There are distinct advantages to becoming a Christian counselor. For example, a state-licensed counselor is obligated to accept everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, even if they are personally opposed to their lifestyle. Another advantage is that the strict HIPPA laws do not apply to Christian counselors. Even though they do not apply to Christian counselors, they are good rules to follow. A Christian counselor can operate in any state of the United States without fear of reprisal from the state that they are located in. As a Christian counselor, you have more freedom and flexibility in what you can say and do without a state regulatory agency coming after you and fining you, or worse.

As a secular counselor, you are governed by the state. You must adhere to the strict laws of HIPPA, which is not necessarily a bad thing. You must stay within the guidelines of your state regulatory agency or be at risk for sanctions and/or fines. You must have a Master’s in counseling before you can even start to counsel in most states. Another advantage of being a state-licensed counselor is that you are able to bill health insurance companies. This is something that Christian counselors often have trouble doing at this time, meaning that health insurance companies often do not recognize Christian counselors and, as such, will not allow them to become part of their network.

When it comes to education, both secular and Christian counselors must have the education to back their credentials. As a Christian counselor, you do not need a Master’s in order to practice, like you do as a secular counselor, but you do have to have education in the field.

As for licensing, there is a misconception that Christian counselors are not licensed. This is not the case. There are several legitimate licensing boards for Christian counselors who do extensive background checks and regulate their people. As a secular counselor, you must be licensed in the state you are in in order to practice. A secular counselor cannot just be licensed in one state and work in another, and most, if not all, states require a one-to-two-year free internship where you must work under a licensed counselor without any compensation for several years. Most people cannot do this. This is assuming you can find someone; as we are told, it can be a real problem. As a secular counselor, you will need to be licensed in each state that you plan to work in. As a Christian counselor, there is no requirement to get licensed in each state, as your license is national.

In Florida, it’s a private board that decides who can practice or not. When you move, you often have to retake state tests, which can take time and money if you pass.

Both secular and Christian counselors should obtain malpractice insurance. Most of the licensing organizations, whether secular or Christian, will require it.

So, we have listed just a few differences for you so that you can make an intelligent decision on which way you would like to go.

NOTE: We are now enrolling students in our Christian Counseling Program.