Free level 2 counselling course online vs paid: what you get for the price

How a counselling course works, free or paid

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) sets out a three-stage route that it says can take three or four years:

1. Introduction to counselling. Usually 8 to 12 weeks, often at a local college or adult education centre. It helps you decide whether counselling suits you.
2. Certificate in counselling skills. Generally one year part time. BACP says it develops your skills and gives a deeper understanding of counselling theories, ethics and self-awareness. A Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills sits here. TQUK names its Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills as the next step.
3. Core practitioner training. This is the stage that prepares you to work as a counsellor. BACP says it should be at least a diploma in counselling or psychotherapy (a degree also counts). For BACP membership it must be at least a Level 4 diploma or equivalent, with at least two years of classroom-based tuition, at least 300 guided learning hours and a supervised placement of at least 100 client hours. At least 70% of tuition must be face to face, and fully online or distance courses do not qualify for membership.

So a Level 2 course is the second step, not the last one. A Level 2 counselling course does not qualify you to practise as a counsellor. It does give you trained listening and helping skills you can use in care, support, education and voluntary roles, and it leads on to Level 3 and then the Level 4 diploma.

That is why the choice of Level 2 matters: check the qualification is on the Ofqual register, and check that the Level 3 or Level 4 provider you have in mind will accept it.

Free level 2 counselling course options

Funded college places (Adult Skills Fund, England). The gov.uk Adult Skills Fund rules for 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027 let colleges fully fund adults aged 19 and over who earn below £26,800 a year for qualifications up to and including level 2. Local rules can differ. Inspire, in Nottinghamshire, lists the fee for its online Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills as "Free/£270": free if you earn less than £20,319 or are on a means-tested benefit, with payment help on a low income and co-funding at higher incomes. You must attend all sessions.

Funded distance learning. The Skills Network lists a TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills by distance learning at £299, or at no cost if you are eligible for funding: aged 19 or over, living in England or Scotland, resident in the EU for the past three years, not a current learner with it or another provider, and not having done the course before. Its page says the skills unit needs filmed practice or a witness statement from a witness who holds a counselling skills qualification, that the course is not accredited by BACP, and that some further education providers may not accept it as a prerequisite for Level 3. Check with your planned Level 3 provider first.

Introductory short courses. BACP's first stage is an introduction to counselling, often run by local colleges and adult education centres. Fees and funding vary, so check locally.

Free and paid counselling courses compared

What each provider shows on its own page, checked 26 October 2026, with prices exactly as shown.

"Check provider" means the provider's page did not show that detail clearly when we checked.

So what does paying add?

• A course that fits your situation. Funded places depend on age, residency, earnings and sometimes your postcode. A paid course is open to you whatever your circumstances.
• Assessed practice. On a Level 2 certificate, the skills unit has to be evidenced. Some courses use a witness testimony; at Lift College your tutor assesses recordings of your own practice sessions.
• Tutor support and time. Paid courses set out tutor support and an access period. Compare these as closely as the price.
• A certificate from the awarding body. All the Level 2 certificates in our table are Ofqual-regulated qualifications from TQUK or NCFE. The short courses are not.

What you get with Lift College

The Lift College Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills is the TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (RQF), 601/7815/2: 16 credits, 120 guided learning hours and four mandatory units covering counselling skills and personal development, using counselling skills, an introduction to counselling theories, and diversity and ethics.

• Pay monthly or yearly. £39.99 a month or £359.99 a year when you pay today, with your price fixed for life, or £44.99 a month after a 7-day free trial. No contract, no credit check, cancel any time, and 14-day money back on every payment.
• A named UK tutor. Work is marked in 5 to 7 working days, and you resubmit at no extra cost until every criterion is met.
• No exams, no placement. You record practice sessions at home with a volunteer helpee, such as a friend or family member, and your tutor assesses the recording.
• TQUK registration and certificate included. TQUK issues your certificate, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.

You need to be 16 or over, with no previous experience. Want to try the skills first? Introduction to Counselling Skills is 4 hours in 5 short modules for £19.99, pay once, with a CPD certificate issued by Lift College the day you pass. It is not a regulated qualification.

Which should you choose?

• Take a funded route if you meet a provider's age, residency and earnings rules, and your planned Level 3 provider accepts that course.
• Pay for a course if you are not eligible for funding, want to start straight away, or want your practice assessed from recordings.
• Choose Lift College if you want the Ofqual-regulated TQUK certificate online with a named tutor, no exams and no placement, paying monthly while you study.

If your goal is to work as a counsellor, plan the whole route: Level 2, then Level 3, then a Level 4 diploma with supervised placement.

Where to go next

Comparing paid courses in more detail? Read the best online counselling courses in the UK.

Start learning

Ready to start? Begin the Level 2 counselling course online with a 7-day free trial.