Explore Our Counselling courses

Counselling offers opportunities for a rewarding career in many varied fields, whether through private practice or as part of a larger organisation. There are a growing number of specialist fields in counselling, so if you’re thinking about taking the first step towards working as a counsellor, a course with NEC is a great way to get started. 

You can choose one of three courses, depending on your prior experience and interests, and you’ll learn about the underlying principles of counselling techniques and practice.

There are no formal entry requirements for NEC’s counselling courses, but if you want to study Counselling Theory it would be beneficial for you to already be a practising or trainee counsellor, or to have a good understanding of counselling practice.

Studying counselling with NEC

With NEC’s flexible online distance learning courses in counselling, you study at a time and pace to suit you. 

When you become an NEC student, you’ll be supported by one of our expert NEC tutors. As well as being a qualified teacher with experience of assessing and tutoring online learners, your tutor will have experience of working in counselling.

Your tutor will support you as you work through the course, and advise you on completion of the assignments necessary to achieve your award.

You’ll also be able to call on the expertise of our dedicated student support team, by email or on the phone.

NEC are experts in online distance learning for counselling

At NEC, we’re experts in distance learning. Over the last 55-plus years, thousands of adults and young people across the UK and beyond have gained life-changing qualifications by studying with NEC. What matters most to us is the success of our students, so we offer all the support you need, combined with total flexibility to learn the way you want to.

Courses designed for online distance learning

NEC are innovators in distance learning, and all our courses are designed specifically for independent learners. You’ll access all your high quality course materials on learn@nec, our easy-to-use online learning platform, and your personal tutor will be there to help you succeed, commenting on your course assignments and preparing you for your exams.

We’ll provide all the course materials you need, and optional extra study guides are available to help you develop better study skills. The only essentials you need to provide are an internet connection, a sufficient standard of English to be able to understand the subject materials, and a drive to succeed!

Join an online learning community

Studying independently doesn’t have to mean studying alone. When you enrol to study counselling online with NEC, as well as having access to your personal tutor and dedicated student support team, you’ll become part of a friendly national and international online learning community.