The School of Biblical Counseling's Certificate Program offers three certificates. All classes are held at CCEF and Westminster Theological Seminary.

  • Introduction to Biblical Counseling Certificate - Level I

  • Advanced Counseling Certificate - Level II

  • Counseling Apologetics Certificate - Level III

Full-time students can complete Levels I, II and III in one year.

Courses in each certificate program can be taken independently, not resulting in the awarding of a certificate, but all students must begin with Dynamics of Biblical Change.

All CCEF courses are taught at a Masters level.

 

Introduction to Biblical Counseling Certificate - Level I

These courses provide a foundation for biblical counseling, presenting a basic biblical model, essential "how to" principles, and overviews of their everyday applications. These courses answer three basic questions: How does change take place in a person's life? What can I do to help a person change? Where are my opportunities to help others change?

  1. Course: Dynamics of Biblical Change

    How does change take place in a person's life?

    Taught by David Powlison

    sample reading list


  2. Course: Helping Relationships (formerly Methods of Biblical Change)

    What can I do to help a person change?

    Taught by Ed Welch

    sample reading list
    sample syllabus

  3. Course: Counseling in the Local Church

    Where are my opportunities to help others change?

    Taught by Tim Lane

    sample reading list
    sample syllabus

An Introduction to Biblical Counseling Certificate will be awarded to all students who successfully complete ALL of these courses.

 

Advanced Counseling Certificate - Level II (Prerequisite: Level I Certificate)

These courses build on the introductory courses by applying their foundational principles to a host of common struggles. These courses respond to three further questions: How do I help wiht problems in life's basic relationships? How do I biblically address the different kinds of counseling problems? How do I continue to mature as a counselor?

  1. Course: Marriage Counseling

    How do I help with problems in life's basic relationships?

    Taught by Winston Smith

    sample reading list
    sample syllabus


  2. Course: Counseling Problems & Procedures - Topics in Biblical Counseling

    How do I address biblically the many different kinds of counseling problems?

    Taught by Ed Welch



  3. Course: Essential Qualities of a Biblical Counselor

    How do I continue to mature as a counselor?

    Taught by Monica Kim

    sample reading list
    sample syllabus


  4. Course: Counseling Observation

    Student observe counseling through a one-way mirror and meet with the counselor after the session, discussing optics that arise from the counseling case.

    Taught by Rotating Faculty

An Advanced Counseling Certificate will be awarded to all students who have both successfully complete ALL of these courses and also earned an introductory certificate.

 

Counseling Apologetics Certificate - Level III (Prerequisite: Level I Certificate)

This cluster of apologetic course will challenge your personal life, sharpen your counseling, and prepare you to make a credible defense for biblical counseling to believers and unbelievers.

  1. Human Personality

    Taught by Ed Welch

    sample reading list
    sample syllabus


  2. Theology & Secular Psychology

    Taught by David Powlison



  3. Counseling & Physiology

    Taught by Mike Emlet

    sample syllabus


  4. Biblical Interpretation

    Taught by Mike Emlet

    sample syllabus

 

A Counseling Apologetics Certificate will be awarded to all students who successfully complete ALL of the above courses as well as the Level I Certificate.

Non-Certificate Courses/Seminars

The School of Biblical Counseling offers the following courses that are not included in the Certificate Program.

  1. Course: Human Growth and Development (formerly Counseling Children)
    Taught by Julie Smith Lowe


  2. Course: Counseling Observation
    Taught by Rotating Faculty


  3. Course: Seminar in Professional Orientation
    Taught by Mike Emlet


    4. Further non-certificate course details forthcoming.