Social Sciences

Diploma in Health Counselling

The Diploma in Health Counselling is a KUCCPS-listed programme (Health Sciences & Related cluster), offered primarily at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), that trains counsellors specifically for health and medical settings.

Students study health counselling theory, HIV/AIDS and chronic illness counselling, patient communication, psychosocial support, and health promotion, building competence to support patients through diagnosis, treatment, and health behaviour change. Skills RequiredHealth CounsellingHIV/AIDS and Chronic Illness CounsellingPatient CommunicationPsychosocial SupportHealth PromotionKey SubjectsHealth Counselling TheoryHIV/AIDS CounsellingChronic Illness CounsellingPatient CommunicationHealth PromotionCertificationsKenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) MembershipSpecializationsHIV/AIDS CounsellingFocus on testing, treatment adherence, and psychosocial support for HIV/AIDS patients. Chronic Illness CounsellingFocus on supporting patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or cancer. Skills RequiredHealth CounsellingHealth PromotionHIV/AIDS and Chronic Illness CounsellingPatient CommunicationPsychosocial SupportKey SubjectsHealth Counselling TheoryHIV/AIDS CounsellingChronic Illness CounsellingPatient CommunicationHealth PromotionResearch MethodsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsHIV/AIDS CounsellingFocus on testing, treatment adherence, and psychosocial support for HIV/AIDS patients. Chronic Illness CounsellingFocus on supporting patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or cancer.

Kenya's healthcare system, with its significant HIV/AIDS, chronic disease, and mental health support needs, relies on trained health counsellors integrated into hospitals and health programmes.

Training combines classroom health counselling theory with supervised clinical placements, practising patient counselling under supervision in real healthcare settings.

Graduates work as health counsellors in hospitals, HIV/AIDS and chronic disease programmes, and public health organisations, with progression into higher diploma or degree-level health promotion and psychology qualifications.

The programme suits students who want a healthcare-embedded counselling career, distinct from school-based guidance and counselling or general community counselling.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 122,200
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

6 subjects

Health Counselling Theory
HIV/AIDS Counselling
Chronic Illness Counselling
Patient Communication
Health Promotion
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Health Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychological aspects of health including patient care procedures, clinical protocols, and professional standards for health practice.
Counselling Theories
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories and approaches to counselling as applied to health counselling principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Health Counselling Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational theories and approaches in health counselling for professional practice and competency development in the field.
HIV/AIDS Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Testing, treatment adherence, and psychosocial support for HIV/AIDS for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Grief and Loss Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Counselling for grief and bereavement as applied to health counselling principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Chronic Illness Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Supporting patients managing chronic health conditions for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Patient Communication
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Communication skills for effective patient interaction for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Practicum
Year 3Semester 14 creditsCore
Supervised health counselling practice applying classroom theory and practical skills in real workplace environments under supervision.
Health Promotion
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Designing and delivering health behaviour-change programmes for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Clinical Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement practising patient counselling at a health facility for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

HIV/AIDS Counselling
Focus on testing, treatment adherence, and psychosocial support for HIV/AIDS patients, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Chronic Illness Counselling
Focus on supporting patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or cancer, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Grief and Loss Counselling
Focus on bereavement counselling, grief processing, loss support, and end-of-life counselling within Kenyan healthcare and community support systems.
Mental Health Counselling
Focus on mental health assessment, therapeutic interventions, psychosocial support, and mental health counselling within Kenyan healthcare facilities.

A day as a student

Days combine health counselling theory with role-play patient counselling exercises and supervised clinical placements, practising real patient counselling under supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Addresses genuine, ongoing psychosocial support needs within Kenya's healthcare system.
Nationally accessible training through KMTC's wide network of campuses.

Against it

Emotionally demanding work supporting patients through serious diagnoses and illness.
Some roles are tied to donor-funded health programmes, which can affect job stability.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public118k to 122k

118k at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Year 2+122k at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Year 1

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KMTC self-sponsored 122.2K Y1, 118K Y2+ (tvet.co.ke). Private: unverified.

Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; HIV/AIDS and health programmes occasionally sponsor students for guaranteed placement.

Funding options

HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.

Scholarships

2 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C plain
Alternative entry: Equivalent qualifications recognised by KMTC.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across health counselling theory units.
Clinical Practicum Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Supervised assessment of patient counselling skills.
Final Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.

Accreditation

KUCCPS-listed diploma (Health Sciences & Related cluster); primarily offered at KMTC.

Accredited by

Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's health training framework; delivered primarily through KMTC.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Mental Health Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 70,000
Provides mental health counselling, psychosocial support, and therapeutic interventions for patients in hospitals and health facilities in Kenya.
Health Counsellor (Hospital)
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Provides counselling support to patients within a hospital setting.
HIV/AIDS Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 42,000
Provides testing and counselling support within an HIV/AIDS programme.
Public Health Counselling Officer
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 44,000
Supports health promotion and counselling programmes for an NGO or government agency.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as health counsellors in hospitals, HIV/AIDS and chronic disease programmes, and public health organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

HIV Testing Services (HTS) Protocol
Clinical assessmentPrimary
National HIV testing and counselling protocols used in Kenyan healthcare settings for client testing and adherence counselling.
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Assessment toolPrimary
Standardised depression screening tool used in health counselling for mental health assessment.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Case documentation, counselling reports, patient records, and health data management.
Counselling Session Recording Tools
Training equipment
Audio recording and transcription tools for practicum supervision and case review.
WHO mhGAP Intervention Guide
Clinical reference
WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme guide for mental health assessment and intervention in non-specialised settings.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Health counselling is the same as general counselling psychology.
It is specifically embedded in healthcare settings, focused on supporting patients through diagnosis, treatment, and health behaviour change.
Health counsellors provide medical treatment.
They provide psychosocial support and counselling, working alongside but distinct from clinical treatment providers.