LAY COUNSELING CERTIFICATE
Become an effective biblical counselor — at your own pace.
Learn to meet hurting people with the same grace-filled, gospel-centered care Christ modeled. No counseling background or degree required.
TWO COURSES, ONE PATH
From the foundations to the harder conversations.
Twenty-five lessons each. Take them in order, at whatever pace your life allows.
COURSE ONE · 25 LESSONS
Foundations
The heart and method of biblical counseling—how to reach the heart, understand the process God uses to change people, and care the way Christ cared.
Modules include:
- Caring Like Christ
- Helping Others Change
- Handling Emotions Biblically
- Helping Struggling Parents
- Helping Hurting Marriages
COURSE TWO · 25 LESSONS
Contemporary Issues
Building on Foundations to think through the more difficult, common struggles people bring—with wisdom, realism, and gospel hope.
Modules include:
- Why Biblical Counseling Works
- Heart-Centered Counseling
- Life Story
- Approaching Mental Illness
- Approaching Sexuality
- Abuse
PREVIEW THE TEACHING
See how the training works.
Watch a short sample from the Lay Counseling Certificate and experience the practical, biblical approach before you enroll.
Taught by seven experienced BCC counselors and ministry leaders, including Dr. Tim Allchin, Dr. Ron Allchin, Dr. Charles Hodges, M.D., and Dr. Donna Hart.
HOW TO ENROLL
The certificate comes with your membership.
To enroll in the Lay Counseling Certificate, join BCC Cares at the Care Pro or Care Team level.
FOR INDIVIDUALS
Care Pro
$37.50/mo
or $375/year — two months free · cancel anytime
- The Lay Counseling Certificate, available now
- The Marriage & Family Certificate, opening September 2026
- Live classes with our counselors
- Observation sessions and the ACBC exam guide
- Every micro-course and Care Plan on the site
FOR CHURCHES
Care Team
$25/mo
per person, per month · four-person minimum ($100/month total)
- Everything in Care Pro, for your whole team
- Your own training cohort, up to 15 people
- A private community, group and forum for your church
- The Launch course — we train your leader to lead
QUESTIONS
Before you start.
What is included in the Lay Counseling Certificate?
The certificate includes two courses—Foundations and Contemporary Issues—forming one clear, 50-lesson training path. Students receive video instruction, printable resources, discussion guides, practical assignments, and opportunities for feedback.
Can I begin at any time?
Yes. Enrollment is always open, and you receive immediate access after joining BCC Cares at the Care Pro or Care Team level. The certificate is self-paced, so you can work through it according to your schedule while your membership remains active.
What are the prerequisites?
No counseling background or college degree is required. You should be willing to study Scripture, eager to learn from experienced counselors, and committed to growing in your ability to care for others with biblical wisdom and Christlike compassion.
Does the certificate complete professional certification requirements?
The Lay Counseling Certificate fulfills the training requirement accepted by ACBC, ABC, IABC, and IRBC. Complete certification also involves additional requirements established by each organization, which may include observations, examinations, supervised counseling, references, church involvement, and a background check.
The Observations course and ACBC Exam Guide are separate from the Lay Counseling Certificate but are included with qualifying BCC Cares memberships.
What happens if I cancel my membership?
When your BCC Cares membership ends, you will lose access to the certificate courses and members-only resources. You may download the provided course materials before your membership ends for continued personal use. Any certificate you have already earned remains yours.
BECOME COMPETENT AND CONFIDENT
You do not need to be an expert to help the hurting.
You need to be equipped — and this is where you start.
“With this training, I learned how to apply biblical truths to difficult life situations. I’ve grown personally, and I now feel more confident in discipling and counseling others in my church.”
Bill · BCC Certificate alum