wide range of experience and expertise to each session. Additionally, you’ll have access to our entire backlog of recorded sessions.
CPCAB digital library
With our course, you’ll get free access to the CPCAB digital library, where you can find the official course books. This enables you to gain additional insights into each of the key course areas, directly enhancing your knowledge through CPCAB’s expert team.
How our course compares
At Astranti Connect our aim is to provide the best and most comprehensive CPCAB-accredited counselling courses in the UK, and we are continually developing our courses and training our tutors to achieve that goal.
When you’re comparing our course to others, it’s important to consider what our course offers compared to other typical courses. Here’s a comparison against typical course offered by a local college:
How you’ll earn your qualification
Your route to BACP accreditation!
The great thing about undertaking a CPCAB course is that it’s recognised nationally and focused on helping you become the best counsellor you can be!
CPCAB’s L3 course is recognised by BACP (the UK’s leading counselling membership body) and the NCPS (The National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society), so the 90 formal learning hours you pick up on this course will count towards the 450 minimum hours of training required for membership, key to you working as a Professional Counsellor.
To pass the course, you have to prove your understanding of counselling theory and practice learned on your course. This is assessed as you progress through the course. Firstly, the tutor will gain evidence by observing you demonstrating your skills, awareness and knowledge in practical exercises and sessions.
In addition, during the course you will complete a learning review, practice case presentations, give and receive peer feedback and undertake a self-review of your own learning. All of these are also used to provide evidence of your competence and meet the course requirements.
Our team of experienced tutors knows what it takes to make it as a counsellor. After all, they’re all qualified counsellors themselves and continue to be trained regularly in our tutor development programme! Head to our tutor page to meet the level 3 tutors for your course.
What our students say
“My experience with Astranti Connect has been first class. From the initial communication, to the online interview and the follow up course materials, it has been a very pleasurable experience. The level of professionalism and course knowledge has been second to none and gives me a feeling of total confidence in the quality and delivery of online courses. I have already recommended Astranti Connect as a course provider for one of my clients and will continue to do so for anyone look to study online with a CPCAB accredited provider with BACP approval.“
“I am doing my Level 3 course online and although I was worried about how this would work, actually it is really good. The staff and tutors are really supportive.
The course content is available in good timing for your session and there is lots of opportunity to talk to the tutors either before the session or after – couldn’t ask for more! Great company!”
“I completed my Level 2 in Counselling and Psychotherapy with Astranti and will be finishing Level 3 in May. I have truly enjoyed the entire journey. The progression from Level 2 to Level 3 has been incredible – the deeper content and more in-depth discussions have really helped me grow, both personally and professionally. I’ve learned so much, not only from the course itself but also from my peers.
A special mention goes to my tutor, Selina, who has been outstanding—supportive, compassionate, and knowledgeable. She helped each one of us build confidence and develop key counselling skills in a safe, encouraging environment.
If I decide to pursue Level 4, there’s no doubt I will be choosing Astranti again.“
Visit our live student rating to see over 700 reviews, including our latest student feedback.
Find your course
At Astranti Connect, we understand the importance of providing affordable and flexible study options that cater to your needs and lifestyle.
With our instalment plan, you can spread the cost of your course over 9 months, interest-free.
Depending on your preferences and availability, you can choose between our online and classroom courses, as well as evening and daytime options.
We have many course locations across the UK, however, if you can’t make it to one of our regional hubs, we have online courses which can be accessed from anywhere in the country.
£125/month
Course costs:
£1,186 (our course) + £189 (CPCAB fees)
Total payable: £1,375
Payment options:
Instalment plan: £250 deposit + 9x monthly payments of £125
Full payment: £250 deposit + 1x payment of £1,125
Upcoming courses
Explore our upcoming level 3 courses and find one that suits you.
Need help choosing your course?
If you’re thinking about joining one of our level 3 courses, but still have questions you need answers to, why not book a 1-2-1 call with one of our course advisors?
Our course advisors are on hand to help you with any queries that you may have about our courses, and our 1-2-1 calls are completely free.
To book your call, find a time slot that suits you on our 1-2-1 booking calendars below: