Level 4 FAQs
Our next intake will be in September 2025. Sign up to register your interest page to hear when applications for our Level 4 Diploma in School-Based Counselling open.
We are working on expanding the programme in a financially sustainable way around the UK to reach as many communities as possible. If we are not yet in your area, do take a look at our alternative counselling routes which might be operating near you:
The all-day training will run from 9am to 5pm.
Once you complete your course, we hope that you will choose to apply for a Place2Be role at the end of your course, such as a Mental Health Practitioner in one of our schools. These are not guaranteed, however.
We are working with schools to find the most supportive placements for students on the Level 4 Diploma. All schools will be based in:
- Greater London
- between Manchester and York.
We will offer you options for your placement school, but you might be expected to travel for up to 90 minutes using public transport to your placement if needed.
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Children in Schools and Level 4 Diploma in School-Based Child Counselling courses are similar in that they both:
- qualify you to become a counsellor
- include placements in Place2Be schools.
The main things that make these two qualifications different are:
- our Postgraduate Diploma course takes place over two years, and the awarding body is the University of East London
- our Level 4 Diploma takes place over 12 months, and the awarding body is the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB).
Our Level 4 Diploma course also focuses more on the operational management of a whole-school service and learning Mental Health Practitioner responsibilities.
Please read through all the information about the training provider and the courses you are interested in before applying.
Some things you might want to consider when deciding which qualification is right for you might include:
- time commitments
- if you wish to study part-time or full-time
- your budget and what payment options are available
- what qualification you will get at the end of the course.
Place2Be works in primary, secondary, high and all-through schools. Our Level 4 Diploma in School-Based Child Counselling focuses on finding placements for our students in primary schools. We have made this decision because primary schools have a placement model that appropriately complements our Level 4 Diploma.
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee our self-funded discount will be available for future applicants. However, we will try our best to make sure it is.
Yes. Our students will not have school or training on bank holiday dates.
It is a requirement for all applicants to complete a Level 2 Award or Level 3 Certificate before applying for the course, either with Place2Be or elsewhere*. Please note that you must complete your Level 3 Certificate by 31 March to be eligible for the September 2025 intake of our qualifying courses.
*If you completed your Level 3 Certificate elsewhere, the course must have included:
- at least 10 hours of clinical skills role-play practice
- 92 hours of theory-guided learning
- evidence of self-awareness through a reflective journal or group process
- an overview of safe and ethical therapeutic practice.
Please note that you must complete your Level 3 Certificate by 31 March to be eligible for the September 2025 intake of our qualifying courses. Applications for these courses will open in November 2024. Please register your interest to be notified when applications open.
Yes. Our Level 4 Diploma in School-Based Child Counselling is accredited as of September 2023.
Once we have completed our first academic run of this programme, which will be from August 2023 to August 2024, we will apply for BACP accreditation.
Our Level 4 Diploma in School-Based Child Counselling meets all BACP ethical standards and guidelines. Once you complete the course, you can apply for BACP membership.
We have been working closely with the BACP and following their guidance to ensure they will support us in the future.
As an organisation, we have a reasonable adjustments policy, where we will try our best to make adjustments that suit you given enough notice. Please note in your application if you think you will need any reasonable adjustments.
Yes, that should be fine as long as you're in a primary school. We need to confirm that your School Project Manager can support your learning throughout the programme. We encourage your SPM to contact our team via their Area Manager to discuss what this will involve.
You can download our Level 4 Diploma in School-Based Child Counselling Programme Specification, which provides an overview of the types of assessment you will need to complete. Our programme specifications can also be downloaded from the Level 4 Diploma webpage.
You will be in one or two schools over the three days.
You can do top-up training to expand your work to include children. We have a Child Counselling Skills for Adult Counsellors (Level 5 Certificate) course for qualified adult counsellors who want to work with children and young people.
Yes. Once completing the course, you will be qualified to work in private practice and child counsellor roles with Place2Be or other organisations.
