The rigors of NANC Certification help you to:
- “Present yourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
- Increase your effectiveness in ministering God’s Word to hurting people.
- Grow spiritually by doing some reading, studying, and thinking that probably would not get done without some structure.
- Identify with others who are committed to the sufficiency of Christ and His Word in solving life's non-organic problems.
- Be part of a national referral network of biblical counselors.
The NANC certification process can be confusing if you do not have a good understanding of what is required. This document is designed to help you gain that understanding. All of the documents mentioned below can be found on our website in the Application Packet. Keep this on hand as you work through the process to help ensure you meet the requirements.
Phase 1 – Training and Observation
- Complete the Basic Training Course which covers the topics required by NANC. This training is to take place through a NANC approved training center.
- Complete a minimum of 10 hours of counseling observation of a NANC certified counselor. This can be done in person or by purchasing the DVD sets available. You can find a list of certified counselors on the web page, or contact the NANC office to learn more about the video.
- Complete the Observation Log and submit it with your Application Packet.
Phase 2 – Exams and Application
- Obtain an Application Packet from the website at www.NANC.org.
- Complete the NANC Theological and Counselor’s exams. These are open-book, essay form exams. You can work on them at your own pace. Be sure to site your references after each answer.
- Complete the remaining documents in the Application Packet. Each of these must be received in the NANC office before your exams can be sent to a grader.
- Email your completed exams (in Microsoft Word format 2003 or older) to info@NANC.org, and mail your Application Packet to the NANC office with your $75 application fee.
- Once you have passed your exams and have been cleared by the NANC office, you will be free to contact a NANC Fellow and begin your supervision.
Phase 3 – Supervision Counseling
- You are required to satisfactorily complete 50 hours of supervised counseling with a NANC Fellow during this phase. The 50 hours must be completed within one year of the date you passed your exams. At least 10 of these hours must be with the same counselee.
- You will be given a list o NANC Fellows once you pass your exams.
- Supervision is usually done via email and telephone. You will fill out the Case Report Form (in the Application Packet) for each counseling session and email it to your Fellow. You will then call at an appointed time to review your counseling case(s).
- Case Report Forms will need to be submitted to your supervisor before your appointed phone call in order to allow sufficient time for your supervisor to review your cases.
- Your supervisor will also expect to listen to a minimum of 5 audio recordings of your counseling sessions (preferably, early in your counseling).
- After you have completed 50 hours of counseling with which your supervisor is satisfied, he will notify the NANC office and submit a recommendation for membership.
- Once you have completed the third phase of the process, or you Supervised Counseling, your supervisor will notify the NANC office and make a recommendation for membership.
- You will pay your membership dues and sign a Membership Covenant.
- Once we receive these, we will send you your official certificate (suitable for framing), and you will be added to the list of members on the NANC website.
- You will be publicly recognized as a new NANC Member at the next Annual Conference.
- As a NANC member you will receive discounts to NANC events and will be invited to a ‘Members Only’ reception at the Annual Conference.
For more information, including access to all the documents mentioned above, download our Application Packet.