Counselling
How to become a counsellor without a degree
You can become a counsellor without a degree. BACP sets core practitioner training at a minimum of a Level 4 diploma in counselling or psychotherapy, so the usual route runs from a Level 2 counselling skills certificate through Level 3 to a Level 4 diploma. Lift College's Level 2 has no formal entry requirements.
Do you need a degree to be a counsellor?
No. BACP says core practitioner training should be at least a Level 4 diploma in counselling or psychotherapy, so a diploma meets the minimum. Our guide on how to become a counsellor in the UK covers the degree and postgraduate routes as alternatives.
The route without a degree
Start with a Level 2 counselling skills certificate: the Lift College level 2 counselling course has no formal entry requirements and typically takes 3 to 6 months. TQUK names the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills as the next step, and most Level 4 courses ask for Level 2 and Level 3, or equivalent. The Level 4 diploma then needs at least two years of classroom tuition and a supervised placement of at least 100 client hours, and the National Careers Service says counsellors need to pass enhanced background checks.
What you need to start Level 2
| Requirement | Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 or over |
| Previous qualifications | None required |
| Recommended | Level 1 literacy and numeracy, or equivalent |
| Counselling experience | None needed |
| Placement or clients | Not needed |
| Equipment | A phone or webcam that records video and sound, and a quiet room for practice sessions |
| A volunteer | A friend, family member or fellow learner to play the helpee in recorded practice |
Why literacy matters
Each of the four units is assessed by written tasks marked by your named UK tutor, and the skills unit adds recorded practice sessions with a written reflection on how effective your skills were. You need to be able to write clear answers and reflect on your own practice. There are no exams.
The recorded skills practice
TQUK allows the practical criterion in the Using counselling skills unit to be met through roleplay or simulation. You record sessions in which you use the core skills with a volunteer helpee talking about a real but low-risk topic of their choosing, then upload the recording with your reflection. That is why you need a volunteer and a recording device, but not a placement.
Self-awareness work
The first unit, Counselling skills and personal development, asks you to look at your own values, beliefs and motives for helping, and your blocks to listening. There is no entry test for this, but you should be ready to reflect on yourself in writing.
Not sure you are ready?
Start the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills with a 7-day free trial and see the first unit before you pay. If you would rather try the skills first, Introduction to Counselling Skills is open to anyone aged 16 or over and takes about 4 hours. Buy Introduction to Counselling Skills, an accredited CPD course.