The State License or N.C.C.A. License?

Each individual must decide if he or she wants to be an agent of the state or an agent of the Church. If you have a divine call on your life to counsel and minister to the hurting, then a state license may put many prohibitions on such a ministry.

The N.C.C.A. Licensing Program is not a state license. In fact, it is distinctly different. Most states have regulatory laws governing the practice of psychology. Many of them also legislate the practice of general counseling. These laws vary from state to state. For example, some states have a counselor category called "Licensed Professional Counselor". These states prohibit N.C.C.A. graduates from using the initials "L.P.C." Their title must be spelled out, i.e., "N.C.C.A. Licensed Pastoral Counselor" or "N.C.C.A. Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor." This ensures that the N.C.C.A. counselor is operating within legal and ethical standards.

State regulatory laws help to protect the public and ensure professionalism with the counseling profession. The N.C.C.A. strives to attain a similar goal with the Christian community and, at the same time, operate so as to avoid infringing upon state regulations.

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 never be permitted to) interfere with the church ministry of counseling.

The major difference between state-licensed professional counselors and Pastoral or Christian counselors, who are licensed by the N.C.C.A. 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 interference. The state licensed professional counselor is usually forbidden to pray, read or refer to the Holy Scriptures in their counseling sessions. The only time a state licensed counselor can involve religious (Christian) principles, morals, activities, etc., is if the counselee initiates or requests counsel in this area. Even then, the state licensed professional counselor could integrate secular methods such as psychotherapy in their counseling approach.

Opposite from that, Pastoral counselors are required to pray, share their faith, read the Holy Scriptures, etc. The fact that Pastoral counselors and Christian counselors do these things creates a clear distinction. We do not do the things that state licensed counselors do in counseling and they do not do the things we Pastoral counselors do.

As you can readily see, the state governs secular counselors and the Church is responsible to set standards and govern ministers who have devoted their lives to the ministry and to Pastoral counseling.

None of this is to say that the Christian counselor is not permitted to request fees and receive remuneration for the services they render. In fact, the Bible says, "a workman is worth his wages." Minister's do and should receive support from those to whom he/she ministers. State law is in agreement with this statement and allows for the Minister of Counseling (Licensed Pastoral Counselor, or the Licensed Christian Counselor) to charge for their services.