Description
£2,000 £349
- Limited Time Offer
Monthly instalment plans are available.
Awarding Body: Focus Awards
Credits – 21
TQT – 210
GLH – 149
Recommended Course Duration – Up to 4 Months
Option to fast-track in 4 weeks is available.
Overview
The Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Advice and Guidance is a nationally recognised qualification designed for individuals who provide advice, guidance, or information in a formal or informal setting. This course is ideal for professionals working in roles such as careers advisers, support workers, learning mentors, housing officers, and employment consultants. The qualification enables learners to develop and demonstrate their competence in delivering person-centred, ethical, and effective advice and guidance services.
Delivered primarily in the workplace, this NVQ certificate allows learners to apply knowledge in real-time, with assessment based on observed practice and portfolio evidence. Key themes include establishing client relationships, managing information, understanding legislation, and promoting equality and diversity in advice settings. This qualification supports progression into senior advisory roles and further training in counselling, education, and support services.
Course Units
To achieve this qualification, you must complete achieve 7 mandatory units. The details of these units are as follows;
- Unit 1: Establish communication with clients for advice and guidance
- Understanding how to build trust to ensure that clients feel safe, respected, and willing to share their concerns openly during advice sessions
- Supporting clear and inclusive communication, ensuring all clients can engage fully in the guidance process
- Unit 2: Support clients to make use of the advice and guidance service
- Understanding how to explain the service clearly that clients know what support is available, how to access it, and what to expect from the process
- Supporting clients to engage confidently, encouraging them to ask questions, explore options, and take informed steps toward their personal or professional goals
- Unit 3: Review own contribution to the service
- Understanding the importance of self-evaluation helps you reflect on how your actions, communication, and decision-making
- Supporting continuous improvement involves identifying what went well, what could be improved, and using feedback from clients or colleagues to enhance future practice
- Unit 4: Understand the importance of legislation and procedures
- Understanding key legislation and procedures to deliver advice and guidance lawfully, ethically, and in line with organisational and sector standards
- Supporting compliance and safe practice while applying legal frameworks such as data protection, safeguarding, and equal opportunities
- Unit 5: Develop interactions with advice and guidance clients
- Understanding how to build effective working relationships to create a supportive and respectful environment where clients feel listened to and valued
- Supporting meaningful interactions involves using active listening, empathy, and appropriate questioning to explore clients’ needs
- Unit 6: Evaluate and develop own contribution to the service
- Understanding how to assess your own performance to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and the overall quality of the advice and guidance service
- Supporting professional development involves setting goals, acting on feedback, and seeking training or mentoring opportunities to enhance your effectiveness.
- Unit 7: Operate within networks
- Understanding the value of professional networks with a wider range of services and resources, improving the quality and scope of support offered
- Learn about collaborative working, sharing information appropriately, maintaining partnerships, and referring clients effectively
Entry Requirements</h2 >
The following are the entry requirements to enrol in this qualification:
- You must be 19 years old and above.
- You must have satisfactory literacy and numeracy skills.
Average Completion Timeframe</h2 >
The expected completion time for this course ranges from 1 week to 16 weeks, depending on the individual pace of the learner and level of commitment.
Practical Requirements</h2 >
This qualification requires a practical placement, as it is competence-based. You must be working or volunteering in a relevant advice or guidance role to demonstrate your skills through real workplace activities. Evidence is collected through observed performance and work-based documentation to confirm your ability to meet the required standards.
Assessment</h2 >
The assessment for the Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Advice and Guidance is based on the demonstration of practical competence in a real work environment. Learners are required to build a portfolio of evidence that shows they can consistently apply knowledge, skills, and behaviours in their advice and guidance role. Evidence includes written assignments, reflective accounts, work products, witness testimonies and relevant documentation. All assessments are internally marked by qualified tutors and externally verified by the awarding body to meet national occupational standards.
-
Progression</h2 >
Upon successful completion of this qualification, you can progress to more advanced roles or further training within the advice and guidance sector. Natural progression routes include the Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Advice and Guidance or qualifications in career development, coaching, mentoring, or counselling. You may also pursue leadership qualifications if they aspire to supervise or manage teams within support services. This qualification enhances career opportunities in settings such as education, employment services, housing, youth work, and social care, where skilled advice and guidance professionals are in demand.
Getting a certificate in the Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Advice and Guidance will enable you to progress to the following options: - Level 5 Certificate in Coaching for Health and Wellbeing
- Level 5 Diploma in Health Wellbeing and Lifestyle Management Coaching
-
Awarding Body: Focus Awards
Qualification Number: 601/7666/0
Focus Awards is a recognised Awarding Organisation regulated by Ofqual, ensuring all qualifications meet rigorous quality and assessment standards.
