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Counselling

Is there a free Level 1 counselling course online?

In short

Lift College's first step in counselling is Introduction to Counselling Skills, an accredited CPD short course rather than a free Level 1 qualification. It has 5 modules, takes about 4 hours, is open to anyone aged 16 or over and is paid once. Our guide to free and paid counselling courses covers the free options.

Is there a free Level 1 counselling course?

Lift College's starter course is Introduction to Counselling Skills, which is paid once rather than free, and it is a CPD short course rather than a Level 1 qualification. For free courses and what they include, see our guide to free vs paid counselling course online.

Introduction to Counselling Skills

It is an accredited CPD short course: Lift College Limited is an accredited provider with the CPD Standards Office, provider number 51289. It has 5 modules, takes about 4 hours and is open to anyone aged 16 or over. The certificate is issued by Lift College, and it is not a regulated qualification. Buy Introduction to Counselling Skills, an accredited CPD course.

What a starter course gives you

BACP describes the introduction stage as a short course to help you decide if counselling is for you; at Lift College that is our introduction to counselling course. A starter course does not let you practise: practising needs a Level 4 or higher practitioner qualification with supervised placement hours.

What comes next

The first regulated qualification Lift College teaches is the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, on the Ofqual register at Level 2, number 601/7815/2, awarded by TQUK. You study this level 2 counselling course online with a named UK tutor, with no exams and no placement.

TQUK names the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills as the progression route. After Level 3 comes a Level 4 diploma with a supervised placement. See the Choose your pathway tab on this hub and our guide on how to become a counsellor in the UK.

Start the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills with a 7-day free trial.

Questions

Is there a Level 1 counselling course online?
Lift College's online starter course is Introduction to Counselling Skills, an accredited CPD short course rather than a Level 1 qualification. It has 5 modules and takes about 4 hours. The first regulated qualification Lift teaches is the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills.
What is a foundation counselling course?
An introductory course that helps you decide whether counselling is for you, the first stage BACP describes before a certificate in counselling skills. At Lift College that stage is Introduction to Counselling Skills, which takes about 4 hours.
Is a beginners counselling course accredited?
It depends on the course. Introduction to Counselling Skills is an accredited CPD short course: Lift College Limited is an accredited provider with the CPD Standards Office, provider number 51289. It is not a regulated qualification on the Ofqual register.
Can a counselling course for beginners lead to a job?
Not as a counsellor on its own: practising needs a Level 4 or higher practitioner qualification with supervised placement hours. BACP describes the early stages as useful if your work involves advising or helping people, and the Level 2 certificate is used in care, support, education and voluntary roles.

Related pages

Sources

Counselling: all courses and guides