CST-L3 Certificate in Counselling Studies Redlands Counselling and Training

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CPCAB Level 3
CST-L3 Certificate in Counselling Studies

Select your Preferred location
BournemouthBournemouth
DorchesterDorchester
Remote DeliveryRemote Delivery
Duration
Day
Times
Course Dates
15 Days
Tue
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tue 23 Sep 2025 to 20 Jan 2026
15 Days
Thu
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thu 12 Mar 2026 to 9 Jul 2026
30 evenings
Mon
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Mon 15 Sep 2025 to 1 Jun 2026
To be held at Relate Centre, Poundbury (aka Inspirations)
19 Evenings and 2 Saturdays
Mon
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Mon 1 Sep 2025 to 26 Jan 2026
19 Evenings and 2 Saturdays
Thu
5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Thu 18 Sep 2025 to 12 Feb 2026
19 Evenings and 2 Saturdays
Wed
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Wed 25 Feb 2026 to 22 Jul 2026
Download Course Information

 

UPDATE *We are delighted to announce that EVERY student we prepared

passed their external CPCAB exam in September 2024! *

 

The CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies course will prepare students for starting workplace experience as a trainee counsellor. It will also help students to develop an understanding of humanistic counselling theory, and it is usually taken after a student has completed the Level 2 course which teaches counselling skills.

Course overview

We run the Level 3 CSK course in our centres in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester as well as providing an online option. Lessons are held at different times throughout the day and week,  so that they suit busy schedules. Take a look at the course requirements below, to be sure it's the right course for you. 

How will I learn?

Redlands tutors teach using a variety of activities which include: 

  • small and large group work
  • role plays
  • presentations
  • exercises
  • seminars.

Responsibility

Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning. Please note that will be required to complete some course work outside class time, including visiting an agency setting where counselling takes place. You should consider this commitment before you apply. 

Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments will be made for students who need them, for example for non-native English speakers or students with learning difficulties.

Course Requirements
Course Progression
Fees & Costs

Age

Students need to be aged 19 years or older, to meet the CPCAB requirements.

Hours

You will need to have completed counselling skills training of 90 hours or more e.g. CSK-L2 Certificate in Counselling Skills or its equivalent. Counselling skills are different to counselling studies.

Literacy

Potential trainees must possess a level of literacy and numeracy that is sufficient for the programme concerned.

Emotional Resilience

Applicants should be aware that the qualification is not suitable for those who are currently in a state of severe emotional difficulty and/or severe psychological confusion. If this entry requirement is not adhered to, he/she will normally be asked to leave the training programme and to seek professional support. This means that the course would not be suitable, for example, for those who are currently:

  • Experiencing – without ongoing and appropriate professional support – a recent, major life crisis such as marital breakdown or a close bereavement.
  • Experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems including, for example, clinical depression, severe anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders or any form of psychosis.
  • Involved in substance misuse.

You need to be aware that the course involves experiential elements which will involve some personal disclosure and associated personal development activities.

If you are unsure just ask us and we can advise.

Relationships

Where applicable, we would also advise applicants against joining the same training group as their partner or a close member of the family.

Subject to tutor recommendation and CPCAB Guidelines, progression from this Level 3 course is to the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. Thereafter you can continue to CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in CBT Skills & Theory, CPCAB Level 5 Certificate in Counselling Young People and the Open University Counselling Degree.

Course fees for the Academic year 2024/25 AND 2025/26 are:

Tuition fee: £875
(or £825 if paid by 23.7.25 for Sept start, or 20.1.26 for Feb/Mar 26 starts)
plus
CPCAB registration fee : £189

The course textbook required is “Counselling Skills and Studies” by Fiona Ballantine Dykes, Barry Kopp, Traci Postings & Anthony Crouch.

(Also recommended for second-hand purchase is “Counselling Skills & Theory” by Margaret Hough, Published by Hodder Education, 2014, 4th Edition ISBN 978 1471806452 or “A Practical Approach to Counselling” also by Margaret Hough)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the specific CPCAB guidelines?

Criteria considered important in selecting applicants for a programme leading to CST-L3:

  • Possess the ability to translate intra-personal experience into language.
  • Able to benefit from self-development.
  • Possess emotional stability.
  • Evidence personal insight.
  • Possess the ability to form a helping relationship,
  • Awareness of difference and diversity.
  • Able to cope with course content,
  • Identify reasons for training beyond just personal development.
  • Be motivated towards developing as a counselling practitioner.
  • One Personal reference.

Be aware of the time resources required to meet demands of the course.

What do the initials CPCAB stand for?

CPCAB stands for the Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body. This is the Body which awards the qualification to students who are assessed as proficient at the end of the course. CPCAB is the only national Awarding Body which specialises in counselling qualifications.

If I have completed a Level 2 Counselling Skills course via distance learning, do I need to complete this course, or can I start directly on the Level 3 Counselling Studies course?

Yes. Although a distance learning course from another training provider is a useful introduction to this course, it doesn’t fulfil the entry requirements for our CPCAB Level 3 Counselling Studies course. This is because the entry requirement for Level 3 is 90 hours of classroom (face to face or remote) live synchronous based counselling skills training. Distance learning courses don’t meet this requirement. Unless you have any other counselling skills training qualification, the Level 2 Counselling Skills course will be your first step in training with us. Successful completion of our Level 2 Course will meet this progression criteria.

Can I apply for this course if I haven’t done counselling training but have relevant work experience?

Unfortunately we cannot take relevant work experience to meet this entry requirement. Our qualifications are awarded by the CPCAB, and it is their requirement that entry to the Level 4 Diploma course is dependent on having completed the Level 3 Counselling Studies course, which in turn is dependent on having completed the Level 2 Counselling Skills course.

However we are able to accept qualifications from other awarding bodies, as long as they consisted of 90 hours counselling skills and were provided as classroom-based training. (ie not online training)

Can I pay the course fees in instalments, or do you offer an early payment plan?

We do not offer a fees instalment plan; however we do have an early payment discount for this course, and the details and deadline for this are on the Fees and Costs section of the webpage.

Is there funding for the course, including the Advanced Learner Loan?

As Redlands is an independent training provider, we are not part of the Government-Funded Advanced Learner Loan scheme. For this reason, our learners are self-funded. 

We do aim to keep our costs at a level which make all our courses accessible, whilst maintaining excellent quality.  There is an early payment discount for this course, and the details and deadline for this is on the Fees and Costs section of the webpage.

    Register your Interest

    To register your interest in applying for this course please complete the details below and a member of our team will be in contact to discuss more details.

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