Please note that these are not placed in any particular order of preference.
We would encourage you to investigate each and decide which one best fits with your particular needs.
There are several certifying organizations for biblical counselling. These organizations take you through a certifying process where they confirm your training, have you complete certifying exams, and ensure a minimum number of counselling hours, often supervised. Many certifying organizations require you to provide proof of church membership, and a reference completed by your pastor or an elder of your church. Certification is separate from training and accreditation (ie. obtaining a degree).
Most biblical counsellors who seek to make a living with full-time work are either employed as part of a counselling ministry in a local church or set up their own counselling practice.
If you have a church or ministry in mind, it is best to talk with them about completing your training as part of their ministry.
If you do not yet have a specific church or ministry in mind, it may be easier to get noticed by having a recognized certificate or degree and some form of certification.
If you are considering setting up your own counselling practice, be aware that even with a degree in biblical counselling and certification, it is unlikely you will meet the criteria for most insurance organizations in being recognized as a counsellor. While this is not meant to discourage you from considering this path, it is important to be aware of the challenges in building a private practice, as many people are looking for a counsellor that their insurance will cover.
Founded in 1968, the Christian Counseling & Education Foundation (CCEF) is a training and education organization for biblical counseling. In addition to providing a variety of online biblical counseling courses and training options, CCEF also publishes the Journal of Biblical Counseling.
Their website provides extensive and helpful resources for biblical counsellors, pastors and lay people.
The Gospel Care Collective provides counselling, consulting, and biblical counselling training to individuals and churches. They are a Training Center with the Association of Biblical Counselors and offer both Level 1 and Level 2 Certification training online.
The Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship (IBCD) exists to strengthen churches in one another care. IBCD offers a wide range of counseling resources that are helpful to anyone interested in learning how to better help others.
The Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) exists to enlist, equip, enrich and encourage people everywhere to live and counsel the Word, applying the Gospel to the whole experience of life. They provide certification, training materials, conferences and other resources in biblical counselling.
The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) seeks to strengthen the Church to speak the truth in love by providing a quality training and certification process, a global network of like-minded individuals and institutions, and a source of practical and biblical resources for the Church.
Located in Cambridge, Ontario, Heritage College & Seminary exists to glorify God by partnering with churches in providing a biblically-based education equipping people for life and ministry in the church and in the world.
Located in Shawinigan, Quebec, Fondation du Counseling Biblique offers a wide range of French courses in biblical counselling, along with several diploma and certificate options, for advanced training.
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the mission of Millar College of the Bible is to develop, through sound Bible teaching, role modelling and practical experience, believers who will demonstrate Christlike character, competence in ministry, and commitment to impacting the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Located in Montréal, Quebec, SEMBEQ exists to help local Churches and their leaders train their current and future leaders by a practical and active application of the teaching throughout different Church ministries.
Located in Toronto, Ontario, Toronto Baptist Seminary exists to train and mentor pastors and Christian workers who have a passionate love for the triune God and a solidly Reformed understanding of His Word.
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