The following are brief descriptions of the most common ways in which people utilize the resources we offer at IBCD. While the various elements of each option are described in more detail on other parts of our website, these descriptions are designed to help lead you in the right general direction.

If you are interested in better understanding NANC or IBCD Certification, we highly recommend that you listen to Jim Newheiser's seminar entitled How to Become NANC/IBCD Certified. This is a thorough explanation that will answer many of your questions.

General Study

The majority of people use our resources for personal growth and for informal training to help counsel others in their churches. This option is for those who do not necessarily desire to be officially certified, but who are simply seeking to grow and to help others grow in Christ through the ministry of counseling. This allows the student to choose his or her own study material and to study at his or her own pace without the goal of gaining a certificate.  Most people begin with an introductory course, which is offered live at least once a year, on MP3, and on DVD.  It is also helpful to familiarize oneself with the various messages offered at our Audio Resources page.  We also have many other CDs concerning counseling topics, including previous Summer Institutes available at www.soundword.com.

NANC Certification

Others may desire to use our materials to pursue NANC certification (the National Association for Nouthetic Counselors). IBCD’s courses have been approved by NANC as fulfilling their requirements for certification. This option is more structured and more labor intensive than the option listed above.  The process begins with taking the thirty hour Introduction to Biblical Counseling course, followed by at least ten hours of counseling observation.  The course and the observation can be experienced live, by DVD, or by audio.  Upon completing the course, including the reading assignments, the student would make application to be certified by NANC.  The application includes two exams (counseling and theology) and references. After the student has passed the NANC exams, he or she would be cleared by NANC to complete fifty hours of supervised counseling under the supervision of a NANC Fellow (which could be through IBCD).

Most of our students seeking biblical counseling certification begin with this option. Pursuing NANC certification requires a high level of discipline and effort on the part of the student.  Furthermore, the student must demonstrate exceptional character and gifts.  IBCD reserves the right to determine which students are qualified.  Important:  We require that those wishing to complete NANC certification, including supervised counseling, through IBCD complete their training with us, and that they also take our role-play class before beginning the supervised counseling phase.  This will require being able to participate in training at our counseling center.  Also, while the student may be able to get some counseling experience at IBCD, it is expected that most, if not all, of the fifty hours of supervised counseling will come in the context of his/her own church or ministry. 

IBCD Certification

Those who desire a more rigorous, seminary-level training in biblical counseling may also choose to be certified by IBCD. The requirements for IBCD certification include everything necessary for NANC certification, plus taking two additional courses.  Also, those who choose this option must complete the required homework for each course, which includes writing several book reviews and papers on various topics.  We encourage students to first become NANC certified and then pursue this additional accreditation if they so desire.