How to become a licensed pastoral counselor

Ever since I founded my practice, I have been asked by students, pastors, and other professionals how to become a pastoral counselor. The answer isn't simple and takes some explanation, which is why we have included this article. First, we need to define what pastoral counseling is in order to understand what a pastoral counselor does. This article is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.

1. What is pastoral counseling?

Pastoral counseling integrates the insights of spirituality with counseling skill and theory. Pastoral counselors are either: ordained clergy who have graduate training in pastoral care and may sometimes be certified by a national organization in pastoral counseling — or — state licensed counselors who have graduate training in counseling but also additional training in theology and psychospiritual integration. Pastoral counseling is a unique form of counseling because practitioners are uniquely equipped to assist the healing of the whole person—spirit, soul, and body. Pastoral counselors may suggest prayer, study of scripture, spiritual disciplines, books, and other resources to facilitate growth inside and outside counseling sessions.

2. What education and credentials are required to become a pastoral counselor?

Pastoral counselors are usually ordained, commissioned, or licensed by their church or denomination. Requirements for this vary by individual religious bodies, but often require a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Master of Arts in Theology (MA) from a university, seminary, or institution accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

Some may also hold a state license in professional counseling, though some states allow pastoral counselors to be unlicensed as long as they are ordained and have ethical oversight.

3. How can I become trained in pastoral counseling?
Ever since 1963, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) was the organization that defined standards and ethics for pastoral counselors and pastoral counseling. AAPC previously offered certification for pastoral counselors for several decades and was open to individuals of every faith tradition. AAPC stopped providing certification and consolidated with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) in 2019.

ACPE now offers training through two programs: one for state-licensed therapists and one for ordained clergy. ACPE does not certify these professionals — these are continuing education programs. The program for state-licensed therapists is called the Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (SIP) program. The training for ordained clergy and church leaders in parish ministry is called the Pastoral Care Specialist (PCS) training program. Arizona Christian Counseling currently hosts the PCS Program:

IBCC Credential Types

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN PROFESSIONAL & PASTORAL COUNSELORS (BCPPC)

Board Certified Biblical Counselor (BCBC)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a lay Christian counselor – small group facilitators, church-based lay counselors, hospice workers, registered nurses, bachelor level social workers, substance abuse counselors, group home workers, etc., who are engaged in significant counseling/caregiving ministry.
• Be able to document at least one year of experience in counseling-related activities or lay caregiving and be in an active relationship with someone who provides oversight and accountability.
• A minimum of 90 contact hours of education/training in counseling and/or caregiving related to the incorporation of biblical principles and counseling skills with theory, knowledge, and practice.
• Maintain at least 20 Continuing Education contact hours every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and counseling skills with theory, knowledge and practice.

Board Certified Pastoral Counselor (BCPC)

Basic Requirements:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, ordination, religious licensure, and/or certification from a recognized entity – pastoral counselors with state sanction, national certification, denominational recognition, and/or religious licensure.
• Identify and practice as a Christian counselor – pastors, chaplains, associate/assistant pastors, youth ministers, pastoral counselors, etc., who are engaged in significant counseling ministry in church, para-church settings, Bible colleges and seminaries, and pastoral counseling agencies. • Be able to document a minimum of one year of experience in counseling-related activities and caregiving.
• A minimum of 60 contact hours of education/training in counseling and/or caregiving related to the incorporation of biblical principles and counseling skills with theory, knowledge, and practice.
• Maintain at least 20 Continuing Education contact hours every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and counseling skills with theory, knowledge and practice.

Board Certified Christian Counselor (BCCC)

Basic Requirements:

• An earned master’s or doctorate degree in counseling or a related mental health field from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university OR those with an earned bachelor’s degree meeting the same criteria above may qualify IF they also hold a valid and current mental health license or certification to practice at the state level.
• Identify and practice as a Christian caregiver – non-licensed, pre-licensed, or restricted-licensed individuals who have a registration, certification, or state sanction of some kind in allied professional, counseling, and/or teaching roles and who incorporate biblical principles and counseling skills with clinical theory, knowledge, and practice.
• A minimum of 60 contact hours of education/training in counseling and/or caregiving related to the incorporation of biblical principles and counseling skills with clinical theory, knowledge, and practice.
• Maintain at least 20 Continuing Education contact hours every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and counseling skills with clinical theory, knowledge and practice.

BCPPC Specialist

Certified Sexual Addiction Specialist (CCSA)

Addiction and Recovery Specialist (CARS)

Certified Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Specialist (CPTSDS) Basic Requirements:

• 45 hours of training in the specialty for which you are applying, 15 of which need to be Biblicallybased training or Christian integration.
• A minimum of 75 hours of documentable experience directly related to the specialty training for which you are applying.

