15/02/2026
SEG/JMC Postgraduate Diploma & Masters (Equivalent)
Progress to SCoPEd Column C with Confidence
The counselling profession is evolving rapidly.
With the implementation of the SCoPEd framework and clearly defined national progression standards, practitioners are now required to think strategically about their professional trajectory.
The question is no longer whether progression matters, but how you position yourself within the new structure of the profession.
In response, JMC Counselling & Training, in partnership with the Skills Education Group (SEG), has developed a rigorous two-year postgraduate pathway for qualified practitioners who wish to operate at advanced professional level.
This programme is written to:
* Ofqual Level 6 (Postgraduate Diploma – Year One)
* Ofqual Level 7 (Masters equivalent – Year Two)
* SCoPEd Column B and Column C competencies
* BACP Accredited Progression Course (APC) training requirements
A Professional Alternative to University Masters Routes
Traditional university postgraduate counselling programmes frequently cost £27,000–£30,000 over three years.
Our two-year postgraduate pathway delivers the same academic level descriptors, research expectations, clinical complexity and supervised integration, without the excessive university fee structure.
Fees:
* Year One (Level 6): £3,995
* Year Two (Level 7 equivalent): £3,995
* Total Investment: £7,990
When curriculum content, assessment standards, supervised practice, and research depth are written to the same national level descriptors, the real difference becomes cost, not competence.
What You Will Develop
This programme is designed for experienced practitioners ready to work at greater depth and complexity.
You will develop:
* Advanced clinical formulation and diagnostic understanding
* Confident work with trauma and psychosomatic presentations
* Risk assessment and complex case management
* Medication literacy and multidisciplinary communication
* Higher-level use of supervision
* Research competence culminating in a dissertation and in-vivo integration
You will select a specialist area of focus within the counselling profession, enabling you to work with clients at greater depth and clinical sophistication.
Developing expertise in a defined area not only enhances the quality and effectiveness of your therapeutic practice, but also strengthens your professional profile and broadens your employment and referral opportunities.
This is not a “top-up” award. It is a complete, structured, two-year postgraduate programme at Levels 6 and 7.
APC Pathway: Column B → Column C
The programme follows a clear progression model:
Year One – Level 6
Aligned to SCoPEd Column B
Advanced practitioner level, enhanced therapeutic competence, greater clinical depth.
Year Two – Level 7 Equivalent
Aligned to SCoPEd Column C
Masters-level thinking, advanced psychotherapeutic reasoning, research-informed practice.
Completion positions you within the highest tier of nationally recognised professional competence.
Why This Matters Now
Employers and commissioning bodies increasingly reference:
* Level 6 or above
* Column B or Column C alignment
* Demonstrable advanced clinical capability
Job descriptions frequently state:
“Postgraduate Diploma / Masters in Counselling or equivalent.”
What employers assess is:
* Academic level
* Clinical hours
* Supervision structure
* Professional body alignment
* Evidenced competence
When a programme is mapped to the same Level 6 and Level 7 descriptors and national frameworks, the professional outcome is what carries weight.
Who This Is For
This pathway is suitable for practitioners who:
* Hold a Level 5 Diploma in Counselling or Psychotherapy
* Have completed a Level 4 Diploma including 100 supervised client hours
* Wish to deepen clinical maturity and theoretical integration
* Are considering BACP accreditation and Senior Accreditation, or
* Are considering NCPS accreditation and Senior Accreditation, or
* Are considering accreditation or Senior accreditation with alternative professional bodies
* Intend to work with greater therapeutic complexity
Please note:
Entry onto this programme requires completion of a full Level 5 Diploma in Counselling or Psychotherapy.
Accreditation at Level 4 alone, or existing alignment to SCoPEd Column B, does not meet the entry criteria.
Practitioners can exit after successful completion of the SEG level 6 Post Graduate Diploma (Column B SCoPEd)
To achieve column C status, practitioners MUST complete years one and two.
Training Commencement & Schedule
Training will begin on Tuesday 1st September 2026, running from 5:45 pm to 10:00 pm.
Sessions will continue on the same day and at the same time each week throughout the full two-year programme.
Standard academic holiday breaks will be observed. A complete schedule of training dates, including holiday periods, will be provided to all applicants upon request of the application pack, ensuring full transparency and advance planning for the duration of the course.
Mode of Delivery:
Training is delivered primarily in person. However, practitioners based in the Republic of Ireland or elsewhere in the UK may attend the majority of sessions online.
ALL STUDENTS are required to attend in person at least once per calendar month. The designated in-person training day will be the first Tuesday of each month, and attendance on this day is mandatory.
If a practitioner is unwell or unable to attend on the scheduled date, an alternative in-person session later within the same calendar month must be attended. Monthly in-person attendance is a compulsory element of the programme. Some attendance is a mandatory APC requirement.
Programme Structure
Year One – Level 6 (Column 😎
1. Integrative Foundations
2. Ethics and Law
3. Clinical Complexity
4. Psychosomatic Practice
5. Medication Awareness
6. Research Proposal
Year Two – Level 7 Equivalent (Column C)
7. Advanced Assessment
8. Trauma Practice
9. Supervision and Continuing Professional Development
10. Dissertation and In-Vivo Practice
All tutors are senior accredited practitioners aligned to Column C.
Limited Places Available
* 18 places available
* Closing date: 31 March 2026
Demand for this programme is strong, with applications already received from across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The Bottom Line
If you want:
* Academic rigour
* Clinical depth
* National SCoPEd alignment
* Financial realism
* Advanced professional positioning
This pathway provides a structured and strategic route forward.
You can achieve Masters-level standing without incurring disproportionate debt.
At JMC, we recognise that studying at postgraduate level, particularly within the evolving SCoPEd framework and BACP Accredited Progression Course (APC) requirements, can feel demanding.
For this reason, we have developed structured assignment templates that clearly integrate SCoPEd competencies and APC criteria, providing clarity, direction and confidence from the outset. These templates are designed to support academic precision while reducing unnecessary complexity.
Students also benefit from extensive online learning resources, including recommended textbooks, peer-reviewed academic journals, curated video content and guided research materials.
In addition, we provide ongoing practitioner support throughout the programme, ensuring that you are never navigating the process alone. Our aim is simple: to equip you with the structure, resources and professional guidance needed to successfully complete your training and achieve your progression goals.
To request:
* The full course handbook
* An application pack
* Entry interview details
* Schedule of training dates, including holiday periods
Contact us:
WhatsApp: 07734 349260
Email: jmccounselling@btinternet.com
Further information and the application form can be found on our website at:
www.jmccounsellingandtraining.co.uk
We look forward to supporting the next stage of your professional journey.
Warm regards,
Joseph Coney MSSc, BACP Sen Acc, Dip Couns, Dip Sup, FNCS, GPsYc.
SCoPEd Column C Practitioner
Core Tutor
