What is CPCAB Level 2?
CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills is your entry point into the world of counselling. It's designed for complete beginners – people with no previous training who want to explore whether counselling could be right for them.
This isn't about becoming a counsellor overnight. It's about building a foundation: learning what counselling actually is, how to communicate with empathy, how to hold space for someone in distress, and perhaps most importantly, beginning to understand yourself.
Many of our students arrive with an inkling – a sense that they might be good at this, often sparked by their own experience of therapy. Others want skills to enhance their current role in healthcare, education, or support work. Some are exploring a complete career change.
Whatever brings you here, Level 2 gives you the tools to decide your next step – whether that's progressing to Level 3 and beyond, or simply taking these valuable skills back into your life and work.
At a Glance
📜 Qualification: CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2)
⏱️ Duration: 18 weeks (intensive) or 30 weeks (standard)
📚 Learning Hours: 90 guided hours + 80 self-study
💻 Format: 100% online, live tutor-led
🎓 Progression: Prepares you for CPCAB Level 3
✅ Entry: No previous experience required
Why Learn Online With Us?
Online learning doesn't mean learning alone. It means learning with people you'd never meet in a traditional classroom.
Global
Classroom
Learn alongside students from the UK, Austria, Spain, Dubai, Canada, and beyond. This diversity of perspectives enriches everyone's learning.
Live &
Interactive
This isn't watching recordings. Every lesson is live, tutor-led, and highly interactive – breakout rooms, discussions, and real-time practice.
Flexibility
That Fits
No commute. No fixed location. Choose intensive or standard pace, with day and evening options designed around real life.
Fully CPCAB Approved
Our courses are approved by the CPCAB to be delivered 100% online. Same qualification, same rigour, same recognition.
"Because we're online, we bring people together who could never be in the same room. Students from across continents, different cultures, different life experiences – all learning together. This richness and diversity is something we're incredibly proud of."
Choose Your Pathway
Two routes to the same qualification. Choose the pace that fits your life.
18-Week Intensive
NEXT INTAKE: JAN/FEB 2026
📅 Start: January/February 2026
⏰ Schedule: One full day per week (9:30am-3pm)
📚 Duration: 18 weeks
💰 Investment: £1,995
📖 Commitment: 6+ hours per week (plus lesson time)
Fast-track your learning with one immersive day per week. Perfect for career changers, motivated learners, and those who thrive with intensive study.
Best for:
Career changers ready to dive in
Those who can dedicate one full day
Learners who prefer immersive learning
Anyone wanting to progress quickly to Level 3
30-Week Standard
NEXT INTAKE: JAN/FEB 2026
📅 Start: January/February 2026
⏰ Schedule: Mornings, Evenings, or Saturdays
📚 Duration: 30 weeks
💰 Investment: £1,495
📖 Commitment: 3.5+ hours per week (plus lesson time)
Study at a steady pace that fits around work and family. Same qualification, same quality – just more breathing room between lessons.
Best for:
Working professionals
Parents with family commitments
Those who prefer gradual learning
Anyone needing evening or weekend options
What You'll Learn
The course provides 90 guided learning hours covering the foundational knowledge, skills, and competencies to use counselling skills ethically and safely. By the end, you'll be able to:
Use counselling skills ethically and safely
Establish and sustain the boundaries of the helping role
Work empathically as a helper
Focus on the helpee's needs and concerns
Use self-awareness in helping work
Use a range of counselling skills to facilitate the helping interaction
Use feedback and reflection to enhance counselling skills
These skills are valuable regardless of whether you continue to Level 3. They'll transform how you communicate, how you listen, and how you understand yourself and others – in any context.
How We Teach Differently
This isn't death by PowerPoint. This isn't being told what to think. This is learning that treats you as the expert in your own experience.
You Are the Living Textbook
Yes, we have topics to cover and criteria to meet. But the richest learning comes from you – your experiences, your relationships, your questions.
Our tutors are facilitators, not lecturers. They guide you through the material by helping you explore what it means for you personally. The classroom becomes a space where everyone's story contributes to everyone's learning.
We use individual work, pair work, small group discussions, and whole-group workshops. We use tools like Padlet and breakout rooms to keep things dynamic. But at the heart of it all is conversation – real, meaningful, sometimes challenging conversation.
