Do I need to be a Minister?

Many future Christian counselors wonder about becoming a minister.   Christian Counselors are Licensed or Ordained Ministers. One of the most powerful aspects about becoming a Christian counselor is entering into ministry (assuming you are not already a member of the clergy). Once you become a minister, you will be able to legally perform all the functions that define that ministry. If you become fully ordained, you will be able to marry couples, perform baptisms, offer sacraments, be privileged by hospitals, qualify for ministerial discounts at Christian book stores, bury those who pass on, and many other activities that are appropriate for an ordained minister. Other levels of ministry can be more narrowly defined. It is not unusual to be commissioned as a minister for a specific purpose, such as a counselor or a missionary.

Most people entering into ministry do not start out as fully ordained ministers. For the purposes of being a Christian counselor, being commissioned or licensed by a established church is sufficient. Some may prefer not to carry the responsibilities of being fully ordained, and that is perfectly fine.

Entering the ministry is one of the important preparations you must perform in order to secure your legal standing as a Christian counselor. Students may become ordained or commissioned by an existing church if they intend to function within the boundaries of that church. If you intend to create a free-standing counseling practice, as many do, then you will want to be independently credentialed.

Many of the individuals who inquire about our certification and licensing programs are already accountably ordained ministers under the authority of a church or denomination. These individuals will not require additional ministerial credentials in order to be licensed and certified by the NCCA. In most States they may perform Christian counseling services and be paid for doing so, as long as they adhere to the local and State regulations. Most States simply exempt ordained ministers, but may prevent them from using specific titles such as "therapist."

In some States they will need to establish that they are under the authority of an established church with whom they remain accountable. You will need to do a little research for your State to determine the rules that apply to you. This is VERY important.

If you are not ordained, your call is just as real. You need to think long and hard about whether or not you want to be State licensed. If you become State licensed, you could be giving up your right to represent Jesus as the ultimate healer. You just want to be able to answer God's call upon your life.

NPCTC’s main purpose is to provide quality training for pastors and Christians who feel God’s call to counsel. Our training results in credentials that the community (Christian and non-Christian) will recognize.

The community can be assured that your credentials are authentic and current. Other benefits available to N.C.C.A. members include qualifying for professional liability insurance, networking with other counselors and the opportunity to earn continuing education credits at seminars and conferences. In addition, the N.C.C.A. offers assistance to its members with regard to degree transfer work and fulfillment of academic goals. Please remember though, the N.C.C.A. is a separate entity from NPCTC. Our goal is to provide a path towards N.C.C.A. licensing/credentialing. Individuals that complete the program will be evaluated by the N.C.C.A. and they will make the final determination regarding your License and or Degree.

You can learn more about the services that NPCTC provides HERE

EXPERIENCE MINISTRIES 

https://experienceordination.org/

Ideally, receiving a License, Ordination or Commission from your local Church would be the way to go. But, in some cases, this is not possible for a variety of reasons.

Experience Ministries primary function is to provide accountability and support to ministries that fall outside the traditional definition of a church.

They have created unique supports for pastoral counselors as well as those serving in other specialized ministerial capacities.

Their leadership has a wealth of training and experience in the ministry of counseling. Most have completed the NCCA training program and taught at their annual conferences. They have also received additional training in pastoral counseling and developed pastoral counseling ministries.

Experience Ministries is not part of or affiliated with NPCTC. But, if you need to be commissioned or ordained from an organization that supports pastoral counselors as well as other specialized ministries, this could be the right choice for you. 

Important Disclaimer: NPCTC is not a legal authority, and provides this information as a free service. Be certain to use due diligence in researching your state laws or employ the services of an attorney to assure yourself of a proper structure for your ministry.