Verify the Qualification
View Sample Certificate
Enquire Now
- How to Join & Succeed
Full Payment
Monthly Instalment
Standard
£349
- Recommended Duration
Up to 9 Months - Maximum Duration Allowed
12 Months - Re-registration charges after Maximum Duration
£105
- Tutor Support
Unlimited - Assessment Decision and Feedback
Within 72 hours - Suitable for
Professionals studying alongside their jobs, who do not require fast tracking. - Not suitable if
You are certain that you won’t be able to study regularly to complete in the maximum timeframe suggested.
Fast Track
£390
- Recommended Duration
Up to 9 Months - Maximum Duration Allowed
12 Months - Re-registration charges after Maximum Duration
£70 - Tutor Support
Unlimited – Priority - Assessment Decision and Feedback
12-24 hours - Suitable for
Fast track completion, fast tutor support, prompt assessor feedback - Not suitable if
You are not able to devote extra time on the course because of work or personal commitments, as fast tracking is largely reliant on your own efforts.
Flexi
£420
- Recommended Duration
Up to 9 Months - Maximum Duration Allowed
24 Months - Re-registration charges after Maximum Duration
£15 - Tutor Support
Unlimited – Priority - Assessment Decision and Feedback
24-72 hours - Suitable for
Professionals who do not want any pressure to complete the course in the recommended duration. - Not suitable if
You are able to study regularly every week and are confident to complete the course within the recommended duration.
Standard
£401
- £57.34/Month
- No. of instalments
7 - Recommended Duration
Up to 9 Months - Maximum Duration Allowed
12 Months - Re-registration charges after Maximum Duration
£105 - Tutor Support
Unlimited - Assessment Decision and Feedback
Within 72 hours - Suitable for
Professionals studying alongside their jobs, who do not require fast tracking. - Not suitable if
You are certain that you won’t be able to study regularly to complete in the maximum timeframe suggested.
Fast Track
£441
- £63.07 /Month
- No. of instalments
7 - Recommended Duration
Up to 9 Months - Maximum Duration Allowed
12 Months - Re-registration charges after Maximum Duration
£70 - Tutor Support
Unlimited – Priority - Assessment Decision and Feedback
12-24 hours - Suitable for
Fast track completion, fast tutor support, prompt assessor feedback - Not suitable if
You are not able to devote extra time on the course because of work or personal commitments, as fast tracking is largely reliant on your own efforts.
Flexi
£482
- £53.51/Month
- No. of instalments
9 - Recommended Duration
Up to 9 Months - Maximum Duration Allowed
24 Months - Re-registration charges after Maximum Duration
£15 - Tutor Support
Unlimited – Priority - Assessment Decision and Feedback
24-72 hours - Suitable for
Professionals who do not want any pressure to complete the course in the recommended duration. - Not suitable if
You are able to study regularly every week and are confident to complete the course within the recommended duration.
Proceed
All prices include course fees, awarding body dues, Ofqual-approved certification and postage of certificate. The final certification you get is the same, regardless of your route. There are no strict deadlines for submitting individual coursework, allowing you room and flexibility to pace your studies; the only deadline is the overall course duration based on the option you selected above.
Why choose BSHC?
Industry-Recognised Qualifications
Regulated qualifications in Health & Social Care and Mental Health to ensure professional recognition
Affordable Learning
Budget-friendly payment plans that enable learners of all backgrounds to invest in their future seemlessly
Learn Anytime, Anywhere
Interactive course content and tutor support through 24/7 access to our our user-friendly Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Frequetly Asked Questions
What makes this qualification different from a counselling course?
While both roles involve communication and support, this course focuses on providing information, guidance, and practical advice, rather than emotional or therapeutic counselling. It’s more task- and outcome-focused.
Can this qualification help me move into a new career sector?
Yes. Many learners use this qualification to transition into support roles in education, housing, employment services, or social care, especially if they already have transferable skills.
Does this qualification count toward any regulated standards?
Yes. It’s mapped to National Occupational Standards (NOS) for advice and guidance roles and is regulated by Ofqual, which means it is widely recognised and credible.
Is the course delivered online or in-person?
The course is typically delivered online, allowing flexible study around your work commitments. You’ll be supported by a tutor and assessor throughout.
Is this qualification suitable for volunteers?
Yes, if you are in a relevant voluntary role that involves giving structured advice or guidance. You must be able to meet the assessment criteria through your activities.
Will this qualification help me become a team leader or supervisor?
Yes. It’s a strong foundation for those planning to take on more responsibility in advice-based roles. You can follow it with Level 3 or 4 qualifications in leadership, mentoring, or internal quality assurance.
Related Categories
Assessor
Become an Assessor through Accredited Assessor courses
Visit Courses
Education and Training
Become a Teacher/Trainer through Accredited Education and Training courses
Visit Courses
Teaching Assistant
Become a Teaching Assistant through Accredited Teaching Assistant courses
Visit Courses
Advice and Guidance
Become an Adviser/Counsellor/Coach through Accredited Advice & Guidance courses
Visit Courses
Related Blogs
No posts found!
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.