Show/Hide navigation
University of Reading University of Reading
Mobile search categories
mask
Choose a subject
2025/26
2026/27

GradCert/PGCert Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Training

  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time: 1 Year Part Time: 2 Years
  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time: 1 Year Part Time: 2 Years

Gain the academic skills and clinical experience to qualify as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, with our Grad Cert/PG Cert Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Training course.

This course will train you to work as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) within an NHS Talking Therapies service in England, working with adults with common mental health conditions.

Why choose the University of Reading

  • Your training will be delivered within the Charlie Waller Institute. Established in 2008, the Institute offers award-winning training underpinned by psychological research.
  • This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). When you graduate, you’ll be eligible for registration with the BPS and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).
  • We are an early adopter site, delivering PWP training to more than 30 cohorts of trainees since 2008, and maintaining our accreditation since then. You’ll be taught by experienced and enthusiastic practitioners.
  • You’ll gain a theoretical understanding of common mental health problems and clinical skills to support clients using low intensity CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy).

What you’ll learn

On this course, you’ll follow the NHS Talking Therapies National Curriculum for PWP training.

The programme combines theory and practice-based learning at the University, alongside clinical practice under supervision at an NHS Talking Therapies service in England.

Self-funding or sponsored students may undertake their clinical placement at a suitable alternative setting.

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners provide evidence-based, low intensity cognitive behavioural-based interventions for adults experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression.

Your academic learning will:

  • provide you with a theoretical understanding of the nature and treatment of depression and anxiety
  • develop your clinical competency to offer evidence-based treatment at Step 2 of the stepped care model – through observation, role-plays and skills practice.

Who is the programme for?

Applicants employed by the NHS

Most of our students will be directly employed as a trainee PWP within a partner NHS Talking Therapies service. The course is fully funded by the NHS for these students. Trainees will receive a salary equivalent to a full-time NHS band 4 over the year, along with supervision within their service.

Fully funded trainee PWP roles are advertised on the NHS jobs website. Applicants should apply directly to NHS services for these roles. The University of Reading will review applications and be present on interview panels.

Self-funding applicants

You can apply directly to the University of Reading if you are interested in self-funding (covering the costs of training yourself as an individual), or being sponsored by your employer.

Self-funded or sponsored routes are only suitable for applicants with access to appropriate training cases (clients) and supervision. You will need to complete a minimum number of clinical hours and supervision hours in order to pass the course. Prior to starting the course, it is therefore essential that you have access to appropriate clients and supervision within your service/placement.

You will need to complete the Information Particulars and Objectives form at enrolment. The form also offers guidance around your responsibilities, and those of your employer/placement organisation and clinical supervisor.

The University of Reading is unable to help with securing a suitable placement or supervision if these are not already in place.

Course duration

This full-time taught programme spans 12 months and normally runs twice per year – starting in February and September.

From September 2026 onwards, there will be the option to complete this training on a part-time basis, over 24 months. The part-time option will only be available for those joining our September cohort.

Further options at the University of Reading

The University also offers an MSci in Applied Psychology (Clinical) – an integrated master’s programme comprising three years of undergraduate study, along with integrated PWP training in the fourth year at master’s level.


How you’ll learn

You’ll benefit from a variety of learning methods on this course, including:

  • interactive seminars and group discussion
  • experiential skills
  • observation
  • self-practice and self-reflection (SP/SR)
  • skills practice
  • directed independent learning
  • clinical discussion.

Your University-based activities will include:

  • 1 induction day
  • 31 structured teaching days
  • 19 University-directed study days.

Around 75% of teaching will take place on our Whiteknights or London Road campuses in Reading. The remainder of your teaching days will take place remotely, via Microsoft Teams.

While there will be some variation across the year, your week will typically consist of two University-related days (teaching and/or study days), with the remaining three days working in an NHS Talking Therapies service – or suitable alternative placement for those self-funding or being sponsored by an employer.

You must be able to attend 100% of the teaching and University-directed learning days. Annual leave may not be taken during these days.

Please note that teaching at the University pauses over the Christmas, Easter and summer periods.

Clinical practice

Over the year, you will need to complete a minimum of 80 clinical hours with clients and 40 supervision hours (20 hours of case management supervision, 20 hours of clinical skills supervision) within your workplace – or a suitable alternative placement for those self-funding or being sponsored by an employer.

You will also be required to engage in ongoing supervised therapeutic work with appropriate cases.

Assessment of competencies

We will assess your clinical and academic competencies formatively throughout the modules you study, and summatively at the end of each module. Each module must be passed to successfully complete the course.

The range of summative assessments includes:

  • role-play
  • submission of a patient recording
  • oral presentation
  • short essays
  • reflective analysis.

Formative assessments will also take place to support your learning and help prepare for assessed work.

You will be required to keep a Clinical Practice Outcomes Portfolio (CPO) throughout the course, providing evidence of your successful completion of all elements of the course – including application of theory to practice in the workplace.


New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £7,000 (for self-funding applicants)

New international students: N/A

Further fee information

Candidates who have secured an NHS-funded trainee PWP role will have their training fees covered.

For applicants who are being sponsored by their employer to attend this training or are self-funding, the current fee for full-time PWP training is £7,000.

The part time option (starting in September 2026), which lasts 2 years, will cost £7500.


As a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), you'll support adults from diverse backgrounds with common mental health issues. This will involve conducting assessments, identifying areas for change, providing support through various formats (phone, online, face-to-face), and signposting to relevant services like housing or employment.

PWPs may also collaborate with professionals across physical and mental health, social care and community organisations – working one-on-one, in groups, or in workshops. Ongoing supervision will help you reflect, improve and develop professionally.

As a qualified PWP, you can progress to senior roles (bands 6–8a) with responsibilities in management, leadership or clinical specialisms.

Career paths for PWPs include working in areas like long-term conditions, perinatal or occupational health, supervision, service leadership, clinical advisory roles, or research.

Some PWPs go on to become high intensity therapists, clinical psychologists, or counselling psychologists. PWPs who began training after September 2018 must complete their course and work for at least two years before being eligible for any other NHS-funded training.