Choosing where to study is the first real decision on the road to becoming a Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner. It matters, but not for the reason most people assume. Because every provider is delivering the same regulated qualification, you are not choosing between different diplomas. You are choosing between different ways of getting to the same diploma: different prices, different levels of flexibility, and very different amounts of support. Get that fit right and you finish. Get it wrong and you stall halfway through.

This page walks through what actually separates one CLC training provider from another, what a course should cost, the independent checks you can run in minutes, and the exact questions to ask before you commit. It serves two audiences: self-funding students choosing where to study, and employers choosing a provider for a funded apprenticeship. There are two detailed checklists near the end, one for each. If you want the employer apprenticeship route in more depth, see our companion guide: How to choose the right apprenticeship training provider.

What is a CLC-approved training provider, and why does it matter?

To qualify as a Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner in England and Wales, you must complete the CLC Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas with a training provider approved by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), the specialist property law regulator. Approval is not a formality. A provider has to pass a quality evaluation and meet ongoing standards before the CLC and Qualifications Scotland (which co-awards the diplomas) will let it deliver and assess the qualification.

The practical takeaway is simple: only enrol with a provider on the CLC's official list. A course that is not CLC-approved will not lead to the licence, no matter how similar the syllabus looks. At the time of writing, nine providers are approved, including Access Law Online, Law Training Centre, MOL, Datalaw, Astranti, PDR Property Law Training Centre, Total People, The Manchester College and Cardiff Metropolitan University. That list changes as new providers are approved, so check the current version on the CLC website before you commit.

One quick admin point that trips people up: the CLC processes your application in your legal name exactly as it appears on your passport. Enrol with your training provider using the same name so nothing has to be untangled later when you apply for your licence.

Does your choice of provider change the qualification you get?

No. This is the single most important thing to understand before you compare providers. The Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas in Conveyancing Law and Practice (and the equivalent Probate diplomas) are set and regulated centrally by the CLC and Qualifications Scotland. Whichever approved provider you study with, you sit the same qualification, you meet the same standard, and you apply to the same regulator for the same licence at the end.

So a more expensive provider is not selling you a better diploma. It is selling you a different experience of earning it. That is why the rest of this guide focuses on the things that genuinely differ from one provider to the next, rather than on the qualification itself.

What actually differs between CLC training providers?

Seven factors do most of the work when you compare providers. The table below is the shortlist to run every provider against, including the one you are already leaning towards.

Fee ranges are indicative market figures based on published guidance from the CLC and providers; always confirm the current fee directly with each provider before you enrol.

What should a CLC course cost?

Cost is usually the first question and the most misread. Across the market, sector guidance puts the Level 4 Diploma at roughly £3,500 to £4,000 and the Level 6 Diploma at roughly £3,000 to £3,600, which would put the full route towards a Licensed Conveyancer licence in the region of £6,500 or more in tuition before you count CLC fees.

The number that matters, though, is the total you will actually pay, not the headline. Before comparing two prices, check what each includes. Does the fee cover every module and all assessments? Are re-sits included, or charged separately? Do you pay to unlock modules one at a time? A low sticker price with per-module or per-resit charges can end up costing more than a higher all-inclusive fee.

If you might qualify for an exemption, the cost question changes completely, because you could skip Level 4 altogether. It is worth checking before you pay for anything. Our CLC Exemptions Calculator gives you an instant read on whether your prior study or experience could shorten the route.

How quickly can you realistically finish?

Most students complete each diploma in 12 to 24 months of part-time study, and the CLC sets no upper time limit. What can slow you down is not the syllabus but the provider's scheduling. Fixed exam windows, monthly cohort starts and a wait between enrolment and your first assessment can quietly add months, especially if you are already experienced and ready to move fast.

So when a provider quotes a duration, ask two follow-up questions. How often can I sit assessments? And is there a minimum wait before I can book my first one? A provider that assesses on demand lets a motivated or experienced student finish far quicker than the headline duration suggests. At Access Law Online, for example, knowledge-mapping assessments are available from enrolment day with no minimum wait, exams run six days a week, and Level 4 assignments are released instantly on request, which is how some experienced students complete both diplomas in as little as three to four months.

