Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification (TC-L4)

The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - BACP Approved Practitioner qualification is approved by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and is awarded and certificated by the CPCAB. This represents a qualification partnership between BACP and CPCAB designed to support qualification standards and provide a smooth pathway to becoming a registered BACP counsellor.

Where offered by a centre approved to run the BACP APQ this qualification meets the standards set by BACP for approval, including fully incorporating BACP’s Online and Phone Therapy Competence Framework and allows candidates to sit the BACP Certificate of Proficiency in the familiar surroundings of their delivery centre.

Read more about the APQ...

This two year part-time qualification gives learners the knowledge, skills and competencies to work as a therapeutic counsellor in an agency context in both health care and non-medical settings.

This qualification is officially approved as a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) by Skills England. HTQ status confirms that the TC-L4 meets nationally recognised, employer-defined occupational standards and prepares learners for skilled roles in the counselling profession. As an HTQ, it carries enhanced credibility with employers and supports learners progressing into professional practice or further study.

Successful completion of this course means you will be able to provide a therapeutic counselling service – initially within the context of an agency’s service framework but later (with experience and support from the supervisor, or by completing PC-L5 or its equivalent) may progress to independent practice.

This qualification meets all the requirements of SCoPEd Column A and provides candidates with a route to membership and accreditation with professional associations in counselling approved by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) e.g. BACP, NCPS, ACC.

NCPS Recognised Professional Qualification

This qualification has been given Recognised Professional Qualification status by the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and, subject to the Society’s Terms & Conditions, is a route onto a national register of counsellors which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

You must have obtained both our Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and our Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies, or their equivalent.

Read section 5 of the Specification for further information.

This qualification is approved as a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) by Skills England, meaning it meets national employer-led standards and is eligible for certain government-backed funding routes.

For Centres with Funding Status:
Centres that already hold an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) facility or are registered with the Office for Students (OfS) in England can offer this qualification with access to the relevant student finance options, subject to meeting the Department for Education (DfE) criteria.
 
For Centres Without Funding Status:
If your centre does not currently hold an ALL facility or OfS registration, you can still deliver this HTQ-approved qualification. Candidates may self-fund, and the professional and employability benefits of the HTQ remain the same.

For more detail see funding information.