PHase 3

of the irbc biblical counseling certification process

This phase begins upon approval of all Phase 2 submissions. Phase 3 involves completing 50 hours of supervised counseling with an assigned IRBC Supervising Counselor (one will be assigned to you after your completion of Phase 2). Supervision will be conducted typically via phone, Zoom, and/or email. Case reports need to be filled out for each counseling session and shared with the Supervising Counselor. All 50 supervised sessions must be completed within one year of starting Phase 3. The Supervising Counselor will "meet" with you to discuss the first five counseling sessions you complete (audio-recorded), and then will meet with you for a minimum of 15 times throughout the remaining 45 sessions (recommended meeting every five sessions). After satisfactorily completing all of your hours of supervised counseling, your Supervising Counselor will recommend you to the credentialing committee for a Provisional IRBC Counseling Certification. This is a valid biblical counseling credential. This certification will become a Standard IRBC Counseling Certification after satisfactorily fulfilling the requirements for a standard certification. More details are outlined below. 

Completing 50 hours of supervised counseling

During Phase 3, one needs to complete 50 sessions of supervised counseling that are at least one hour in duration. Counselees may come from your family, church, or local tSw center (if there is one in your area). All of these counseling sessions must be done within one year. 8 of the 50 sessions must be with the same counselee. The first 5 of the sessions need to be audio-recorded and sent to your IRBC Supervising Counselor. Click here to download the Supervised Counseling Log form, which helps you keep track of your counseling sessions. 

Phase 3 Fee

There is a $600 fee for supervised counseling (effective April 26, 2023). (Note: Those that took the IRBC Basic Training Course in Reformed Biblical Counseling between the 2018-19 and the 2022-2023 classes have all fees covered. Any other person can apply for financial assistance by way of a grant using this application.) Please use the button below to pay this fee (select "Certification Program Fees" under the "Fund" category). 

Audio-recorded sessions

As stated above, the first 5 of the 50 supervised counseling sessions must be audio-recorded and sent to your IRBC Supervising Counselor. The easiest method of doing this would be to record an audio memo on a smartphone (if possible), and then share the file with the IRBC Supervising Counselor (possibly through Google Drive or some other platform, if the file size is too large for simple sharing via phones). Alternatively, if audio-recording equipment is available on site (at a church, tSw center, etc.), that can also be used. 

Case Reports

Case reports must be filled out for every session and shared with the IRBC Supervising Counselor. To download the case report form, click here. 

An IRBC Biblical Counseling Certification

After the IRBC Supervising Counselor deems that you have satisfactorily completed Phase 3 (i.e., approved your time log, your 50 case report forms, your 5 audio-recorded sessions, and overall counseling ability), he/she will recommend you to the IRBC credentialing committee to receive a Provisional IRBC Counseling Certification. Upon their approval, you will function under this certification for two years as you work towards a Standard certification. You will need to fulfill the requirements outlined in the next section below. 

Requirements for maintaining an  IRBC PROVISIONAL

biblical counseling certification

(while working towards a standard certification)

Year One Requirements: 

  • Engage in at least 25 hours of counseling. Record time in the "Counseling Time Log Form", and submit the information here. 
  • Read Trusting God (Jerry Bridges), read 300 pages of Bible/Theology books, read 300 pages of biblical counseling books, and watch/listen to at least five 30+ minute audio/video lectures on any given counseling topic (these audio/video lectures can be downloaded from IRBC, IBCD, ACBC, or CCEF websites). Upon completion of reading/listening requirements, click here to fill out/submit the associated form. A book list showing approved books for the Bible/Theology and Biblical Counseling reading portion can be accessed here.
  • If you are not serving as a counselor at a tSw counseling center, have your church consistory/session fill out a Provisional Counselor Evaluation Form. To do this,  either download the form and get it to them, or have them download and print the form. They can send the completed form to IRBC at 6442 - 36th Avenue; Hudsonville, MI 49426, or scan it to irbcdirectorsasst@gmail.com. Counselors serving at a tSw center (an AMCC) do not have to fill out this form, as they already undergo an annual counselor evaluation through their respective tSw center.
  • Fill out and submit a renewal form, and submit the renewal fee of $25 here effective April 26, 2023. (select "Certification Program Fees" under the "Fund" category). (Note: Those that took the IRBC Basic Training Course in Reformed Biblical Counseling between the 2018-19 and the 2022-2023 classes have all fees covered. Any other person can apply for financial assistance by way of a grant using this application.) 
  • Sign and submit a Code of Ethics form.