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN LIFE COACHING (BCLC)

Certified Christian Life Coach (CCLC)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Coach. This refers to independently practicing life coaches who incorporate biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Completion of a minimum of 24 educational hours/CEs of specialized life coach training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 12 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice.

Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach (CACLC)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Coach. This refers to independently practicing life coaches who incorporate biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice and are involved in the practice of Christian Coaching.
• Completion of a minimum of 36 educational hours/CEs of specialized life coach training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 12 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice.

Certified Master Christian Life Coach (CMCLC)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Coach. This refers to independently practicing life coaches who incorporate biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and who are involved in a significant professional practice of Christian Coaching.
• Completion of a minimum of 60 educational hours/CEs of specialized life coach training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Be able to document at least one year of experience in coaching related activities with clients or in the training/equipping of others on coaching topics.
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 12 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice.

Certified Professional Christian Life Coach (CPCLC)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Coach. This refers to independently practicing life coaches who incorporate biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and who are involved in a significant professional practice of Christian Coaching.
• Completion of a minimum of 200 educational hours/CEs of specialized life coach training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Be able to document at least two years of experience in coaching related activities with clients or in the training/equipping of others on coaching topics.
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 12 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and coaching skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice.

BCLC Specialist

Certified Crisis Pregnancy Life Coaching Specialist (CCPLC)

• Completion of the 24 lesson Crisis Pregnancy Coach & Counselor Training Program

Certified James C. Dobson Life Coach Specialist (3 specific areas) (CJDLC)

• 2 Dobson Courses to achieve the Life Coach Specialist Certification
• 3 Dobson Courses to achieve the Advanced Life Coach Specialist Certification
• 5 Dobson Courses to achieve the Master Life Coach Specialist Certification

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN CRISIS AND TRAUMA RESPONSE (BCCTR)

Board Certified First Responder (BCFR)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Crisis and Trauma Responder. This refers to practicing crisis and trauma responders who incorporate biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Completion of a minimum of 24 educational hours/CEs of specialized crisis response training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice. Must include basic/foundational crisis response concepts and content.
• Demonstrate CISM-related experience: a minimum of 25 hours of which at least 10 hours must consist of formal experience (e.g., actual debriefing, defusing, crisis intervention, etc.).
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 15 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and crisis response skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice.

Board Certified Crisis Response Specialist (BCCRS)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Crisis and Trauma Responder. This refers to practicing crisis and trauma responders who incorporate biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Completion of a minimum of 60 educational hours/CEs of specialized crisis response training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice. Must include basic/foundational crisis response concepts and content.
• Demonstrate CISM-related experience: a minimum of 50 hours of which at least 25 hours must consist of formal experience (e.g., actual debriefing, defusing, crisis intervention, etc.).
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 15 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and crisis response skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice.

Board Certified Crisis Response Chaplain (BCCRC)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Crisis and Trauma Responder and primarily in a chaplain/pastoral role. This refers to practicing crisis and trauma responders who incorporate biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• Ordination, religious licensure, and/or certification from a recognized entity – pastors and chaplains with state sanction, national certification, denominational recognition, and/or religious licensure.
• Completion of a minimum of 60 educational hours/CEs of specialized crisis response training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice. Must include basic/foundational crisis response concepts and content.
• Demonstrate CISM-related experience: a minimum of 50 hours of which at least 25 hours must consist of formal experience (e.g., actual debriefing, defusing, crisis intervention, etc.).
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 15 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and crisis response skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice.

Board Certified Crisis Response Therapist (BCCRT)

Basic Requirements:

• Identify and practice as a Christian Crisis and Trauma Responder and primarily in a mental health professional role. This refers to practicing crisis and trauma responders who incorporate biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice.
• An earned master’s or doctorate degree in counseling or a related mental health field from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university.
• Completion of a minimum of 60 educational hours/CEs of specialized crisis response training related to the incorporation of biblical principles and intervention skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and professional practice. Must include basic/foundational crisis response concepts and content.
• Demonstrate CISM-related experience: a minimum of 50 hours of which at least 25 hours must consist of formal experience (e.g., actual debriefing, defusing, crisis intervention, etc.).
• Once the credential is awarded, maintain at least 15 CEs every two years related to the incorporation of biblical principles and crisis response skills with appropriate theory, knowledge, and practice

Download the IBCC Credential Types

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