National Certified Pastoral Counselor 1 (NCPC 1)
This level of certification is designed for the para-professional / volunteer counselor working in a supervised clinical setting or for supervised lay counselors.
Certification Requirements
Education
Associates or Bachelors degree from a school that is regionally accredited, accredited by DETC (Distance Education and Training Council), or from one of the
NBCPC Approved Schools.
Coursework must include a minimum of 6 semester hours of undergraduate education in Pastoral Counseling, Ministry, or Theology with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and 6 semester hours of undergraduate education in Counseling with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Exam
Successfully complete NBCPC 1 exams
or both of the following:
Pastoral Certification
Received a NBCPC Approved Pastoral Certifications that are accredited by one of the following organizations:
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- American Association of Bible Colleges
- Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
- Association of Advanced Rabbinical & Talmudic Schools
- Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
-
Counseling Certification
State licensure as a Psychologist, Social Worker, Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Counselor (or equivalent), or successfully complete the NCE (National Counselor Examination), or recieved an approved NBCPC Counseling Certifications.
Experience
100 hours of work as a Counselor, Pastoral Counselor, Social Worker, Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Counselor or equivalent and 10 hours of individual, documented supervision.
Re-Certification
NCPC 1 counselors are required to be re-certified every 2 years.
Continuing Education
NCPC 1 counselors are required to complete 12 approved CEU's per year.