And because our tutors are qualified, practicing counsellors, they know how to hold space when things get emotional. Because they will. That's part of the work.
Assessment That Respects You
We set work after each lesson – typically 300-400 words – but there are no rigid deadlines. We trust you to manage your own time as an adult with a life.
Not a natural writer? We welcome creativity. Some students have evidenced criteria through artwork, poetry, or photography. Whatever helps you express your learning authentically.
Much of the assessment happens in class through discussions and workshops – alternative routes for those whose strengths aren't in writing.
Self-Discovery Is Built In
A big part of this course is looking at yourself – your history, your patterns, your blind spots.
Why? Because the more you understand yourself, the more empathy you can offer others. The more authentic you become, the more permission you give clients to be authentic too.
This isn't about being "fixed." It's about curious, gentle self-inquiry – supported by qualified counsellors every step of the way.
Your Journey From Here
Level 2
You are here
Level 3
Counselling Studies
Level 4 / Masters
Diploma or Masters
Qualified
Professional Counsellor
Most of our Level 2 students (around 95%) choose to progress to Level 3 with us. From there, many continue to Level 4 Diploma or apply for MSc programmes.
But here's what matters: Level 2 is valuable in itself. Even if life takes you in a different direction, you'll walk away with communication skills, self-awareness, and an understanding of human connection that will serve you forever.
This is exploration, not commitment. Take the first step and see where it leads.
Who This Course Is For
Complete
Beginners
No previous training or experience needed. Just curiosity and an openness to learning about yourself and others.
Career
Changers
Exploring whether counselling could be your next chapter? Level 2 lets you test the waters before committing further.
Helping
Professionals
Already working in healthcare, education, HR, or support roles? Add counselling skills to enhance how you support others.
Therapy
Explorers
Many of our students have been through their own therapy and feel called to offer that support to others.
Aspiring
Counsellors
Have your sights set on Level 3, Level 4, or even an Masters? This is your essential foundation.
Personal Growth Seekers
Want to understand yourself better, communicate more effectively, and build deeper relationships? The skills you'll gain apply to every area of life.
Entry Requirements
Level 2 is designed for complete beginners. You don't need any previous counselling training or experience. You just need:
Age 18 or older
GCSE English at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)
Willingness to explore yourself as well as the subject
Completion of a brief informal interview
Don't have GCSE English? Get in touch – we can discuss alternatives. The interview isn't a test; it's a chance to chat, ask questions, and make sure this course is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm not very academic. Will I struggle?
No, you don't need to be academic. Your tutor will support you throughout, and we offer alternative ways to evidence your learning – including through class discussions, artwork, or other creative approaches. If you have additional learning needs, we'll do our best to accommodate them.
When do your courses run?
We offer daytime and evening courses throughout the week, with schedules tailored to student preferences. We also offer Saturday morning options (subject to demand). Our main intakes are January/February and September each year.
Can I really learn counselling skills online?
Yes! Our courses are fully approved by the CPCAB to run 100% online. At Level 2, the material is perfectly suited to online delivery. Every lesson is live and interactive – breakout rooms, discussions, skills practice – not passive video watching. Many students find online learning creates a surprisingly intimate environment for this work.
What if I miss a lesson?
We understand life happens. We have a robust process for planned and unplanned absences. The course content is spiral – topics return throughout – so one missed lesson isn't catastrophic. We'll set work to help you catch up. That said, regular attendance is important for the relational learning process.
How much work is there outside of lessons?
Around 1-2 hours per week of self-study. We set a short piece of written work after each lesson (300-400 words typically), but there are no rigid deadlines. We trust you to manage your own time as an adult. We also welcome creative alternatives to written work.
What's the interview like?
Brief, informal, and friendly. It's a chance for us to get to know you, hear what draws you to counselling, and answer any questions. It's also a chance for you to see if we feel like the right fit. There's no pass or fail – it's a conversation.
What can I do after Level 2?
Most students (around 95%) progress to Level 3 with us, then onward to Level 4 Diploma or Masters programmes. But Level 2 is also valuable on its own – the skills enhance any role involving supporting others, and they'll transform your personal relationships too.
How much does it cost?
The 18-week intensive is £1,995. The 30-week standard is £1,495. Both include all tuition, materials, and CPCAB registration. Payment plans are available – speak to us about spreading the cost.
Still have questions?