Eligibility Review
We review your counselling experience, responsibilities and current role to identify whether this qualification may align with your skills.
Our Services
Our Services
Evidence Review
We help identify workplace documents that can demonstrate your counselling practice and professional responsibilities.
Competency Check
We identify potential gaps in areas such as counselling therapies, case management, crisis response or counselling theory.
RPL Support
We help organise your experience and evidence before formal assessment by the RTO.
Qualification Overview
Qualification Overview
Qualification CodeCHC51015
Diploma of Counselling
There is no formal prerequisite qualification, but applicants still need sufficient counselling experience to demonstrate the required competencies.
| Qualification Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Code | CHC51015 |
| Qualification | Diploma of Counselling |
| Total Units | 17 |
| Core Units | 13 |
| Electives | 4 |
| Entry Requirements | None specified |
| Status | Current |
| Qualification Level | Diploma |
Suitable Roles
Who May Be Suitable?
This RPL pathway may suit experienced:
Counsellors
Youth Counsellors
Community Counsellors
Case Workers
Crisis Support Workers
Family Support Workers
Mental Health Workers
Welfare Support Workers
Your job title alone is not enough. The assessment focuses on the counselling work you actually perform.
Recognised Experience
What Experience Can Be Recognised?
Relevant experience may include:
Counselling interviews
Client assessments
Counselling plans
Multiple-session counselling
Counselling therapies
CBT application
Client decision-making
Case management
Crisis response
Referral planning
Client documentation
Ethical practice
Professional reflection
General support work may contribute to some competencies, but it does not automatically demonstrate Diploma-level counselling skills.
Counselling Practice
Counselling Practice Matters
A strong applicant should already be able to demonstrate structured counselling with different clients.
This can include:
Counselling Relationships
Establishing professional relationships, identifying client concerns and agreeing on counselling goals.
Counselling Sessions
Supporting clients across multiple sessions rather than only providing one-off emotional support.
Counselling Therapies
Selecting and applying recognised counselling approaches. The qualification includes competency in different therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Client Decision-Making
Helping clients explore options and make their own informed decisions rather than simply giving advice.
Case Management and Crisis
Case Management and Crisis Experience
Case management and crisis response are important parts of the qualification.
Relevant experience may include:
Client needs assessment
Case planning
Service coordination
Progress reviews
Referrals
Crisis intervention
Risk response
Case closure
Applicants with strong counselling experience but limited case-management or crisis exposure may require additional assessment or gap training.
Evidence Checklist
What Evidence May You Need?
Relevant Counselling RPL evidence may include:
Updated CV
Employment Contract
Position Description
Employer Reference
Counselling Plans
Case Notes
Client Records
Case Plans
Intake Forms
Referral Records
Session Records
Crisis Records
Training Certificates
Supervisor Verification
You do not need every document listed above. The assessor determines what evidence is required based on your experience and the competencies being assessed.
Client information should be appropriately redacted or de-identified where required.
Experience Check
Is Work Experience Alone Enough?
Not necessarily.
RPL recognises competency, not simply years of employment.
A person may have extensive community services experience but still need to demonstrate specific counselling skills.
Practical assessment, professional discussion or additional evidence may therefore be required.
Specific counselling skills may include:
Structured interviewing
Counselling theories
Recognised therapies
CBT
Multiple-session counselling
Case management
Crisis response
Overseas Experience
Can Overseas Counselling Experience Count?
Relevant overseas counselling experience may potentially contribute where it can be verified and demonstrates the required competencies.
Overseas experience is assessed against the Australian qualification requirements and is not automatically recognised.
Applicants may also need to demonstrate knowledge relevant to Australian practice, including:
Duty of care
Privacy
Informed consent
Professional boundaries
Mandatory reporting
Record keeping
Referral responsibilities
Counselling or Support
Counselling or General Support Work?
There is an important difference.
General Support Work
May involve emotional support, practical assistance, wellbeing support, referrals and general client communication.
Counselling
Usually involves structured interviews, counselling goals, client plans, therapeutic approaches, multiple sessions, client decision-making and professional counselling boundaries.
If your role mainly involves general support rather than structured counselling, another Community Services qualification may better match your experience.
Professional Membership
Professional Membership Requirements
A nationally recognised qualification and professional counselling membership are not the same thing.
If you intend to use the qualification for membership with a counselling association, check that organisation's current requirements before proceeding.
Think RPL should not present RPL as guaranteeing professional membership or registration.
Professional bodies may have separate rules relating to approved training, supervised practice and how much RPL they accept.
RPL Process
How the RPL Process Works
1. Experience Review
Your counselling background and responsibilities are reviewed.
2. Evidence Check
Relevant workplace evidence is identified.
3. RPL Assessment
An RTO assessor assesses your existing skills against the required competencies.
4. Further Assessment
Additional evidence, professional discussion or practical assessment may be required.
5. Final Outcome
The RTO determines which competencies have been successfully demonstrated.
If gaps remain, further assessment or gap training may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get CHC51015 through RPL?
Potentially. Your existing counselling experience and workplace evidence must demonstrate the required competencies.
Can support workers apply?
Yes, but general support experience alone may not be enough. Your role should include genuine counselling responsibilities if you are seeking recognition for the full Diploma.
Is there a fixed work-placement requirement?
There is no qualification-wide fixed number of placement hours specified. However, practical counselling competency still needs to be demonstrated.
Can overseas counselling experience be recognised?
Potentially, where it is relevant, verifiable and meets the required competency standards.
Does the Diploma make me a psychologist?
No. Counselling and psychology are different professional pathways, and separate registration requirements apply to psychologists.
Get Your Counselling Skills Recognised
Get Your Counselling Skills Recognised
If you already conduct structured counselling sessions, develop client plans, use counselling therapies, manage cases or respond to crisis situations, your existing experience may align with this RPL pathway.