Online Certificate in Counselling Skills
Accredited by COSCA
The COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills is for everybody who wants to improve their understanding of other people as well as themselves. You will:
- Develop active listening skills, which will help you support others
- Increase your self-awareness
- Learn about the main counselling approaches
The course is useful and practical, whether you are a helping professional, parent, manager or carer. It is also the first step towards qualifying as a counsellor.
The Certificate consists of four 10-credit modules at SCQF Level 8.
Why Rowan Training?
Rowan Consultancy offers a high-quality learning experience. What sets us apart from other training providers of the COSCA Counselling Skills Certificate?
- Rowan Trainers are all practising, accredited counsellors, with experience of using counselling skills in other professions. We are not simply counselling skills users.
- Rowan provides 33 hours of training per module, this is 10% more than the minimum requirement, giving you more times for skills practice, questions and material tailored to your context.
- Rowan trainers observe student skills practice several times per module, giving formative feedback as you go along, instead of only observing you once at the end of each module.
- Our training is student-centred and interactive, with many opportunities for skills practice and small group discussions in breakout rooms.
- We provide an online Resources page containing the teaching slides for every session, together with relevant video clips, podcasts and documents to enhance the training delivery.
- We have been delivering the COSCA Counselling Skills Certificate for over 20 years.
- We consistently receive excellent feedback from COSCA when they validate our provision.
- Our maximum group size is 12
- We allow you to pay in four installments.
- We pioneered online delivery of the Certificate in 2019.
Cost
£1620 for the complete certificate (paid before the start of module 1)
Early Bird rate £1500 if paid before June 30th 2026
£440 per module (paid before the start of each module)
Early Bird rate £400 for Module 1, if paid before June 30th 2026
SAAS Funding
Currently £402 which is paid towards module 4. Make three payments of £440 before the start of each of the first 3 modules and £38 for module 4.
Booking Forms
Online Counselling Skills Certificate booking
Module 2, 3 and 4 Online Counselling Skills Certificate booking form for joining mid-certificate
Dates
Information Sessions
March 18th 10am, April 14th 6pm,
May 20th 10am, June 16th 6pm
2026 Daytime Cohort
Module 1 from 12th August 2026
Module 2 starts 24th October 2026
Module 3 starts 6th January 2027
Module 4 starts 31st March 2027
This cohort will meet online from 10am to 1pm generally on Wednesday daytime with occasional Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
Module 1 - August 2026
August 12th, 19th, 26th, 29th
September 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
October 7th, 10th
Module 2 - October 2026
October 24th, 28th
November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
December 2nd, 5th, 8th, 15th, 19th
Module 3 - January 2027
January 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
March 3rd, 10th, 13th
Module 4 - March 2027
March 31st
April 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
May 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
June 2nd, 9th
2026 Evening Cohort
Module 1 from 11th August 2026
Module 2 starts 24th October 2026
Module 3 starts 5th January 2027
Module 4 starts 30th March 2027
This cohort will meet online from 6pm to 9pm generally on Tuesday evenings with occasional Saturdays from 2pm to 5pm.
Module 1 - August 2026
August 11th, 18th, 25th, 29th
September 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
October 6th, 10th
Module 2 - October 2026
October 24th, 27th
November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
December 1st, 5th, 8th, 15th, 19th
Module 3 - January 2027
January 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
February 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
March 2nd, 9th, 13th
Module 4 - March 2027
March 30th
April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
May 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
June 1st, 8th
2025 Cohort
Module 1 from 12th August 2025
Module 2 starts 21st October 2025
Module 3 starts 6th January 2026
Module 4 starts 17th March 2026
This cohort will meet online from 6pm to 9pm generally on Tuesday evenings with occasional Saturdays from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Module 3 - January 2026
January 6th, 13th, 20th, 24th, 27th
February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 28th
March 3rd
Module 4 - March 2026
March 17th, 24th, 31st
April 21st, 28th
May 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
June 2nd, 9th
Part Time Fee Grant
We are listed by SAAS as a part time private training provider.
The COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills is credit rated at SCQF Level 8 with 10 credits per module. If you book to study the whole Certificate ie all 4 modules, then you may be eligible for the SAAS Part Time Fee Grant to cover some of your fees. In 2025 the Part Time Fee Grant was £402.
Contact SAAS to find out whether you are eligible, how much the grant is, and how to apply.
What does the course involve?
The course has three main strands:
- Theory
- You’ll learn and understand the concepts of counselling and counselling skills, find out more about ethics and learn how to listen to and support others.
- Skills
- You’ll put into practice what you’ve learned, such as active listening skills, the use of body language, and speaking effectively while others listen.
- Self-awareness
- You’ll take part in insightful exercises to better understand yourself and how others perceive you.
The COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills comprises of four sequential modules.
Assessment
Students need to demonstrate competence in the learning outcomes of each module before proceeding to the next module. This assessment is made by the submission of a written assignment, an oral presentation, attendance rate of at least 85%, and through the trainee’s skills being observed by a trainer.
Successful candidates are awarded a COSCA validated Certificate in Counselling Skills. This course is credit-rated by the University of West Scotland (UWS) and maps onto the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) with 40 SCQF credits at Level 8, which is equivalent to English Level 5.
Laura Hall
Counsellor, Supervisor and Trainer
Laura completed her PGDip in Person Centred Counselling at The University of Aberdeen in 2022, and has since qualified in working with Children and Young People, Adoption Support, Clinical Supervision and Group Therapy. She specialises in working with neurodiversity, personality disorders and LGBTQIA+ clients.
Laura has provided therapy for young adults facing homelessness, and worked for a large Employee Assistance Provider, counselling clients in a short- term model as well as providing immediate telephone support. She now works in private practice with online clients and supervisees across Europe.
Rachel Weiss
Counsellor and Trainer
MSc, PGCE, FHEA, PG Dip. in Counselling and Supervision, MBACP (Accred.)
Rachel Weiss is the senior partner of Rowan Consultancy, which she founded in 1997. Her counselling training is based on humanistic, Gestalt, and CBT approaches, with a holistic view attending to the physical, emotional and cognitive aspects of each person.
Rachel is accredited by the BACP and COSCA. She is also an accredited member of the Higher Education Academy, a credentialled coach and a qualified, experienced mediator, and a member of the Scottish Mediation Register.
Very high impact. At first I struggled to see the relevance but as the course progressed it was really worthwhile. I learned new skills and believe that I have emerged as a more capable effective worker. Well delivered course. I learned a great deal about myself and how I work with young people.
Staff have found the range of courses provided by Rowan useful and the COSCA modules very useful in boosting worker confidence to handle sensitive issues in the care settings they work in. I am delighted that the certificate is now credit rated within the SCQF, which gives us, as employers, a level for the purpose of gauging staff competencies.
Register Now
The COSCA Rowan Certificate in Counselling Skills isn’t just about improving your listening skills. It’s a journey of self-discovery too. Face the challenge and book today.
Alternatively, if you need more information, give Rowan a call today on 01738 562 005 to speak to one of the trainers.