National Board for Certified Counselors
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The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) is a private, non-profit organization, run by professional counselors, that administers a US national professional certification program for people who hold graduate degrees in the field of counseling.
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[edit] History
The NBCC was formed in 1982 by members of the American Counseling Association (ACA), then called the American Personnel and Guidance Association, issuing certificates to qualified applicants soon after. Since its inception, the NBCC has become the primary credentialing organization for counselors in the United States and has initiated a worldwide effort, in conjunction with the World Health Organization, to identify, assist, and encourage mental health programs on a global level.
[edit] Accreditation
The NBCC is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accrediting body of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA).
[edit] Certifications
[edit] National Certified Counselor
The primary credential of the NBCC is the National Certified Counselor (NCC). There are currently over 40,000 NCCs in the U.S. and many other countries.
The requirements for obtaining the NCC credential include:
- A graduate degree in counseling (or one with a major study in counseling) from a regionally accredited college or university,
- At least 48 semester hours of graduate-level coursework,
- At least one course in each of nine (9) specified coursework areas,
- At least 3,000 hours of post-Master's counseling experience in an applied setting over a minimum of 24 months
- At least 100 hours of post-Master's direct supervision over a minimum of 24 months with a supervisor who holds an advanced degree in counseling or a closely-related field (social work, psychology, human services or marriage and family therapy), and
- A passing score on the associated National Counselor Exam (NCE).
One exception to the above requirements is the GSA-NCC program which allows students to take the NCE during their final academic year. Upon graduation, they are eligible to use the designation "Board Eligible NCC". These applicants are still required to fulfill the 3,000 hours of post-Master's experience and 100 hours of supervision within 3 years of receiving their degree, but have the advantage of taking the exam on campus prior to graduation, and lower application fees than non-GSA-NCC applicants. Most schools with academic programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) are participants in the program. The program is administered by the Board through individual coordinators at the participating schools.
Note that although the NCC credential is a voluntary certification and is not required for supervised or independent practice, it identifies counselors who have voluntarily sought and met standards that exceed basic licensure requirements. It is not, however, a substitute for State-mandated licensure. Many states use the NCC examination as part of their licensing requirements, which may provide license portability for counselors who wish to practice in more than one state.
[edit] Specialty certifications
In addition to the NCC, the NBCC also administers three specialty certifications:
- Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC)
- Master Addictions Counselor (MAC)
- National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)
All NBCC specialty certifications require the NCC credential as a prerequisite or co-requisite, specialized graduate-level coursework, and passage of an examination in the specialty area. The NBCC has retired two other specialty credentials, the National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC) and the National Certified Gerontological Counselor (NCSC). There are several hundred NCCs who still hold these specialty credentials, but they are no longer offered to new applicants.
[edit] Related organizations
Mental health professionals in other disciplines have their own national credentialing programs, such as those offered by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the Council on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, and the Association for Addictions Professionals.
[edit] References
- Clawson, T. W., Henderson, D. A., & Schweiger, W. K. (2004). Counselor Preparation (11th ed.). New York: Brunner-Routledge.
- Sweeney, T. J. (1995). Accreditation, credentialing, professionalization: The role of specialties. Journal of Counseling and Development, 74, 117-126.
- National Board for Certified Counselors, GSA-NCC Requirements: http://www.nbcc.org/gsabe
