Confused about counselling training

[srilankadreaming]

Hi everyone,
Posting in here for more traffic
I am thinking of starting counselling training. I have read how competitive it is and know it takes years and costs a fortune with possible limited job opportunities but still...
What I want to ask is this: I have looked at ABC and CPCAB Level 2 courses. The ABC course is quite a bit nearer to me than the CPCAB one and cheaper. But is it considered as good? It seems that the CPCAB organisation is the main accreditation body and looks much more organised in terms of progression. Would it disadvantage me further down the line if I did the ABC accredited course? Also if I start with this do I have to continue with ABC or could I do Level 3 CPCAB, which they do locally?
Thanks

Hi. I did the CPCAB level 2 counselling skills course which was good and enough to get me onto a degree counsellig course, sadly that wouldnt be enough to get into uni, generally they are just the beginners courses. Neither should disadvantage you but then i have not heard of ABC. If able look for BACP or BABCP accredited course as that may help in the very long term

Find a page called counselling tutor on facebook and ask your question there. I am in Scotland so can't help on ABC and CPCAB since it is a different system but I have seen loads of discussions on the different levels and training providers on there.

Get a BACP accredited course.

You need a Level 4 Course which includes 450 hours of classroom training, 100 client hours and your own personal counselling in order to join the BACP, who are one of the biggest, but not the only membership body. Most non-counsellors know and look for BACP.

If you do not do a BACP accredited course, you will need to take a Certificate of proficiency this is a multiple choice question test and it will take 5 weeks to be marked and come back to you. Then you are a confirmed registered member, with the increase in fees and can list yourself on the BACP list.

Costs to consider:
Training fees probably at least £6k to get to level 4 It will take at least 3 years, longer and more expensive if you consider a degree.
Supervision £65 a month if not included in your placement
Insurance Costs
Membership Costs

Time needs
On top of training, once you are at level 4 you will also have your own personal therapy, counselling placement, supervision which is 1 hour for every 8 client hours, so it can soon mount up.

Also consider that your studying and all of this is going on whilst you need to juggle work and family.

Once qualified you then realise no one wants a newly qualified Level 4 and so you spend more on training further, or you keep volunteering for free until you gain enough for accreditation (2yrs post qual)

Thanks for all the replies, very helpful. It is as I feared far too expensive and long winded for me to pursue I think Karmin. I have just left teaching and wanted to possibly go back into schools as a counsellor but I am in my early fifties so this seems a bit of a long slog to perhaps not earn much. Will have to have a rethink!

Sorry but I’d not advise anyone to do counselling with a view to work for a living. It’s so expensive to do and then the paid work is mostly private or difficult to find. But there would be lots of opportunities if you were wanting to volunteer as a befriender or to spend time at the likes of the Samaritans. If looking for paid work what about respite care or pupil support on an ad hoc basis?