Program 3: Certification, License and M.A. Degree

Program 3: Combined Certification/License & Master of Arts Degree (M.A.) (Complete Phases I, II and III)

Procedures and Requirements

Individuals who already hold a Bachelor’s degree in counseling or a related/accepted field may elect to complete the requirements for license and qualify for an M.A. in Clinical Christian Counseling.

Complete Phase I

Each candidate must complete the following 5 courses:

  • Basic Christian Counseling
  • Temperament Theory
  • Testing/Measurements
  • Temperament Therapy
  • Christian Counseling Psychology

Additional Requirements

Each candidate must:

  • Upon completion of the required courses, submit the following:
  • Complete a practicum. This consist of administering the A.P.S. to 10 individuals under the direction of an assigned and approved clinical supervisor.
    1. Written responses to 50 ethical questions posed by the N.C.C.A.’s Licensing board of Examiners.
    2. $50 for first year’s annual dues.
    3. A signed Application for Certification/Membership form and a signed copy of N.C.C.A.’s Code of Ethical Standards.

Upon completion of Phase I requirements, subsequent review and accep­tance, the candidate will qualify to receive:

  • a Certified Temperament Counselor certificate and
  • a Clinical Member (non-clergy) or
  • Professional Clinical Member (clergy) certificate, membership card and lapel pin

Complete Phase II

Each candidate must complete the following 3 courses:

  • Mastering Pastoral Counseling
  • Temperament Case Studies
  • Counseling the Codependent

Additional Requirements

Each candidate must:

  • Complete a practicum. This consists of administering the A.P.S. to 15 additional individuals under the direction of an assigned and approved clinical supervisor.
  • Upon completion of the required courses, submit the following:
    1. A signed application for N.C.C.A. license. The Notification and Release Form for Personal National Screening. (This form authorizes the N.C.C.A. to secure a national background check to verify each candidate’s history.)
    2. Submit current ministerial credentials.*
      *All candidates are required to have current ministerial credentials in order to be credentialed as a pastoral counselor by the National Christian Counselors Association. If you do not already have valid ministerial credentials, we recommend you speak with your local pastor or church leadership about attaining these credentials through your local church or denomination.
    3. a licensing fee of $100.

Upon completion of Phase II requirements, subsequent review and accep­tance, the candidate will qualify to receive:

  • a Licensed Pastoral Counselor Certificate and card
  • Certified Temperament Pastoral Counselor (Optional) (additional $39 fee applies)

** It is highly recommended that the student complete the Thesis of 25 A.P.S. Case Studies prior to beginning Phase III** as you will be following the recommended guidelines for the thesis in your course entitled: Temperament Case Studies in PII.

Annual membership and certification/license renewal is required. Member­ship is currently $50 per year and license renewal is $20 per year (total $70). A signed affidavit verifying continuing education must be submitted annually for license renewal.

The tuition for each Phase I and Phase II course is currently $292. There is a $5 processing fee per course plus actual shipping cost added to each order. Candidates are expected to pay for each course prior to shipping.

Dr. McCollum serves as clinical supervisor at the standard rate of $50 per hour, per every six (6) hours of supervision, required per candidate.

Complete Phase III

Each candidate must select and complete four (4) advanced courses.

Additional Requirements

Each candidate must:

  • Upon completion of the required courses, submit the following:
    1. One copy of a written thesis.**  This normally consists of 25 individual reports (case studies) developed from the candidate’s work with 25 individuals using the A.P.S. reports. A format is provided in the course titled Temperament Case Studies. The thesis has a 100 page minimum.
    2. A letter authorizing N.C.C.A. to transfer the academic records to the approved college.
    3. Matriculation and transfer fees of $1500 payable to:
    4. C.C.A. (A surcharge for payment by credit card may apply.)
    5. $50 made payable to the N.C.C.A. to upgrade the candidate’s license to the M.A. level of Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor.

After successfully completing all of requirements for Phase III the candidate will, assuming everything is in order) receive:

  • a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor certificate, card and
  • the Appropriate Advanced Certification certificate for selected specialty areas completed and
  • Master of Arts degree in Clinical Christian Counseling note-Additional documentation may be required depending on school selected.

The tuition for each advanced course is currently $193. There is a $5 processing fee per course plus actual shipping cost added to each order. Candidates are expected to pay for each course when it is shipped.

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Required Units

This unit includes the following units. Note that not all required items for this course are listed. For more information on what is required, use the Description and Course Fees tabs.

Elective Units

This following units are elective. Some, but not all of these units are required to complete this course. For more information, use the Description and Course Fees tabs.

RequiredReq. Amount# SubtotalSub
Enrollment Fee 1 $75 $75
Phase 1 1 $1,985
Basic Christian Counseling 1 $292 $292
Temperament Therapy 1 $292 $292
Testing/Measurements 1 $292 $292
Temperament Therapy 1 $292 $292
Christian Psychology 1 $292 $292
Clinical Supervision 3 $50 $150
A.P.S. Reports 10 $30 $300
Course Processing Fee 5 $5 $25
NCCA First Year Dues 1 $50 $50
Phase 2 1 $3,883
Mastering Pastoral Counseling 1 $292 $292
Temperament Case Studies 1 $292 $292
Counseling the Co-Dependent 1 $292 $292
Clinical Supervision 3 $50 $150
A.P.S. Reports 15 $30 $450
Course Processing Fee 3 $5 $15
License Fee 1 $100 $100
Advanced Courses 4 $193 $772
Course Processing Fee 4 $5 $20
M.A. Matriculation Fee 1 $1,500 $1,500
Total $5,943