It depends entirely on how the course was delivered.
Live online sessions with a tutor in real time — these generally count. CPCAB and professional bodies recognise live, interactive online learning as equivalent to face-to-face delivery, provided it meets their standards.
Self-paced online courses — pre-recorded videos, downloadable modules, study-at-your-own-pace content — these do not count toward professional counselling training requirements, regardless of what the provider claims.
This is one of the most common disappointments we encounter. By the time people contact us, they’ve often already spent time and money on an online course only to discover it doesn’t meet progression requirements. Some providers make deliberately misleading claims about accreditation and recognition — so if something seems too quick, too cheap, or too flexible to be true, it usually is.
Why does this matter so much? Counselling is built on human connection. The skills required — building therapeutic relationships, active listening, managing difficult conversations, developing self-awareness — cannot be observed, practised, or properly assessed through a screen alone. Your training needs to reflect the very thing you’re training to do.
Before enrolling anywhere, check that the course:
Is delivered live with real-time tutor interaction — Is provided by a CPCAB-approved centre or equivalent — Includes regular practical skills sessions with peer interaction and tutor observation — Meets the requirements of your intended professional body (BACP, NCPS, or similar)
If you’re unsure whether a previous course counts, get in touch. We’ll give you an honest answer — even if it’s not what you were hoping to hear.