Diploma of Counselling Practice
DCP
Backed by over 30 years of specialist training and 55,000+ graduates across 27 countries, AIPC's Diploma of Counselling Practice gives you a solid, scaffolded foundation in counselling theory and skills, equally suited to launching a new career or complementing the one you already have.
AIPC is the largest provider of counselling courses in the country. We have specialised in counsellor training for over 30-years. We have proudly helped over 55,000 people from 27 countries pursue their personal and career interests in counselling.
The Institute’s Diploma of Counselling Practice introduces you to general counselling theories, ethical and legal practice, personal and professional reflection, supervision and collaborative practice. The course is structured using a scaffold approach to develop your skills and knowledge in Counselling Practice.
The Diploma is extremely applicable to people from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you are seeking a fresh start in a rewarding profession; or want to acquire counselling skills as an adjunct to you core profession – such as teachers, nurses, ministers of religion, corrective services officers and administrators.
Talk to us about how you can gain ACA accreditation by studying with AIPC.
You are able to gain entry to the Diploma of Counselling if you are ages 18 or over and have:
Completed Year 12 (or equivalent) or
Completed a Certificate IV qualification, other formal higher education studies of at least 12 months duration from an accredited higher education provider, or
have at least 3 years of post-secondary work experience demonstrating capacity to successfully undertake study at a Diploma level.
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme for eligible students to pay their tuition (unit) fees.
Pay your unit fees direct to the institute each term for each unit in which you are enrolled.
Split Payments. This means you can pay a portion of your unit fees yourself, and the remaining portion using FEE-HELP (if elgible).
Pay via Credit Card or Direct Debit.
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Course Recognition
Why study our Diploma of Counselling Practice
Our Diploma of Counselling Practice is a practical entry point into the rewarding counselling profession. Being FEE-HELP approved, it’s the ideal entry qualification for those wanting to learn now and pay later.
Career ready
When you graduate, you will be extremely well prepared to pursue a career in Counselling Practice – employed or self-employed – enjoying our strong industry reputation and linkage.
Extremely applicable
This course is extremely applicable to people from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you are seeking a fresh start in a rewarding profession; or want to acquire counselling skills as an adjunct to your core profession – such as teachers, nurses, ministers of religion, corrective services officers and administrators.
Counselling education specialists
We believe you're better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. Many training providers deliver courses across a variety of industries. At AIPC, we prefer to concentrate on counselling and community services education.
Financed learning
Being FEE-HELP approved, our Diploma of Counselling Practice is a practical entry point for those wanting to learn now and pay later.
Career ready
When you graduate, you will be extremely well prepared to pursue a career in Counselling Practice – employed or self-employed – enjoying our strong industry reputation and linkage.
Extremely applicable
This course is extremely applicable to people from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you are seeking a fresh start in a rewarding profession; or want to acquire counselling skills as an adjunct to your core profession – such as teachers, nurses, ministers of religion, corrective services officers and administrators.
Counselling education specialists
We believe you're better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. Many training providers deliver courses across a variety of industries. At AIPC, we prefer to concentrate on counselling and community services education.
Financed learning
Being FEE-HELP approved, our Diploma of Counselling Practice is a practical entry point for those wanting to learn now and pay later.
Course Outline
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This foundational unit provides you with an introduction to the basic processes of counselling, with a focus on core communication skills. The unit will enable you to develop your understanding of the counselling role and the communication processes and skills that allow counsellors to work effectively with clients.
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This foundational unit describes the structures and processes of counselling and the client-counsellor relationships. The unit introduces the facilitative conditions that form the foundations of the counselling relationship. You will also learn about the role of the counsellor in facilitating the client’s own decision making and goal setting, and techniques for doing so.
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit will provide you with an understanding of theories of learning and behaviour. You will learn about the application of relevant theories and concepts to counselling, with a focus on the ways in which knowledge of learning and behaviour can inform understanding of and response to client issues. The unit will consider the application of learning and behaviour theories to counselling processes including information provision, and facilitating client skill building and behaviour change, along with other applications of learning and behaviour theories that are relevant to many clients.
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit will provide you with a broad understanding of human development, including physical, cognitive, social, and moral development, and the lifespan perspective. You will learn about key theories of development applicable to counselling, consider how development and developmental issues relate to counselling, and how developmental information informs counselling interventions including responses and referrals.
Prerequisite: DCP01, DCP02, DCP03, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit introduces you to two major counselling frameworks: person-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. The unit includes the use of specialist counselling communication skills (focussing, reframing and challenging), along with the importance of theories for developing understanding and selecting interventions within counselling practice.
