Counselor Certification

Counselor certification is available to professional counselors who take pride in their work and want to prove to their employers and clients that they meet national standards in the counseling field. Certifications are available through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Depending on a counselor’s area of specialty, he or she can choose a counselor certification from four possibilities: National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), National Certified School Counselor (NSCS) and Master Addictions Counselor (MAC). While there are a few counselor certifications which require only an undergraduate degree, most require at least a master's, meaning that undergraduate career opportunities in this field are limited.

The National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification was created in 1983. It offers counselors many benefits, including increased visibility within the counseling field, better job opportunities, referrals through the NBCC and access to events in the counseling field. Those who receive this certification must pay $60 annually and adhere to the NBCC’s Code of Ethics. This counselor certification is good for five years. After five years, counselors must either retake the NCC exam or show that they have completed 100 hours of classes in the counseling field.

Another counselor certification is the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC). The CCMHC was created in 1979 and is held by 1,000 NCCs throughout the world. This counselor certification requires 90 quarter-hours or 60 semester hours of graduate-level studies in counseling, although supervised clinical experience may be substituted for a portion of the coursework.

The National Certified School Counselor (NSCS) is a counselor certification for those who work as a counselor in school settings and possess a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling. This counselor certification offers many benefits, such as recognition as an expert in the school counseling field; demonstration of both high standards and commitment to students; and higher pay increases.

The Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) counselor certification represents high standards of competency, education and skills in the area of addictions counseling. The requirements for this certification include 12 semester hours of coursework in addictions at the graduate level, three years of experience as an addictions counselor and a passing score on the MAC exam.