Are Online Counselling Courses Accredited by BACP?
Most online counselling courses are not accredited by BACP, and at Level 2 and Level 3 none needs to be. BACP recognition applies to practitioner training, the Level 4 diploma you complete before you work with clients. Your Level 2 and Level 3 certificates come from an awarding body such as CPCAB, and their role is to prepare you for the diploma.
What BACP recognises, and who awards your certificate
BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, is a professional body. BACP sets ethical standards for its members, holds a register of counsellors and accredits experienced practitioners. BACP does not write or award qualifications.
Awarding bodies do this work. CPCAB, the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body, writes the qualifications, approves the centres which teach them and issues your certificate. Ofqual, the regulator for GCSEs and A levels in England, regulates CPCAB qualifications.
BACP recognises training in two ways. Course accreditation checks one centre's course against BACP's criteria. Qualification approval checks an awarding body's qualification, which approved centres then deliver. BACP's own guidance states its course accreditation scheme is temporarily closed to new applications.
Why Level 2 and Level 3 carry CPCAB status, not BACP status
Level 2 and Level 3 are stepping stones. The CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills teaches core listening and helping skills. The CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies builds your understanding of counselling theory and ethics and introduces supervision. Neither certificate qualifies you to work as a counsellor.
Because neither one trains you to practise, BACP practitioner recognition does not apply at this stage. A CPCAB-accredited course is the right badge to look for at Level 2 and Level 3, online or in a classroom. Our guide to an online Level 2 counselling course explains what the first stage covers and how the lessons run.
Where BACP comes in: practitioner training at Level 4
BACP's role starts at practitioner level. For most CPCAB learners, the practitioner qualification is the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, known as TC-L4. The diploma runs over two years part-time, with a minimum of 420 guided learning hours. You need Level 2 and Level 3, or equivalent, to enrol.
You do not need a BACP-approved diploma to join BACP. CPCAB confirms graduates of the standard TC-L4 join BACP as members and reach professional registers once they complete the required practice hours. Both routes lead to the BACP Register. The approved route gets you there faster.
The BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification explained
The BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification, or APQ, is an enhanced version of TC-L4. BACP approves the qualification, and CPCAB awards and certificates it. Only centres approved to run the APQ deliver it. Our Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is approved to run as a BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification, confirmed by CPCAB in October 2026.
The main difference comes at the end of training. On the APQ, you take the BACP Certificate of Proficiency at your training centre as part of the course. According to BACP, graduates then join its Register straight away, without a period in the individual membership category first. The APQ also builds in BACP's Online and Phone Therapy Competence Framework.
Graduates of the standard TC-L4 join BACP as individual members and sit the Certificate of Proficiency after qualifying. For a fuller comparison of the two organisations, read our guide to the difference between BACP and CPCAB.
What to check before you book an online course
Start with the awarding body. CPCAB Level 2 and Level 3 certificates meet the entry requirements for the CPCAB Level 4 diploma, so a CPCAB-accredited course keeps your progression clear.
Next, ask how the course is taught. Counselling skills develop through practice with other people, so live online lessons with a tutor and fellow students matter more than recorded videos.
Then ask about Level 4. Find out where the diploma runs, how the centre delivers it and which BACP status the centre holds: organisational membership, course accreditation or APQ approval. These are three different things, so ask the centre to name the one it holds.
Our next Level 2 intakes start in January 2027 if numbers allow, otherwise in the week commencing 22 February 2027. Level 2 runs as a Standard course of 30 lessons or an Intensive course of 18 lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a BACP-accredited Level 2 course to become a counsellor?
No. BACP recognition applies to practitioner training at Level 4, not to Level 2 skills courses. A CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills is the standard first step, followed by Level 3 and then your diploma.
Is a BACP organisational member the same as a BACP-accredited course?
No. Organisational membership means the training centre belongs to BACP as an organisation. Course accreditation and qualification approval are separate checks on a specific course or qualification. Ask any centre which of the three it holds.
What is the BACP Certificate of Proficiency?
The Certificate of Proficiency is BACP's assessment for entry to its Register. On the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification, you sit it at your training centre as part of the course. On the standard route, you join BACP as an individual member and take it after you qualify.
At The School of Counselling, we deliver CPCAB-accredited Level 2 and Level 3 counselling training online via Zoom, and a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, a BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification, in person at monthly weekend intensives with monthly online lessons. We are an organisational member of BACP. Our courses are designed around a clear progression from first skills to practitioner training. We support students through each choice about awarding bodies, BACP membership and the next level of study.
