Frequently asked questions

Routes into psychology and counselling practice vary by country and by professional body, and usually combine accredited study, supervised practical experience and registration with a national or professional regulator. IICAP's courses build the theoretical knowledge and applied counselling skills that form part of that journey — including our Professional Diploma in Applied Counselling & Psychotherapy Practice, which combines ten core modalities with live supervised practice. We recommend checking your national regulator or professional association for the specific registration requirements in your country.

Our courses are built for two kinds of learner: those taking their first steps into counselling and applied psychology, and working professionals — psychologists, counsellors, coaches, teachers, social workers and healthcare staff — looking to add modality-specific skills or an IAOTH-accredited certificate to their practice. Each course page sets out exactly who it's designed for and what you'll be able to do on completion, so you can pick a pathway that matches where you are in your career.

Yes. Our introductory, self-paced courses (such as Skills and Process of Counselling, CBT and REBT) are designed as an entry point for complete beginners, with no prior qualification required. From there you can progress to our 20+ hour advanced courses or the six-month Professional Diploma.

Take the free psychometric career test on Career Boulevard, our sister platform, to explore whether counselling and applied psychology could be the right career direction before you commit to a course.

The Professional Diploma in Applied Counselling & Psychotherapy Practice is our full six-month programme covering ten core modalities. You can take it in full, or study the same modalities as standalone two-week courses — useful if you want to build up your training gradually or focus on a specific modality.

Our courses are designed primarily for working mental health and healthcare professionals seeking professional development, accreditation or upskilling, as well as for those entering the counselling and psychology field for the first time. Each course page states clearly who it is intended for.

All Phase 1 courses are delivered fully online and self-paced, with guided milestones so you can study around your professional and personal commitments from anywhere in the world.

Yes. On successful completion you receive a IAOTH-accredited certificate stating the course title and the number of learning hours, suitable for professional portfolios and revalidation.

Learning hours quantify the professional learning a course represents. Many professional bodies require members to complete a number of learning hours each year; our courses state their hours clearly.

Our courses are IAOTH-accredited. Full details of recognition and accrediting partners are set out on our Accreditation page. We only publish accreditation claims that are accurate and verifiable.

Routes to professional registration vary by country and by professional body. Our courses build knowledge, skills and professional development; we recommend checking the specific requirements of your national regulator or professional association.

During Phase 1 you can register your interest through our enquiry form and our team will guide you through enrolment. Self-service online enrolment and secure payment are coming soon as part of our student platform.

Indicative prices are shown on each course page. Final pricing, payment plans and any regional adjustments will be confirmed at enrolment.

Yes. Live classes, online examinations and one-to-one video sessions with tutors are planned features of our upcoming student platform. You can see these on our roadmap and sign up to be notified when they launch.

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