PDA in Telephone and Online Counselling (Level 8)
- Location
- Distance/Online Learning
- SCQF Level
- 8
- Start Date & time
- 21 Jan 2026 @ 6.15pm - 9pm
- Qualification Type
- PDA
- Course Type
- Evening
- Duration
- 20 weeks (Tuesday evenings)
£625.00
Payment plans available, please enquire.
The Professional Development Award (PDA) in Telephone and Online Counselling, is a training course for counselling practitioners and professionals interested in confidently offering their services via blended formats while supporting and working with adults via online, video conferencing, and telephone counselling.
This nationally recognised PDA qualification for remote practice, is based upon research-informed competencies, and is jointly awarded by The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and SQA.
What will I learn?
This PDA in Online and Telephone Counselling covers the following units:
- Telephone and Online Counselling: Ethics and Professional Standards
- Telephone and Online Counselling: Safe and Competent Practice.
Once you have successfully completed this course, you will have developed knowledge and skills in the following:
- The nature, purpose and scope of blended therapy
- Ethical, professional and legal factors relevant to safe and competent practice
- Facilitation of online and phone therapy (OPT) training sessions in different client-centred environment
- Demonstration of readiness to practice with clients
- Participation in supervised practice utilising learned online and telephone competences
- Ongoing evaluation of own learning and professional development.
This course is delivered fully online on a Tuesday evening for 20 weeks from January to June.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- HND in Counselling or working towards an HND in Counselling or equivalent qualification at SCQF level 8.
- Entry to the course is at the discretion of the college, and evidence of suitability for the course may be obtained either at interview and or written assignment.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.