How to Become a Pastoral Counselor

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral, social science, or psychology field
2. Earn a master’s degree in counseling or marriage and family therapy
3. Complete graduate and postgraduate internship experience for certification/licensure requirements
4. Pass any required counseling exams and apply for licensure
5. Apply for and earn additional counseling certifications
6. Continue your education and stay up to date on pastoral counseling trends and changes

Pastoral counseling combines counseling with theological training to offer clients a unique and integrated approach to therapeutic treatment. A pastoral counselor is a licensed mental health professional who has also had religious training and/or theological education. Clinical services are non-sectarian and respect the spiritual commitments, religious beliefs and traditions of clients, including couples, families, mental health clients and substance abusers. Pastoral counseling may incorporate collaborative community based services, training and education to improve the well-being of people in need.

Pastoral counselors provide therapeutic support and spiritual guidance to people in need of all ages and circumstances. The unique orientation and listening perspective that pastoral counselors provide helps those in need find peace, forgiveness and acceptance.

The Evolution of Pastoral Counseling

The practice of Pastoral Counseling dates back to the 1920s. For centuries, religious Americans have turned to their priests, ministers and rabbis in times of crises. Churches and temples provide personalized support and informal counseling for members of their community, including those with mental illness, depression, relationship issues, and drug and alcohol addiction. While traditional religious counseling continues to provide support, the need for a measure of professional therapy was recognized long ago for effective treatment. In the early 1900s the Clinical Pastoral Education movement was founded, and led to the integration of religion and psychology for therapeutic purposes as an academic discipline. The field steadily evolved with endorsements from religious leaders as well as psychologists and psychiatrists like Carl Jung, Karl Menninger and Abraham Maslow. Leaders in both arenas came together to found the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry, now the Blanton-Peale Institute in New York City.

Pastoral counseling has evolved from religious counseling to pastoral psychotherapy, which integrates theology and other faith tradition knowledge, spirituality, the resources of faith communities, the behavioral sciences, and in recent years, systemic theory. "It only makes sense that religion and psychology — each of which is concerned with the fullness of the human experience — should be recognized as partners, because they function as partners within the human psyche," said Dr. Arthur Caliandro, Senior Minister Emeritus, Marble Collegiate Church, New York City.

Are there certification requirements?

The National Board for Certified Pastoral Counselors (NBCPC) offers voluntary credentialing for pastoral counselors. There are three levels of certification offered, as well as a supervisor-level certification. Requirements and application fees are below.

National Certified Pastoral Counselor 1 (NCPC 1)

• Requirements - Associates or Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 6 semester hours in Pastoral Counseling, Ministry, or Theology, a minimum of 6 semester hours of Counseling, and a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must complete EITHER the NCPC 1 exam OR obtain both a Pastoral certification and a Counseling certification. They must have completed 100 hours of work as a Pastoral Counselor, Social Worker, Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or Counselor, and 10 hours of individual supervision.
• Recertification occurs every 2 years and NCPC’s must complete 12 hours of continuing education every year.
• Fees: $25 application fee and $130 certification fee (which is good for 2 years)

National Certified Pastoral Counselor 2 (NCPC 2)

• Requirements - Master’s degree with a minimum of 15 semester hours in Pastoral Counseling, Ministry, or Theology, a minimum of 15 semester hours of graduate education in Counseling, and a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must complete EITHER the NCPC 2 exam OR obtain both a Pastoral certification and a Counseling certification. They must have completed 500 hours of work as a Pastoral Counselor, Social Worker, Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or Counselor, and 50 hours of individual supervision.
• Recertification occurs every 2 years and NCPC’s must complete 18 hours of continuing education every year.
• Fees: $50 application fee and $160 certification fee (which is good for 2 years).

National Certified Pastoral Counselor 3 (NCPC 3)

• Requirements - Doctoral degree with a minimum of 20 semester hours in Pastoral Counseling, Divinity, Ministry, or Social Work (or equivalent), a minimum of 20 semester hours of graduate education in Pastoral Counseling, Ministry, or Theology, a minimum of 20 semester hours of graduate education in Counseling, and a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must complete EITHER the NCPC 3 exam OR obtain both a Pastoral certification and a Counseling certification. They must have completed 1000 hours of work as a Pastoral Counselor, Social Worker, Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or Counselor, and 50 hours of individual supervision.
• Recertification occurs every 3 years and NCPC’s must complete 24 hours of continuing education every year.
• Fees: $50 application fee and $285 certification fee (which is good for 3 years)

National Certified Pastoral Counselor Supervisor

• Requirements - Certification as either NCPC2 or NCPC3. Additionally, they must have 100 contact hours of coursework related to Counselor Supervision, and 500 hours of work experience supervising pastoral counselors or non-pastoral counselors,
• Recertification occurs every 3 years and NCPC’s must complete 6 hours of continuing education every year that are directly related to Counselor Supervision.
• Fees: $25 application fee and $105 certification fee (which is good for 3 years)

Career Outlook for a Pastoral Counselor

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for marriage and family therapists (one of the closest related fields for which BLS provides data) in the U.S. is about $63,780 as of May 2024. Salaries for marriage and family therapists are represented by a range of $42,610 (the lowest 10%) to over $111,610 (the highest 10%), depending on the setting. Government employees account for the high end of the range. Pastoral Counselors are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, hospice care, parishes, private practice, substance abuse programs, correctional facilities, domestic violence centers, and other community based organizations. Most are affiliated with a church or other religious institution.