Entry Requirements for Counselling Courses

On the whole the study area of Counselling requires little, if any, previous background knowledge in the field. The majority of courses currently available can be accessed by any adult over the age of 21, with the exception of a few courses that have a minimum age requirement of 25. Enrolment is open, and generally ongoing throughout the year.

Back to Basics

Due to the nature of the subject matter, Counselling attracts students from all walks of life, with a huge diversity of skills and academic qualifications. Wide ranging life experiences, a keen interest in personal development and self-awareness, and a basic level of education are all the entry requirements needed to enrol on a course of study.

Many of the Counselling courses available require a period of supervised placement, and additional learning, and students must exhibit commitment to their coursework and learning.

Introductory Courses

There are generally no entry requirements for introductory courses. This type of course ranges from a basic Introduction to Counselling Skills to an additional skills course like An Introduction to Grief & Loss Counselling Skills. Additional skills courses are predominately aimed at a student who is/or has already studied beyond an Introductory level, and is interested in adding additional understanding and knowledge to their portfolio of counselling skills.

A Counselling Diploma course is also a good option for any counsellor who has perhaps lost touch with their skills, due to a career break to start, and care for, a family.

Some courses also award Credits that can be carried over to another more advanced course. The completion of this form of learning requires that you complete a number of modules before advancing to the next level of learning.

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Advanced Learning

Some courses, like the Advanced Diploma in Counselling, require that you have an Intermediate Certificate in Counselling Skills. A more advanced qualification may require that you have a Level Certificate in Counselling Skills, as well as a Level Certificate in Counselling Studies. As a general rule, the more advanced a course of study is, the greater the likelihood that you will have to have gained a certificate or two before enrolling. If you already hold a learning certificate in another therapeutic field, this may be considered in your enrolment assessment.

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Postgraduate Learning

Postgraduate certificate courses differ depending on the institute some require that a student has a degree or equivalent professional qualification, plus a minimum of two years experience in the field were as others just require a degree and that the student has completed an introductory course. There is however an exception to the rule for exceptional students, who can demonstrate previous personal therapy, and at least 100 hours of supervised practice.

Personal Development

As there are minimal entry requirements to the majority of Counselling courses available prospective students are required to demonstrate a keen interest in the subject of counselling, along with personal and professional qualities, and the capacity for self-awareness and on-going personal development. Some courses however, do require that students complete a detailed application form, complete with CV and references. Assessment interviews also form a part of the enrolment process, and can be held before or after attendance of an Introductory level course.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Counselling Approach Finder lets you describe what a client brings to you and find out which counselling approach is most evidence based for their situation. Try it now →