Be a little wary of any provider promising full qualification in under 18 months from a standing start. The diplomas can be fast, but the CLC's 1,200 hours of supervised practical experience cannot be rushed, so an unrealistic timeline is usually a sign the practice requirement is being glossed over. For the honest version of the timeline, see How to become a Licensed Conveyancer.

What support should you expect from a good provider?

On a distance-learning course, support is the difference between finishing and drifting. It is also the hardest thing to judge from a sales page, so ask directly. Who answers my questions, how quickly, and are they practitioners or academic-only staff? Are there live webinars and revision sessions before assessments, or only recorded material? Will someone help me understand my exemptions and find the practical experience I need?

The strongest providers give you fast, human help from people who actually do conveyancing or probate work, plus structured revision support and honest guidance on exemptions and practice hours. The weakest leave you with a manual and an email address. Since the qualification is the same everywhere, this is one of the clearest ways one provider earns its fee over another.

Which provider setup suits you?

The right choice depends on where you are starting from. Here is how to think about it for four common situations.

Independent checks you can run yourself

You do not have to take a provider's word for anything. A legitimate CLC provider will pass every one of the public checks below, and they take about ten minutes in total. If a provider is missing from a register it should be on, or the names and numbers do not line up, treat that as a red flag and ask why before you pay.

One important cross-check: a provider's trading name and its registered company name are often different. Find the exact legal entity (the limited company) the provider operates under, and run your Companies House and solvency checks against that registered name, not the trading name. A trading name can look perfectly healthy while the company behind it is not, so make sure the trading name, the registered company name and the names on every official register all point to the same active, solvent entity, and ask about any mismatch before you pay.

The full checklist: what to ask before you commit

Use the checklist that fits your situation. Work through it with each provider on your shortlist and you will quickly see who is transparent and who is not.

Start your route with Access Law Online

If inclusive pricing, on-demand assessment and support from practising conveyancers and probate practitioners are what you are after, here is where to begin. Not sure which level you need? Start with our qualifications guide or check whether you need a degree at all in Can you become a conveyancer without a degree?

Choosing a CLC training provider: frequently asked questions

Are all CLC training providers the same?

The qualification they award is the same, because the Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas are set and regulated by the CLC and Qualifications Scotland. The providers themselves are not the same. They differ on price, payment terms, pass rates, how flexibly you are assessed, how quickly you can finish, and the support they offer. So you are choosing between experiences of earning the same diploma, not between different diplomas.

Does it matter which CLC training provider I choose?

It matters for cost, speed and how well supported you feel, but not for the licence you end up with. Any approved provider leads to the same CLC qualification and the same route to becoming a Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner. The main risk to avoid is enrolling with a course that is not CLC-approved, which will not count towards the licence.

How much should a CLC conveyancing course cost?

Across the market, the Level 4 Diploma is broadly £2,300 to £4,000 and the Level 6 Diploma is broadly £1,900 to £3,600, so the full route is often £6,500 or more in tuition. Access Law Online charges £2,310 for Level 4 and £1,920 for Level 6, a fully inclusive £4,230 for the route, with 0% interest instalments available. Always check what a fee includes, since re-sit and module-unlock charges can change the real total.

How do I check a provider is genuinely CLC-approved?

Check the official list of approved training providers on the CLC website. If a provider is not on that list, its course will not lead to a CLC licence, whatever its marketing suggests. Nine providers are currently approved, and the list is updated as new providers pass the approval process.

Can I switch training provider partway through?

Because the diplomas are centrally regulated, your passed units are recognised by the CLC rather than tied to a single provider, so moving is possible. In practice it is smoother to choose well at the start, since providers structure their support and assessments differently. If you are unsure, ask each provider how transfers and previously passed units are handled before you enrol.

What is the fastest way to qualify?

For most people the limiting factor is the CLC's 1,200 hours of supervised practical experience, not the study. If you already have that experience through your job, a provider that assesses on demand with no minimum wait lets you move through both diplomas quickly, sometimes in three to four months. Starting from scratch, expect three to four years overall, and be cautious of any provider promising a much faster route.