Credentialing Individuals

National Certified Counselor

The National Certified Counselor (NCC) is the principal credential of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Established in 1982, the NBCC is an independent nonprofit credentialing body for counselors. The NBCC was developed by the American Counseling Association (ACA) and designed to be a separate, independent credentialing body for counselors. The NBCC recognizes counselors who have voluntarily sought to meet standards set by counseling professionals, not state legislators. Candidates seeking the NCC credential (an NCC credential may be sought at both the master's and doctoral levels) must meet requirements in education, work experience, and supervised experience. They must also pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE).

In addition to the NCC credential, there are three additional specialty credentials offered by the NBCC: the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), the Master Addictions Counselor (MAC), and the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC). Each of these subspecialties is outlined below.

National Certified School Counselor

The National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential recognizes those school counselors who have voluntarily submitted an application and passed a national examination. The NCSC credential has multiple benefits for a school counselor, the public, and community agencies. This credential promotes counselors' professional identity, holds professionals to a high standard of accountability, encourages professional growth, and heightens the professionals' national visibility.

To receive an NCSC credential, a counselor must

• Hold the NCC credential
• Do additional coursework in school counseling

Master Addictions Counselor

In a collaborative effort, the Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) specialty credential was created by the ACA, the International Association of Addiction and Offenders Counselors (IAAOC), and the NBCC. This specialty credential aims not only to encourage professional development but to recognize those who have taken the initiative to meet all national professional standards in addictions counseling. A MAC credential benefits the individual counselor by increasing visibility and professional identity in the community and simultaneously benefits clients by raising counselor standards for training, skills, and accountability.

To receive a MAC credential, a counselor must

• Hold the NCC credential
• Complete additional coursework in the area of addictions
• Have supervised experience as an addictions counselor
• Pass the Examination for Master Addictions Counselors (EMAC)

Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor

In 1993, the National Academy of Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NACMH) worked with NBCC to form the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) specialty credential. This credential was created to set standards for competency among professional clinical mental health counselors.

...