Technical FAQs
Yes, all of our courses are online courses. We periodically offer onsite intensive courses. Please email [email protected] for more information or sign up for our weekly CCEF news for updates.
Online courses have been adapted from our live courses. Students participate through a virtual campus using a computer and internet connection. Students watch/listen to lectures, interact with fellow students through a community board, and complete weekly readings and assignments. Online courses run for 12 to 13 weeks.
You are required to have a reliable internet connection and access to and experience with a desktop or laptop computer (not just an iPad or mobile device) as well as Microsoft Word or a word processor that can export files in a .doc or .docx format. We recommend using Google Chrome for your browser when accessing Canvas, our online platform.
Each week, you will watch or listen to a pre-recorded lecture. Though your weekly assignments are due by a certain date, you are free to watch or listen to your lecture at any time during the week that is conducive to your schedule.
Canvas and its hosting infrastructure are designed for maximum compatibility and minimal requirements.
Screen Size
Canvas is best viewed at a minimum resolution of 800x600. If you want to view Canvas on a device with a smaller screen, we recommend using the Canvas mobile app.
Operating Systems
- Windows 7 and newer
- Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
- Linux - chromeOS
Mobile Operating System Native App Support
- iOS 7 and newer (versions vary by device)
- Android 4.2 and newer
**Please note that the mobile app cannot be the primary means to access your course.
Computer Speed and Processor
- Use a computer 5 years old or newer when possible
- 1GB of RAM
- 2GHz processor
Internet Speed
- Along with compatibility and web standards, Canvas has been carefully crafted to accommodate low bandwidth environments.
- Minimum of 512kbps
Screen Readers
Registration FAQs
The cost of our courses is $650 for a 3-credit course; $450 for a 2-credit course. You can enroll in a non-credit course for half the credit price; $325 for a 3-credit course and $225 for a 2-credit course. These fees do not include required textbooks. Essential Qualities of a Biblical Counselor is currently not available as a non-credit course
There is no application process for our courses. Please log in to your Genius account and select "Register for Course" in the left-hand column. Choose the courses for which you would like to enroll (Dynamics of Biblical Change is required for all new students.), add the course to your cart and proceed to checkout. If you would like to learn more about earning our certificates, click here.
Dynamics of Biblical Change is a prerequisite to all other courses. If you wish to continue enrolling in classes for credit, you must complete Dynamics as a credit student. If you intend to only take courses for non-credit, then you may complete Dynamics either as a credit or non-credit student. Essential Qualities of a Biblical Counselor and Counseling Observation also require Helping Relationships (in addition to Dynamics of Biblical Change) as a prerequisite.
Although there is not a required sequence after Dynamics of Biblical Change, many students choose to continue working on courses within the Foundations certificate. Helping Relationships is a popular course to take next.
Students must begin their studies with CCEF by taking Dynamics of Biblical Change. After completing this course, you are permitted to take any CCEF courses that do not have other prerequisites. Note: Prerequisites will be noted for you on the individual course page. You can work on courses in multiple certificates simultaneously; however, you must earn the Foundations certificate before you can receive a Topics or Counseling Skills certificate.
All of our courses operate on an every-other semester rotation with the exception of Dynamics of Biblical Change, Helping Relationships, and Counseling in the Local Church. Click here to see a complete schedule of our course offerings.
Credit students complete weekly assignments and receive graded feedback from a Recitation Instructor. They are also eligible to earn CCEF certificates representing a completed course of study.
Non-credit students have the freedom to watch lectures and complete reading and writing assignments at their own pace for up to six months. However, non-credit students do not submit any work for grading or have access to a Recitation Instructor. While we encourage non-credit students to participate in community boards, we do not include them in Helping Relationships small groups. Courses taken for non-credit do not count towards a certificate.
Our online semesters begin in January, May, and September. Courses run 12-13 weeks depending on the class. Click here to access our course schedule.
Our registration deadlines are typically the 15th of the month prior to the semester start dates; December 15th, April 15th, and August 15th. These dates may vary if they fall on a weekend or holiday. Click here to see our course schedule and important registration dates.
The cost of our courses is $650 for a 3-credit course; $450 for a 2-credit course. You can take a non-credit course for half the credit price; $325 for a 3-credit course and $225 for a 2-credit course. These fees do not include required textbooks. Essential Qualities of a Biblical Counselor is currently not available as a non-credit course
CCEF is unable to accept payment for courses in installments. Payment must be received in full in order to reserve your space in a course.
CCEF offers discounts for family members living in the same household. The family discount applies to courses taken for credit when two members of the household (spouse, parent, or child) take a course at the same time, or when the second person takes a course within a year from the first person. Please contact Student Services to receive a registration coupon code for this discount.
