Counselor Certification for Current Pastors & Ministers

Make a Difference. Change Lives.

The Minister Certification program is designed for individuals who presently serve as pastors or ministers in their local church.

In this training program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and expand upon your skills to provide effective, biblically-based pastoral care to your church body and the surrounding community. You’ll help your church family find freedom from issues like anxiety, depression, addiction, marriage and relationship problems, and more.

This certification program teaches a biblical counseling model called Creation Therapy, which includes the most in-depth Christian trait analysis available, the Arno Profile System (APS). This model instantly gives the counselor an in-depth look at the client’s unique, inborn strengths, weaknesses and needs. It then provides a step-by-step model for counseling.

The Minister Certification program is a 100% online distance learning program that fully equips you as a Certified Pastoral Counselor via the International Academy of Pastoral Counselors**.

This program is intended for individuals who currently serve as a pastor, minister, elder, deacon, or other ministry leader in their local church.

Program Overview

The Minister Certification program is completed via distance-learning at the student’s own pace. Students may enroll in the program at any time. The program is completed in two phases.

Program Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Commissioning, Licensure or Ordination as a Christian minister (can be obtained during the degree program)
Professing Christian and actively serving as a pastor, minister, elder, deacon or other ministry leader within a local church body.

Additional Note

Ministers who complete this program may apply their coursework toward any degree program at CTS should they decide to continue their education.

The Minister Certification Program is Completed in Two Phases:

PHASE I

COURSEWORK
Candidates must complete the following courses:

– COU101: Creation Therapy
– COU179: Practical Approaches to Counseling
– COU186: Counseling: Applying Theory to Practice

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must complete the following:

– Complete a practicum, consisting of administering the APS report to 10 individuals.
– Complete three (3) hours of clinical supervision.
– Submit responses to the IAPC’s National Licensing Board of Examiners.
– Submit a headshot or photo.
– Submit a resume detailing ministry & vocational experience.
– Submit three reference forms from individuals who can speak to the candidate’s character and Christian witness.
– Submit a letter of recommendation from the candidate’s pastor and/or pastoral leadership within the student’s local church, on church letterhead.
– Apply for Membership to the International Academy of Pastoral Counselors.
– Apply for Membership to the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling.

Following the candidate’s completion of Phase I, he or she will earn:

– Membership in the International Academy of Pastoral Counselors
– Membership in the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling

PHASE II

COURSES
Candidates must complete the following courses:

– COU105: Mastering Pastoral Counseling Utilizing Temperament
– COU121: Temperament Case Studies
– COU333: Counseling with God

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must complete the following:

– Complete a practicum, consisting of administering the APS to 15 more individuals.
– Complete three (3) additional hours of clinical supervision.
– Complete an application for IAPC certification as a Certified Pastoral Counselor.
– Complete a background check for licensure.
– Provide (or complete and earn) ministerial credentials.

Following the candidate’s completion of Phase II, he or she will earn:

– Certification as a Certified Pastoral Counselor from the International Academy of Pastoral Counselors

TOTAL PROGRAM COST

The following costs constitute the entire program for the Minister Certification program:

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars ($ USD)

Application for Admission

$75.00

Course: COU101 Creation Therapy

$275.00

Course: COU179 Practical Approaches to Counseling

$175.00

Course: COU186 Counseling: Applying Theory to Practice

$175.00

Course: COU121 Temperament Case Studies

$275.00

Course: COU333 Counseling With God

$185.00

Course: COU105 Mastering Pastoral Counseling Utilizing Temperament

$275.00

Practicum consisting of a total of 25 APS reports (@ $35.00 each)

$875.00

Clinical Supervision consisting of a total of six (6) hours (@ $75 per hour)

$450.00

Membership Fee to the International Academy of Pastoral Counselors

$50.00

Membership Fee to the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling

$75.00

IAPC Certification Fee

$50.00

National Background Check Fee

$100.00

TOTAL PROGRAM COST:

$3,035.00

It’s time to get started on the path to success. Apply today.

Additional Information

Flexible payment options for the Advanced Licensure Program is available to students, including payment plans, paid-in-full discounts, and pay-as-you-go options. Limited scholarships are also available. Click here to view our Tuition & Fees page.

Program Enrollment:

Enrollment at CrossPointe Theological Seminary takes place on a rolling basis, meaning you can begin your coursework as soon as your application is approved. Once you’ve completed a course, you may move on to the next course.

**This degree does not lead to state licensure as a Professional Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist, or Clinical Alcohol & Drug Counselor, but rather to licensure as a Licensed Pastoral Counselor with the National Christian Counselors Association, a non-profit para-church Christian Organization.

Make a Difference. Change Lives.

Program Overview

Additional Note

The Minister Certification Program is Completed in Two Phases:

PHASE I

PHASE II

TOTAL PROGRAM COST

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars ($ USD)

It’s time to get started on the path to success. Apply today.

Department Contact Info

Additional Information

Program Enrollment:

Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.