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CPCAB Level 5 – Online and Phone Counselling Practice Award
Become a qualified online counsellor
Are you looking to enhance your counselling skills for the digital age? Do you want to meet the growing demand for remote counselling services and stand out in the field?
If so, our CPCAB Level 5 Award in Online and Phone Counselling Practice is perfect for you!
Our Level 5 course will significantly boost your employability and complement your current counselling abilities by providing you with the specialised knowledge and skills needed to effectively counsel clients remotely.
So, whether you want to increase your job prospects, specialise in online and phone counselling, or simply want to add a new offering to your counselling skill set, our course can help you get there.
This qualification has been designed to align with the BACP Online and Phone Therapy (OPT) competency framework and relevant SCoPEd OPT competencies, ensuring that candidates have the requirements and skills to meet the latest industry standards.
At Connect, we believe that counselling is best learned through doing and not through boring lectures and PowerPoint presentations! All our courses are practical in nature, using exercises and discussions to aid learning, encouraging you to practice your skills as you progress. This ‘hands-on’ learning is vital if you are to progress in your role as a counsellor.
Our experienced tutors are also committed to supporting you throughout the course, providing guidance and support at every step.
So, if you’re looking to excel in online and phone counselling and want the best advice and training available, our Level 5 course provides the ideal opportunity for you.
“I am just finishing my second year (level 3) with Astranti Connect and have been so incredibly happy with my studies and time learning here. We have had an incredible, inspirational and thoroughly knowledgeable tutor with whom we have all come to greatly respect (and adore) and as a group we constantly remark about how far we have all come both in personal development and knowledge. I could not recommend highly enough the experience I have had here and am incredibly appreciative of the professionalism, high quality of teaching and support and also the delivery of our course.”
Focused on you
Experienced tutor supporting you at every stage
Small group sizes for a personal touch
Be part of an active online community for peer support
Flexible study options
Online live teaching
Pay with an instalment option to spread payments
Study with confidence
A formal Level 5 CPCAB qualification
Over 20 years of teaching experience
Astranti have a Trustpilot rating of 4.8
What you’ll learn…
Demand for remote counselling sessions in the UK is high!
Our level 5 course prepares you with the right online and phone skills to continue progressing within your counselling career, whether that’s becoming self-employed or looking to work for organisations such as the NHS.
Here are just a few of the skills that you will pick up along the way…
“I have really enjoyed the course I have completed. The materials, content and tutor support were all excellent. The feedback provided was timely and constructive. I would happily recommend Astrani Connect, so much so I have already signed up for the next level!”
More about our course content…
At the heart of our curriculum lies the essential training to work safely, legally, and ethically as an online and phone counsellor. This comprehensive approach ensures your practice meets the highest professional standards.
You’ll navigate ethical dilemmas, manage confidentiality and data protection issues, and monitor safeguarding, risk, and emergency situations. You’ll also learn to make appropriate referrals and effectively signpost clients to additional resources.
Building therapeutic relationships in online and phone settings is a core skill. You’ll master the techniques to establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries, as well as manage challenges that arise in these relationships.
Embracing diversity and inclusion is vital. Our course will help you evaluate your ability to work with diverse communities, address issues that challenge access to counselling, and use empathy to create a supportive practice.
Another key component is assessing client suitability using recognised tools. You’ll also learn to negotiate collaborative working agreements and respond to your clients’ evolving needs.
Self-awareness is integral to effective counselling. Reflect on your use of self to create meaningful therapeutic connections, evaluate the impacts and risks of lone working, and consider how your experiences can enhance or limit your effectiveness.
Our course also covers applying your counselling modalities online and over the phone. You’ll demonstrate relevant skills and techniques and use research findings to enhance your practice.
By the end of the course, you will be equipped with the skills to make a positive impact in various counselling settings, ensuring you are prepared for the complexities of online and phone counselling.
Seminar subscription included for free!
With two live sessions every month, our seminars cover lots of really interesting topics and offer plentiful opportunities for collaboration, sharing, and questions. A combination of our in-house tutors and expert guest speakers brings a wide range of experience and expertise to each session.
What’s more, you’ll also be able to access our entire backlog of recorded sessions.Â
Typically worth £300 a year when purchased individually, you’ll have full access to our seminars for the duration of your course. Learn more.
How you’ll earn your qualification
To apply for this course, you must have at least achieved your Level 4 CPCAB Diploma or equivalent.
You must also have completed the following Open University courses:
To pass the course, you have to prove competence in a variety of key online and phone counselling skills. You will demonstrate this through undertaking internal assessments. These include weekly written reflective work, one assignment, and practical skills observations by tutors and peers. Your portfolio of work will include these components, providing evidence of your competence.
To complete the course, you must also undertake 30 hours of one-to-one client work with at least three clients using online and phone counselling methods. You will also need to participate in either group or one-to-one supervision.
But don’t worry; we’re here to help. We understand that finding a supervisor can be challenging. That’s why we have created relationships with many counselling practices to help you find supervision that’s right for you. So, that’s one less thing to worry about!
In addition, you will need to undertake a minimum of 10 hours of personal counselling during the course and complete a minimum of 50 hours by the end of the course.
You will obtain your qualification after demonstrating your competence, passing your assessments, and completing your required practice hours.
Our team of experienced tutors knows what it takes to make it as a counsellor. After all, they’re all qualified counsellors themselves and continue to be trained regularly in our tutor development programme! Head to our tutor page to meet the level 5 tutors for your course.
What our students say
Please see our testimonials page for our latest student reviews. Here are a couple of examples:
“I’m currently on the Counselling Skills Level 2 course and so far the course has been really interesting. The tutors are welcoming, kind and knowledgeable and we have already learned a lot about active listening skills. They give detailed constructive feedback every week, both written and verbal, on how we are doing. Really looking forward to the rest of the course!“
“I have been with Astranti for a course now and have signed up to a second! The tutors and staff are incredible! Would recommend to anyone looking at going into Counselling.“
Join our course
At Astranti Connect, we understand the importance of providing affordable and flexible study options that cater to your needs and lifestyle.
With our instalment plan, you can spread the cost of your course over 18 months, interest-free.
Complete your application for our CPCAB Level 5 OPCP course below.
OPCP Course Details: Online - Mar 2025
CPCABÂ L5 OPC: Online March 2025
| Start date: | TBC |
| End date: | TBC |
| Number of weekly sessions: | 15 |
| Session times: | 17:00 – 20:00 |
| Spaces remaining: | Â â—† 15 |
| Class timetable: | TBC |
£99/month
Course costs:
£882 (our course) + £259 (CPCAB fees)
Total payable: £1,141
Payment options:
Instalment plan: £250 deposit + 9x monthly payments of £99
Full payment: £250 deposit + 1x payment of £891
Apply now
Complete our application form to take your first step to completing our online level 5 OPCP course.
Need help choosing your course?
If you’re thinking about joining one of our level 5 courses, but still have questions you need answers to, why not book a 1-2-1 call with one of our course advisors?
Our course advisors are on hand to help you with any queries that you may have about our courses, and our 1-2-1 calls are completely free.
To book your call, find a time slot that suits you on our 1-2-1 booking calendars below: