Why is this important? Programs that lack Oregon Board approval are not required to abide by the quality standards set forth by the Oregon Board. Also, licensure for grads of non-approved programs is more complicated. Regional accreditation is separate from OBLPCT approval. Find out more about licensure at the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.

Western Seminary: Our program is approved by the Oregon Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Our graduates automatically meet the educational standards for the Oregon Board. Western is also regionally accredited.

How can I assess this? Ask what kinds of positions program alumni currently hold.

Western Seminary: Western graduates are prominent in the community working in community mental health agencies, churches, residential treatment facilities, schools, non-profit counseling agencies, and for-profit agencies. A number of our graduates now teach in other counseling programs, demonstrating the quality of our training. We are confident that if you ask clinicians in the community you will find our reputation to be excellent.

What questions should I ask? Are your faculty members licensed professional counselors? Do they have a proven track record with many years of clinical counseling and teaching experience?

Western Seminary: Western’s core faculty have a combined 75 years of counseling experience with a wide range of populations. Not only will the faculty be training you for the counseling profession, but they will also be connecting you with their extensive networks in the field. Dr. Kay Bruce, program director, has her Psy.D. and is licensed in both Oregon and Washington as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Dr. Dave Wenzel has his Ph.D. in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon. Dr. Norm Thiesen has his Ph.D. and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon. In addition to their counseling credentials, each of our counseling faculty has also earned an advanced theological or ministerial degree. At Western, not only will you have access to our three core faculty members, you will receive specialized training from adjunct professors who are experts in the counseling field, and personal attention from our Bible and theology professors. Students seek out their professors for mentoring, advising, and even occasional BBQs in their homes. Stop by or schedule a meeting; they’d love to talk!

How can I assess this? Consider how many courses your program will include in Bible (Western: four), theology (Western: three), and integration (Western: three). And, how do they go about integrating faith with counseling in the counseling classes? Does the program thoroughly prepare you to be integrative in your thinking?

Western Seminary: Western’s core faculty members are dually trained at the graduate level in Bible/theology and in the behavioral sciences. Students receive advanced theology and Bible training. At Western, we don’t teach students what to think, but how to think. It is a high responsibility to represent Christ in the context of professional counseling. We are proud to produce graduates who are grounded in their Christian worldview, value the transformational power of the gospel, and work at a high standard of professionalism in the counseling field.

Why this is important? The Oregon Board requires 280 client contact hours and two semesters of experience, but will count up to 400 hours of pre-grad client contact hours toward licensure. Many programs simply meet the minimal requirement. Accruing more clinical hours during your degree program can speed up the time toward licensure after you graduate. The number of contact hours and the type(s) of internship experience you obtain while in school will also, in part, determine how competitive you will be for jobs.

Western Seminary: We take an experiential approach to counseling because you can’t learn about counseling just by sitting in a classroom. Students spend 5 semesters working at internship sites, as early as your second semester in the program, and average 390 client contact hours during the program.

Why does this matter? Some programs offer “condensed” teaching formats such as one evening a week. Applicants should consider whether they will actually get the training they need in such a short time. Your degree is an investment in yourself and your clients. Be confident that you will be prepared.

Western Seminary: It will take an average of three years. We believe that short cuts don’t pay off. Our program offers scheduling flexibility, permitting students the freedom to create their own timeline. We encourage students to take the program at a pace that allows them to personally apply the material they are learning and to develop their professional identity as a counselor. We offer a Monday and Tuesday morning schedule to help students balance other areas of life, including internship, work, family, and social life. A good counselor is one who evidences personal fitness mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

How do I find information about this? Learn more about your particular state’s licensure requirements at the National Board for Certified Counselors State Board Directory.

Western Seminary: Our program prepares students for licensure in most states. Over 99% of our graduates have passed the National Exam on their first attempt. The program utilizes the CPCE exam as both a clinical comprehensive exam and a practice exam for the NCE. As a GSA-NCC testing site, our students can take the national exam during their last semester of the program before they even graduate.