Year Two Requirements:

  • Engage in at least 25 hours of counseling. Record time in the "Counseling Time Log Form", and submit the information here. 
  • Read Resolving Everyday Conflict (Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson), read 300 pages of Bible/Theology books, read 300 pages of biblical counseling books, and watch/listen to at least five 30+ minute audio/video lectures on any given counseling topic (these audio/video lectures can be downloaded from IRBC, IBCD, ACBC, or CCEF websites). Upon completion of reading/listening requirements, click here to fill out/submit the associated form. A book list showing approved books for the Bible/Theology and Biblical Counseling reading portion can be accessed here.
  • If you are not serving as a counselor at a tSw counseling center, have your church consistory/session fill out a Provisional Counselor Evaluation Form. To do this, send either download the form and get it to them, or have them download and print the form. They can send the completed form to IRBC at 6442 - 36th Avenue; Hudsonville, MI 49426, or scan it to irbcdirectorsasst@gmail.com Counselors serving at a tSw center (an AMCC) do not have to fill out this form, as they already undergo an annual counselor evaluation through their respective tSw center.
  • Fill out and submit a renewal form, and submit the renewal fee of $25 here effective April 26, 2023. (select "Certification Program Fees" under the "Fund" category). (Note: Those that took the IRBC Basic Training Course in Reformed Biblical Counseling between the 2018-19 and the 2022-2023 classes have all fees covered. Any other person can apply for financial assistance by way of a grant using this application.) 
  • Sign and submit a Code of Ethics form.

Upon meeting these requirements, and sending in the associated forms/documents, you will be granted a Standard IRBC Biblical Counseling Certification. To maintain this biblical counseling certification, continuing education requirements must be fulfilled.

maintaining an irbc standard biblical counseling certification

Continuing education requirements

Once you have acquired your IRBC Standard Biblical Counseling Certification, there are some annual requirements that you must complete to maintain that certification. They are listed below:


1. Engage in at least 25 hours of counseling. Record time in the "Counseling Time Log Form", and submit the information here.

2. Read 300 pages of Bible/Theology books, read 300 pages of biblical counseling books, and watch/listen to at least five 30+ minute audio/video lectures on any given counseling topic (these audio/video lectures can be downloaded from IRBC, IBCD, ACBC, or CCEF websites). Upon completion of reading/listening requirements, click here to fill out/submit the associated form. A book list showing approved books for the Bible/Theology and Biblical Counseling reading portion can be accessed here.

3. Annually sign and submit a Code of Ethics form. 

4. If you are not serving as a counselor at a tSw counseling center, annually undergo a counselor evaluation by your consistory/session to renew your Standard Certification. Send your consistory the following downloadable form, or ask them to download and print it. Then have them mail the completed form to IRBC headquarters (6442 - 36th Avenue; Hudsonville, MI 49426); or have them scan the completed form to irbcdirectorsasst@gmail.com Counselors serving at a tSw center (an AMCC) do not have to fill out this form, as they already undergo an annual counselor evaluation through their respective tSw center.

5. Complete and submit the Standard Certification Renewal Form. Submit the renewal fee of $25 here effective April 26, 2023. (select "Certification Program Fees" under the "Fund" category). (Note: Those that took the IRBC Basic Training Course in Reformed Biblical Counseling between the 2018-19 and the 2022-2023 classes have all fees covered. Any other person can apply for financial assistance by way of a grant using this application.)