Training
Training the saints to certification in biblical counselingOverview
We are a full-service training center.
If you’re looking to be certified as a biblical counselor, we offer teaching and training to complete all three Phases of the ACBC certification process.
If you’re looking to better handle the word of God in your counsel to others, we offer classes and resources. From your first day in class until your last day of supervised counseling, we can walk with you every step of the way.
Before signing up for training, we recommend reading through the ACBC Beliefs and Statements. Rod and Staff will uphold these beliefs and statements, including the Statement on Female Pastors. ACBC will not certify anyone who attends a church with a female pastor, and we will uphold ACBC’s standards in class when teaching on this topic.
Phase 1 (Instruction)
As with all disciplines, the first step in gaining competency begins with understanding concepts. We hold classes in the spring and fall of each year where you can sign up to learn a solid foundation and robust comprehension of biblical counseling.
Our Semester One and Semester Two classes fulfill Phase 1 of ACBC’s Biblical Counseling Training requirement. For more information on becoming a certified biblical counselor, please visit https://biblicalcounseling.com/training/
Cost per class:
Through July 15: $150 for individual; $200 total for couples
Lowest price available.
July 16 – August 5: $175 for individual; $225 total for couples
August 6 – August 19: $225 for individual; $275 total for couples
*We also charge $25 for our printed Student Manual for each in-person student and $10 for our digital Student Manual for each virtual student.
Dates:
Semester One: The Practice of Biblical Counseling
- Gray Road Baptist Church: Mondays, Aug 18 – Nov 17 (no classes Sept 1 and Oct 6), 7pm – 9pm EST
- Live Virtual: Mondays, Aug 18 – Nov 17 (no classes Sept 1 and Oct 6), 7pm – 9pm EST
Semester Two: Principles of Biblical Counseling
- Gray Road Baptist Church: Tuesdays, Aug 19 – Nov 18 (no classes Sept 2 and Oct 7), 7pm – 9pm EST
- Live Virtual: Tuesdays, Aug 19 – Nov 18 (no classes Sept 2 and Oct 7), 7pm – 9pm EST
Semester One – Principles of Biblical Counseling
Counseling practice must be informed by a solid, biblical framework at every point. The content of this class lays the theological foundation necessary for competency in counseling practice.
| Topics covered include: | Requirements |
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Must attend 10 out of 12 classes for completion. Reading Requirements:
Writing Requirements: Two single page book reports on the required reading books |
Semester Two – The Practice of Biblical Counseling
From theological concepts springs counseling practice. God-honoring Biblical counseling demands a Bible-saturated methodology. The content of this class discusses counseling practice, discerns counseling models, and discovers biblical problems and their solutions.
| Topics covered include: | Requirements |
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Must attend 10 out of 12 classes for completion. Reading Requirements:
Writing Requirements: 10-page paper comparing Biblical Counseling and Psychology models |
Phase 2: Exam Prep
Observation
Students pursuing ACBC certification are afforded opportunities to observe, assist, and lead live counseling alongside an ACBC certified counselor who has been trained by Rod and Staff. We also have opportunities for you to watch pre-recorded videos of past counseling sessions to gain a better understanding of what happens in the counseling room.
Semester Three – Exam Preparation Course
Semester Three is designed to help you excel at the written portion of the ACBC Certification exam. Each student writes a number of answers from the exams, and the instructor imparts feedback and discussion. This class provides (1) the opportunity to get feedback from the instructors on each question, (2) the opportunity to compile a rough, general outline for each exam question, and (3) plenty of articles from the instructors to help with exam research.
Each question on the ACBC exam is covered in detail with examples given.
This course is held once a year live, virtually via Zoom in April/May on Monday evenings. We also have an online version of this course that can be taken anytime.
Cost:
Live, Virtual – $125* (live,virtual students receive 50% the online course below- a great way to extend your training! All tiers provide access to the videos for one year; some tiers include quarterly group discussions, written feedback on your exam answers, and personal coaching.) Learn More.
Online – tiered pricing* view prices
*We highly recommend the live virtual course for our live, virtual students with the option to extend your training by enrolling in the online course.
Spring 2025 dates:
Live, Virtual via Zoom: Mondays, April 14, April 28, May 5, May 12, May 19, 7pm – 9pm EST
Phase 3: Supervised Counseling
Supervision is the final component of the ACBC certification process which requires 50 sessions of supervision by an ACBC Fellow. Upon passing the exams, Rod and Staff Ministries is able to provide supervision of the required 50 hours of counseling for ACBC certification.