Christian Pastoral | Counselor Training

Head to Heart School of Christian Counseling is a certified academic institution (CAI) of the National Christian Counselors Association, which is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission International (ACI) as a comprehensive accredited member with honors.

The NCCA is one of the largest Christian counseling associations in the United States. Over 4,000 people have become certified or licensed as Christian or pastoral counselors since its founding in 1981.

Head to Heart School of Christian Counseling is a distance-learning program that allows you to complete the training from home and is perfect for the person who cannot stop their current career and responsibilities to attend school. Although it is a distance-learning program, you are provided with individualized coaching and mentoring.

In addition to the coursework, you also complete supervised practicum work that will increase your knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively counsel and minister to others. The coaching and mentoring program is regulated by the National Board of Christian Clinical Therapists (NBCCT) to ensure that your supervision is of the highest quality and meets your education and training needs.

Depending on the NCCA training program provided by the Head to Heart School of Christian Counseling you choose to enroll in, you not only become a certified or licensed Christian or pastoral counselor, but you can also earn your bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

Ongoing continuing education and the annual NCCA conference provides opportunities to continue learning, earn additional faith-based certifications, expand your knowledge and skills, and develop relationships with some of the finest Christian counselors in the nation.

“Has God called you to the ministry of Christian counseling?” If you have a desire to help hurting people find healing and hope through Jesus Christ, Head to Heart School of Christian Counseling might be the program that God is leading you to.

“After making the decision to go back to school and get licensed as a Christian counselor through NCCA, I researched most of the schools associated with the program. Unsure of which school to choose, I met with Dr. Al Jones of Head to Heart Restoration Ministry. After one meeting, I was convinced that Head to Heart would be critical to my success. I am so pleased with my decision because the one-on-one mentoring that I have received from my clinical supervisor has been invaluable!”
– T.C.

“The Head to Heart School of Christian Counseling program provided excellent academic and practical preparation for my new vocation as a professional pastoral counselor. The coursework gave me a strong grasp of the basic principles of Christian psychology and counseling. The practicum work was the most challenging and most rewarding part of the program; it gave me a whole new set of skills in Temperament Therapy. It was a pleasure to study under Dr. Al Jones as my clinical supervisor. He provided wise direction and constant encouragement to me throughout the program.”
– J.H.

Head to Heart School of Christian Counseling offers several levels of certification and licensing depending on your goals as a Christian counselor. We have an entry program for all educational levels from high school/GED through doctorate degrees.

Once you complete all of the requirements and are certified or licensed as a Christian or pastoral counselor, you can counsel anywhere in the United States—and accept remuneration for these services (in accordance with state and local guidelines)—without being affiliated with any state agency or being state licensed. This is because the laws governing counseling in all states exempt “clergy” from submitting to its (the state’s) authority. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution requires such exemption: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

In addition, to license as a Christian or pastoral counselor, Head to Heart School of Christian Counseling—in conjunction with the NCCA and its network of affiliated colleges, universities, and seminaries—helps its members find degree transfer work to earn bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.

Many of these colleges, universities, and seminaries are long-standing state and nationally accredited schools. These are not “mail order” degrees. These recognized degrees reflect the significant commitment of coursework, counseling experience, and in-depth case study documentation of the graduate. The Christian or pastoral counseling license is issued by the NCCA Degrees are issued by the appropriate college, university, or seminary.

The National Christian Counselors Association Licensing Program does not culminate in a state license and is, in fact, distinctly different in coursework. Most states have regulatory laws governing the practice of psychology. Many of them also legislate the practice of general counseling. The laws vary from state to state. For example, some states have a counselor category called “Licensed Professional Counselor.” Therefore, the National Christian Counselors Association requires its counselors to clearly identify their license, (e.g., National Christian Counselors Association Licensed Christian or Pastoral Counselor or National Christian Counselors Association Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor.) This ensures that the NCCA counselor is operating within legal and ethical standards, and is maintaining the public’s trust and confidence.

State regulatory laws help to protect the public and ensure professionalism within the counseling profession. The NCCA strives to attain a similar goal within the Christian community and, at the same time, operate within compliance of state laws. The state and federal governments also have jurisdictional boundaries. They cannot pass laws that prevent the church from fulfilling its purpose and ministering to humanity’s needs. The state recognizes that counseling is one of the responsibilities of the church and its clergy. For this reason, the state does not, and must not, interfere with the ministry of counseling.

The major difference between state-licensed professional counselors and Christian or pastoral counselors, who are licensed by the NCCA and under the authority of the church (body of Christ), is clear and well-defined.

Counselors who have been licensed by the state are held to strict ethical standards which mandate an individual’s right to be free from religious influence. The state-licensed professional counselor is forbidden to pray or read or refer to the Scriptures. Initiating such counsel would be considered unethical by the state. In most states, the state-licensed counselors “must not promote their personal religious beliefs,” according to the code of ethics in each respective state. The only time a state-licensed counselor can involve religious (Christian) principles, morals, activities, instruction, etc. is if the counselee initiates or requests counsel in this area.

Opposite from that, Christian pastoral counselors are required to pray, share their faith, read the Scriptures, etc. The fact that Christian pastoral counselors do these things creates a clear distinction. We are two distinct professions and govern ourselves accordingly.