Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body

What Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body does

CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body), trading as CPCAB Ltd., is a UK-based awarding organisation that designs, develops, and certifies regulated qualifications in counselling, psychotherapy, and related fields such as life coaching. Founded in 1993 and registered as a private limited company in England and Wales (Company No. 2952656), it holds a registered office in Taunton, Somerset with a correspondence address in Glastonbury. CPCAB describes itself as "the only awarding organisation run by counsellors for counsellors," and its qualifications are regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales in Wales, and CCEA in Northern Ireland.

Its portfolio spans a structured Level 2 to Level 6 progression route comprising approximately 17 distinct regulated qualifications and supplementary services. Core offerings include the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2), Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3), Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) including a BACP-approved variant (TC-L4-BACP), Level 5 Diplomas in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills and Theory, and Counselling Children and Young People, and a Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision. Supplementary services include Tailor Made Qualifications (bespoke accreditation), Continuing Professional Development endorsement, a Centre Finder online tool, and a free online counselling training taster. A significant operational restructuring occurred on 1 September 2024, when CPCAB removed the external assessment (exam) component from its qualifications. Qualifications are delivered exclusively through 200+ approved training centres operating either in-person or via live synchronous online delivery; CPCAB does not directly operate learner-facing learning technology.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-candidate registration fees, centre approval and quality assurance fees, external assessment fees (removed September 2024), certification fees, and replacement certificate fees, with a £25 surcharge per BACP Approved Practitioner candidate registration. CPCAB does not set or capture learner tuition fees. Its primary customer segments are (1) approximately 200+ approved training centres spanning FE Colleges (e.g., Wiltshire College, West Herts College), Adult Education Centres, Private Training Centres, and non-profit counselling services (e.g., Windsor and Maidenhead Counselling Service/Number22, Willows Counselling Service), and (2) individual learners progressing through qualifications toward professional registration with BACP or NCPS. CPCAB operates within England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey), and Gibraltar, and holds Cyber Essentials certification.

Name

Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body

Legal name

CPCAB Ltd.

Website

https://cpcab.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CPCAB is a UK-based, Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation that designs and certifies regulated counselling and psychotherapy qualifications from Level 2 to Level 6, distributed through a network of 200+ approved training centres across Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Qualifications and Awarding Body Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Counselling qualifications
• Awarding body services
• Vocational certifications
• Regulated qualifications
• Professional counselling training

Headquarters

HQ city

Glastonbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Centre Fees and Qualifications: CPCAB charges training centres fees for centre approval, candidate registration, external assessment, and certification. Additional fees apply for the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification (additional £25 per candidate registration fee).
2. Certificate Replacement: Administration fees are charged for replacement certificates (form CR8).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CPCAB is an awarding organisation that designs, develops and certifies qualifications in counselling, psychotherapy and related fields. It offers a structured progression route of regulated qualifications from Level 2 through Level 6, delivered exclusively through a UK-wide network of approved training centres. Beyond regulated qualifications, CPCAB also provides bespoke Tailor Made Qualifications and CPD endorsement services for the counselling profession.

Product overview

CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) is an awarding organisation that designs, develops and certifies qualifications in counselling and psychotherapy. The organisation offers a structured progression route of regulated qualifications from Level 2 through to Level 6, including certificates and diplomas in counselling skills, therapeutic counselling, life coaching, and specialisations such as counselling children and young people and cognitive behavioural therapy. The core qualifications include the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (entry-level), Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (pre-practitioner training), Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (including BACP-approved variant), Level 5 Diplomas in specialised areas, and Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision. Beyond regulated qualifications, CPCAB also offers Tailor Made Qualifications for bespoke organisational needs and Continuing Professional Development endorsement services. The organisation operates through a network of recognised training centres across the UK and internationally, supported by tools including a Centre Finder for locating approved providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Level 2 Award in Effective Listening Skills (ELSK-L2) A Level 2 award qualification focusing on developing effective listening skills for use in helping and support roles, delivered through approved training centres.
• Level 2 Award in Introduction to Counselling Skills (ICSK-L2) An introductory Level 2 award providing foundational knowledge of counselling skills and the helping professions, delivered through approved training centres.
• Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse (USM-L2) A Level 2 award qualification providing knowledge and understanding of substance misuse issues, delivered through approved training centres.
• Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) A Level 2 certificate designed to give learners underpinning knowledge, skills and competencies to use counselling skills ethically and safely in a variety of contexts; often the first step in professional counsellor training.
• Level 3 Certificate in Applied Counselling Studies (CAST-L3) A Level 3 certificate building on counselling skills with applied studies in counselling, delivered through approved training centres.
• Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3) A Level 3 certificate for candidates who have completed a Level 2 counselling skills qualification and want to progress in counsellor training, covering counselling theory, ethics and mental health.
• Level 3 Certificate in Life Coaching Studies A Level 3 certificate providing knowledge and skills in life coaching principles and practice, delivered through approved training centres.
• Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching

Quantifiable outcome

• CPCAB qualifications carry UCAS tariff points at Level 3
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPCAB and BACP work in a qualification partnership to support qualification standards and provide an enhanced pathway to becoming a BACP registered counsellor. The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification is delivered through this partnership, with BACP setting, marking and resulting the Certificate of Proficiency element.
• NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPCAB qualifications carry NCPS Recognised Qualification Status, recognising that these qualifications contribute to the pathway to becoming an accredited practitioner. NCPS logos appear on CPCAB marketing materials.
• OfqualcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPCAB's progression route qualifications are regulated by Ofqual in England, ensuring national standards compliance.
• Qualifications WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPCAB's progression route qualifications are regulated by Qualifications Wales in Wales.
• CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPCAB's progression route qualifications are regulated by CCEA in Northern Ireland.
• The Open UniversityminorOthersThe Open University is listed as a partner/organisation that CPCAB works with in the counselling training sector.
• Place2BeminorOthersPlace2Be is listed as a partner organisation, specialising in children's mental health and counselling services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjtgwdJcFq0mOvDdxxfDVzw
• Facebookfacebook.com/cpcab.co.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cpcab-limited
• Xx.com/cpcab

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body