If you do not qualify for the family discount, but are still in need of financial assistance, please contact Student Services.
If for any reason you are unable to proceed with your course, you may be able to withdraw or switch to non-credit. For more information please see our Status Change Policy charts
We encourage students to set aside 6-9 hours of work per week for a 3-credit course taken for credit, and 4-6 hours per week for a 2-credit course taken for credit. If take a course for non-credit, you will simply be working at your own pace.
Certificate FAQs
The total cost of our certificate program is as follows:
Foundations of Biblical Counseling: $3,050.00
Topics in Biblical Counseling: $2,600.00
Counseling Skills & Practice: $1,605.00
Students who are working toward a certificate represent diverse backgrounds and ministry goals; they are pastors, youth ministers, counselors, small group leaders, lay-people, missionaries, businessmen and women, retirees, and more. If you are looking to become better equipped to parent, counsel, pastor, lead, and serve, these courses are what you need to grow in biblical wisdom and practical application.
Our certificates are divided into three categories - the Foundations of Biblical Counseling certificate serves as the Foundational platform for biblical counseling on which all other courses will build. The Topics in Biblical Counseling will focus on more specific counseling issues, philosophies, and methods. Counseling Skills & Practice will focus on the intricacies of biblical counseling as you observe CCEF faculty and counsel others in your group. Click here to review our certificates page for more information.
The certificate program provides a robust education. CCEF foundational courses explain what biblical counseling is, how biblical counseling happens, and the primary place biblical counseling happens. As students continue in the program, they are able to explore specific topics (for example: marriage, children and adolescents, addictions, depression, anxiety, etc.) in a deeper and more comprehensive way. CCEF’s certificate program can help train pastors and other ministry leaders, but can also assist those in a variety of lay ministry responsibilities.
CCEF’s education program is not accredited. Our certificate program’s focus is to equip counselors within a church context. However, some academic institutions do accept our coursework towards accredited degree programs.
CCEF is not a certifying agency. We do not “certify” or “endorse” counselors who have completed one of our certificates. A significant part of any professional certification process is supervised counseling to observe if a student is appropriately applying what has been learned, along with periodic recertification requirements. At this time, CCEF only awards a certificate of completion from our organization, representing that students have completed coursework within that certificate.
CCEF is not an accredited institution nor offers a degree program. It is the prerogative of an institution/seminary to acknowledge CCEF coursework towards a degree program. Please contact the Admissions or Registrar department of the school(s) you are considering to discuss the possibility of CCEF courses applying towards a degree program. If you need a record of your courses (course name, course dates, grade received), you can request an official transcript here.
If you wish to refer to yourself as a “certified counselor” or “certified biblical counselor,” you should pursue certification through an organization that provides certification. Some organizations will accept CCEF courses as part of their training requirement. Licensure as a professional counselor is offered through state agencies and typically requires a graduate degree from an accredited institution. Some of our students do go on to be licensed.
We are now partnering with WTS to offer a fully online Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling. You can find more information on their website: www.online.wts.edu.
Effective November 2018, there is no required timeframe for students to complete their requisite coursework within a certificate.
All three certificates can be completed in one calendar year. Most of our students take several years to complete all three certificates. If you have other responsibilities to prioritize (e.g., work, family, ministry duties), you should expect to take at least two years to complete all three certificates.
You will start by registering as a credit student for Dynamics of Biblical Change, which is our foundational course and part of the Foundations of Biblical Counseling certificate. All students are required to complete Dynamics of Biblical Change prior to all other coursework. This course is available every semester.
Students must begin their studies with CCEF by taking Dynamics of Biblical Change. After completing this course, you are permitted to take any CCEF courses that do not have other prerequisites. Note: Prerequisites will be noted for you on the individual course page. You can work on courses in multiple certificates simultaneously; however, you must earn the Foundations certificate before you can receive a Topics or Counseling Skills certificate.
We mail out certificates, signed by our faculty, three times a year. You must request a certificate via SBC Online at the end of your last course within a given certificate. Instructions to request a certificate are also available in SBC Online during the last week of your course. If you believe you did not receive a certificate that you have earned, please contact Student Services.
Please keep in mind that students must take courses for credit in order to earn a certificate. To learn more about the differences between credit and audit, see below. Also, students must earn a C- or higher in all required courses before CCEF will award the certificate.
Our transcript request form can be found here. Follow the instructions to have a transcript mailed directly to you or an institution.
Still Have a Question?
If you haven't found the answer to your question, feel free to send a message to the School of Biblical Counseling.