Getting started with R86

Before you can register on R86, there are a few things you will need to consider in terms of these issues:

• entry requirements for R86 and the external counselling training components of this qualification
• external counselling qualifications that we can accept for R86 level 1
• external practice/placements requirements while you are studying R86
• personal development needs when studying the qualification
• registration with the OU and credit transfer for prior learning
• funding and progression on R86.

We will go through these issues step-by-step in the following sections.

Entry requirements

You need to successfully complete the relevant external counselling qualification (see Accepted external counselling qualifications), and be able to produce evidence for this, before you can register on R86 BSc (Hons) Counselling. You will need to show that you are qualified to practice at SCoPEd framework ‘Level A’:

- by providing documentary evidence of relevant counselling qualifications recognised as meeting the Stage 1 requirements for this qualification (see Accepted external counselling qualifications) and/or
- by providing a PDF showing BACP registered and/or evidence of BACP Certificate of Proficiency or a PDF showing NCPS accredited registrar status.

And that you:

1. have a professional body membership/registration;
2. have a cleared criminal background check no more than two years old;

If you have not already done so when first registering for R86, before being accepted onto the first Level 2 ‘open practice’ module (D230), you will need to upload evidence that you meet the entry requirements for this module. This will involve evidencing that you:

1. are in counselling practice/placement where you are seeing clients (with minimum 50 completed client hours per year of study guaranteed);
2. have a supervisor who will provide the required level of supervision and who will complete required course supervisor reports on their counselling work;
3. have relevant practice insurance.

Please be aware that if you still need to complete the external counselling training components of this qualification (accredited UK counselling courses at level 4 from an approved provider covering SCoPEd framework ‘Therapist A’ competencies/requirements), these training courses will have their own entry requirements set according to each provider (for more information on this see Introductory counselling skills and theory training).  

Accepted external counselling qualifications

For R86 BSc (Hons) Counselling, we will accept courses as external counselling training components for level 1 if they map onto the SCoPEd framework ‘Therapist A’ competencies, meeting the following criteria:

• the course is pitched at FHEQ Level 4 Diploma minimum,
• it has at least 300 teaching hours,
• trainees on the course are required to complete 100 supervised client hours minimum.

If you are planning to complete, or have already completed, a FHEQ Level 4 counselling training course in one of the following four categories, then this can be accepted as meeting external learning requirements for level 1 (once you have completed the course and can provide evidence for it).

CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4)

CPCAB have a course finder on their website: Where can I study? Centre Finder - CPCAB – you need to search for ‘Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling- standard’ or ‘Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling- BACP approved’. 

CPCAB validates awards delivered in a variety of learning outlets throughout the country (currently around 130 learning outlets), which students can access to gain this qualification and bring it into R86 level 1. There may not be an outlet near you, although CPCAB try to ensure that as many students as possible are able to find a local learning outlet to study the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling course. Details of all CPCAB approved outlets are provided on the CPCAB website. It also lists which qualifications they are approved to deliver (see link for the CPCAB course finder above). Note however that delivery will be dependent on demand, so some training providers may not be offering the qualifications listed. You can contact your local learning provider directly to ask if the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is available. Also, note that learning providers respond to demand, and that if sufficient people enquire and register an interest in a course then they are more likely to consider delivering it in the future. It is the local learning provider who decides whether to run a course or not (and CPCAB) and the most important thing in making such a decision is whether there are enough students interested in taking it to make it worthwhile to offer a course.

Higher National Diploma in Counselling (HND): HND Counselling – SQA

There is also a course finder function on this website under ‘Where can you take this course?’

Qualifications completed by students who are a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or an accredited registrant of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

As registered BACP member, you have either graduated from a BACP accredited course or completed a non-accredited course and passed the BACP Certificate of Proficiency (which is aligned with column A of the SCoPEd framework).

BACP: This is BACP’s accredited course directory: BACP - British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy where you can search for courses.

NCPS: Here is NCPS’s course finding tool: NCPS | Counselling Courses – you need to look for ‘Accredited courses’

Other non-accredited counselling training courses

These may be considered, as long as they meet the SCoPEd framework ‘Therapist A’ criteria listed above (this could e.g. include University counselling courses at Level 4 minimum, or non-accredited courses offered by other training providers) and include 120 credits at FHEQ L4/SCQF L7.

External practice settings and placements

At level 2 and 3 of R86, all students will need to be working in a supervised placement or counselling practice setting (including private practice) to gain the required practice and supervised client hours - a minimum of 50 hours at each level 2 and level 3, and 350 hours by the end of level 3 together. (It is possible to include documented (see below) hours completed after the end of the inital qualification and before enrolment on R86.

For the practice hours to be counted towards the qualification, they need to be documented through a practice protfolio in both modules (D230 and D330). The practice portfolio will include details of each hour of claimed practice in each practice setting, supervision logs evidencing appropriate supervision for each practice settings and supervisor reports that evidence the documented hours. The practice hours and supervision logs will be audited by tutors on the two modules. All the assignments on the two ‘open practice’ modules will require also, you to draw on your practice (e.g., in form of case studies/process reports).

The Open University does not carry clinical responsibility for students as this is carried by the placements or practice settings/agencies in which the students are working. However, there will be arrangements in place so that placements will be contacted/notified if anything comes up in the course of OU study that gives concerns about a student’s fitness to practice.

Personal development needs

In addition to the learning and practice components required to qualify as a counsellor you will typically be expected to undertake as part of your Level A training a minimum number of hours of personal development. For many people this involves undertaking 30 hours of personal counselling (with an approved counsellor) but alternative ways of gaining this personal development are available. Details will be provided by the local learning provider of your non-OU study.

Registration with the OU and recognition of prior learning

Although you cannot complete your application online for R86, you will be able to download an application form which will list the evidence you need to provide. This can be returned by email and your application will be reviewed. If eligible, your external level 4 counselling qualification will be shown as credits linked to the BSc (Hons) Counselling degree on your OU study record, and we’ll contact you to advise on how to enrol on your first module of OU study, D241 Exploring mental health and counselling. Please note there is a deadline date in which to submit your application, and this is usually four weeks prior to the final enrolment date for the first module. The application form will advertise the specific deadline date.

Funding and progression

Please note that currently government funding such as Student Fee Loans and Advanced Leaner loans cannot be claimed for study at two different institutions in the same academic year. If you are able to access government funding to study the non-OU element of this qualification (which will be affected by the centre you study at, and local funding regulations in UK nation where you live), this may increase the length of time it takes you to complete your studies.