Prerequisite: DCP02, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit will provide you with an understanding of the foundational ethical and legal considerations for counselling practice, including the core ethical principles and values of the counselling profession; ethical and legal responsibilities such as competency, duty of care, informed consent, and privacy and confidentiality. Students will explore key issues, and will consider strategies for maintaining compliance with ethical and legal responsibilities, as well as identifying and working through ethical dilemmas.
Prerequisite: DCP05, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit extends your understanding of counselling frameworks, focusing on more recently developed approaches to counselling, including contructionist approaches (solution-focused and narrative therapies) and acceptance and commitment therapy. Through this unit you will consider the principles, strengths, and limitaitons of each approach, and reflect on the development of their own framework for counselling.
Prerequisite: DCP06, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit provides an introduction to case management as it applies within counselling practice. You will learn about current approaches to case management that are consistent with counselling practice and ethics (specifically strength-based and collaborative modes of work), as well as the processes of needs identification and case management planning. You will explore the concept of complex needs, and learn about liaison, collaboration, and advocacy in the helping professions.
Prerequisite: DCP06, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit prepares you for undertaking professional reflection and supervision activities. You will learn about various foci for reflective practice (e.g., values, skills, and knowledge) and about strategies for engaging in reflection. You will learn what supervision is; how it can be helpful as well as indications that it is not. You will also be guided through processes for identifying and acting on professional development needs.
Prerequisite: DCP06, DCP08, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit explores a range of social issues of particular relevance to counselling, and which counsellors must be prepared to encounter in their practice. Specific issues include domestic and family violence, child abuse, and gender-based violence; self-harm and suicide risk; poverty and disadvantage; and health (including physical and mental health issues). You will learn about contemporary approaches to understanding and responding to these issues.
Prerequisite: DCP06, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit guides your development of your understanding of various forms of diversity, including diversity relating to ethnicity and culture; sex, gender, and sexual orientation; class, wealth, and status; and age, health, and ability. You will also explore the concepts of power, discrimination, marginalisation, and and intersectionality.
Prerequisite: DCP01 – DCP09, EFTSL: 0.125
This unit provides opportunity to gain experience through observation and exposure to counselling activities within an agency setting. This unit focuses on understanding the operation of the agency and knowledge of counselling work through observation of real-world application. You will focus on developing understanding of self and the role of the counsellor in a real-world setting. This unit involves 50 hours of agency placement.
# These units require the practical demonstration of skills in a real or simulated work environment.
* This course also requires completion of a work placement of a minimum of 50 hours.
Below are the upcoming intake periods for the Diploma of Counselling Practice.
Trimester | Commences | Census | Residential School | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Term 1, 2026 | 2nd Feb 2026 | 16th Feb 2026 | - | 5th Apr 2026 |
Term 2, 2026 | 20th Apr 2026 | 4th May 2026 | - | 21st Jun 2026 |
Term 3, 2026 | 13th Jul 2026 | 27th Jul 2026 | - | 13th Sept 2026 |
Term 4, 2026 | 5th Oct 2026 | 19th Oct 2026 | - | 6th Dec 2026 |
Below are the tuition fees for the Diploma of Counselling Practice.
Course | Year | Tuition Fee per unit | Total Course Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Diploma of Counselling Practice (12 units) | 2026 | $1,590 each | $19,080 |
On your application form, you can choose one course payment option to pay for your course. You are able to:
Option 1: Pay for your course using FEE-HELP (if you are eligible).
Option 2: Pay for each term of your studies upfront.
Option 3: Pay for a portion of your fees upfront and the remaining portion using FEE-HELP.
If your application is successful and you accept your placement, the investment for each unit is payable via the following methods after accepting your placement:
If you are choosing to pay all or part of your unit fees through FEE-HELP, you will need to return your Request for FEE-HELP Assistance form for the term by the due date indicated in your term enrolment letter. You can find out more about FEE-HELP from the following publication: Fee Help Information – 2026
Payment by credit card, cheque or money order for the term by the due date indicated in your term enrolment letter (usually within two weeks of the term commencing).
If you are paying some of your fees yourself and some through FEE-HELP, then returning your Request for FEEHELP Assistance form and payment of the remaining amount by credit card, cheque or money order by the due date of the term.
If accepted into the course, you nominate your preferred payment method on your Confirmation of Acceptance form to confirm your place in the course. Please note that the unit fees, and any other associated fees, are current only for the units in which you are presently enrolled, and can be reviewed and changed at the Institute’s discretion for future terms.
Subjects where credit is granted
Students are able to apply for credit of previous studies and experience as described in the RPL and Credit Transfer Policy and are not required to pay the unit fee for each unit in which credit is granted.
Students are able to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Credit Transfer to receive credit for one or more units** of the Diploma of Counselling Practice (up to a maximum of 4 units).
This enhances student progression through the course and provides recognition for students entering the course with relevant prior studies and work experience. Students granted RPL or credit are not disadvantaged in achieving the expected learning outcomes of the course, and the integrity of the qualification must be maintained.
RPL recognises that students, due to relevant life and work experiences, may already possess the requisite skills and knowledge for unit/s in the Diploma course. Students who have been working within a counselling environment for a number of years are able to apply for recognition of this prior learning or experience. Exemption can be applied for one or more course units** (up to a maximum of 4 units).
Assessing credit from prior experience takes into account the authenticity, currency, quality, relevance, transferability and comparability of the experience to the requirements of the unit for which credit is being applied.
Credit Transfer
Credit Transfer refers to obtaining credit towards another course on the basis of having completed previous study of an equivalent subject or unit. Students who have completed similar units to those included in the Diploma of Counselling Practice are welcome to apply for Credit Transfer. Students who have completed or partially completed another counselling course are particularly encouraged to apply for Credit Transfer.
Credit will not normally be granted for formal study completed more than 10 years prior to application unless there is evidence of continued relevance of this study for the course towards which credit is sought. Credit is granted where there is substantial overlap with the content and/or learning outcomes of the unit for which credit is being applied.
When assessing credit based on prior study, consideration is given to the objectives of the course, methods of delivery and assessment, admission requirements, course durations, the breadth and depth of the course material, practical training requirements, and experience requirements.
**Students can only obtain credit for a total maximum of 4 units inclusive of whether this credit has been obtained via RPL or credit transfer.
Below is a list of policies and procedures that apply to students enrolled in the Diploma of Counselling Practice.
Admissions Information
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Diploma of Counselling Practice is a higher education qualification with a 50-hour agency placement, whereas the Diploma of Counselling is vocational training you complete without placement. Studying at this level also takes you deeper into therapeutic frameworks, covering five major approaches over two dedicated units. FEE-HELP is available so you can defer your tuition instead of paying by term. The Diploma of Counselling leads straight to ACA registration, while this one gives you supervised agency experience and a higher education qualification.
Twelve units take you from core communication through to working inside an agency. You’ll learn to:
Use the communication skills that let a client feel heard and understood
Create the conditions a counselling relationship depends on
Help clients set their own goals and reach their own decisions
Use focusing and reframing to move a conversation forward
Challenge a client without damaging the relationship
Identify what someone needs and plan a case around it
Recognise and respond to domestic and family violence, child abuse, poverty and self-harm risk
AIPC scaffolds the course, so every unit prepares you for the one after it.
You’ll complete 50 hours of agency placement in your final unit, where you observe counselling work as it happens in real service. This is where you’ll see first-hand how an agency operates and how counsellors work within it. Several earlier units also ask for practical demonstrations, so you’ll practise your skills well before placement. A separate unit, Reflection and Supervision, prepares you for this.
You’ll study five major therapeutic approaches in two dedicated framework units:
Person-centred therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Solution-focused therapy
Narrative therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy
In Counselling Frameworks I you’ll meet person-centred therapy and behavioural therapy. Counselling Frameworks II covers the more recently developed approaches, asking you to weigh the strengths and limits of each and reflect on which suits the way you want to practise.
Yes. AIPC delivers the Diploma of Counselling Practice fully online through its Higher Education Learning Portal, where you’ll find your study guides, assessment details, learning materials and discussion forums. Every unit includes a weekly webinar with your lecturer, and you can email or phone for academic support throughout the course. You’ll complete your practical demonstrations online as well, so the coursework never requires you to be on campus.
The diploma prepares you for counselling support roles in community organisations, family services, youth agencies, church-based services and employee assistance programs. Some graduates work for themselves too once they have some experience behind them. Others continue into higher education, taking the diploma as a step towards a counselling degree. Your 50 hours on placement give you something concrete to talk about when you apply for your first role.
AIPC teaches the Diploma of Counselling Practice online, so you can enrol from anywhere in Australia. The course runs in four terms a year, with three units in each. Full-time study takes 12 months, and part-time enrolment spreads it further. You’ll manage your 50-hour placement with an agency near where you live.
This diploma might suit you if you want placement experience and a tertiary-level qualification from the start. Applying takes a little more than most diplomas, since you’ll write a 300-word essay explaining why counselling interests you and how you’ll manage study at this level. Entry requires Year 12 with a sound achievement in English, a Certificate IV in any field, 12 months of higher education study or three years of post-secondary work experience.
Related Courses
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