Education, Training, and Other Requisites for
TILBC Commissioning and Certification
The TILBC Biblical Counseling & Soul-Care Program is a comprehensive and robust program of ongoing education, training, mentoring, and growing practical experience for helping people apply the Word of God to the trials and troubles they face.

There are minimum requirements that need to be met for a candidate to gain either designation (Commissioned for Discipleship & Soul-Care, or Certified Biblical Counselor). What differs are the written examinations, whether or not supervised counseling is required, and the review process.

FAITH REQUIREMENTS

Those Commissioned or Certified by TILBC must be individuals of strong Christian faith, holding to the essentials of Christianity as true. There are non-essential doctrines of faith that, while important for Christians to be able to closely minister together, TILBC allows for freedom of personal convictions, provided that any interpretation is based on the Bible alone, does not contradict any portion of the TILBCC Statement of Faith, and that any such interpretation not become an issue of division which hinders the ministry of biblical counseling and soul-care to which God has called us.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

Those holding a Commission or Certification with TILBC will be individuals of strong Christian character and high integrity in life and ministry. Candidates will need to have a pastor or elder from the fellowship they attend recommend them for Commissioning or Certification. Candidates will need three individuals who are not immediate family members to submit a character reference for them as well.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

​​The minimum education requirements for TILBC Commissioning or Certification are a successfully completed program of study approved by the TILBC Board:
  • Level I of TILBC Course of Study (or its equivalent) for Level I Commissioning or Certification.
  • Both Levels I and II of the TILBC Course of Study (or their equivalent) for Level II Commissioning or Certification.
Those who have not completed the TILBC Program of Study will need to submit transcripts or other records from the education they have received. The Board will make the determination for eligibility of coursework as equivalent.

TILBC courses may be taken individually as needed to fill in the gaps. The Director will work with the candidate to help them fulfill the requirements as expeditiously as possible.
​Level I TILBC Course of Study includes:
  • Introduction to Biblical Counseling & Discipleship (Overview of Biblical Counseling, how it differs from psychology and Christian Counseling, and how to go about providing this type of soul-care within the local church fellowship.)
  • Dynamics of Biblical Change (Understanding the difference between behavior modification and biblical transformation and how to facilitate the latter.)
  • Hermeneutics (The art and science of biblical interpretation. Properly interpreted Scripture, properly applied is our primary tool for discipleship and soul-care.)
  • Worldviews: What They Are, Why They Matter (Being able to discern the worldview of those we help and how to encourage and help them to develop a biblical worldview.)
  • Whole-person Ministry (Biblical Anthropology. Hamartiology, and Ministering to Embodied Souls. Includes understanding synergistic completeness of human beings as well as the role of diet, movement, rest, medications, and disease.)
  • Unbound: Growing Ever-Freer in Christ (This is a TILBC-specific discipleship curriculum that all TILBC graduates are trained in. For those seeking recognition of non-TILBC education or training, course-work in discipleship or a minimum of three years of discipling others is required.)
Level II TILBCC Course of Study includes:
  • Marriage & Family Counseling (The biblical paradigm for marriage, parenting, and family matters and how to provide counsel to those who are anywhere along the spectrum of marriage and family.)
  • Introduction to Christian Reconciliation (Being reconciled to God in Christ is supposed to develop a heart of reconciliation in each of us. Sadly, many Christians need help in this area and there is a growing need for believers to learn to be Christ-like in the midst of conflict.) 
  • Addiction & Recovery Models (Comparing and contrasting 12-Step programs, secular non-12-Step programs, and Christianized 12-Step programs in light of the biblical model and how to provide biblical help to those trapped in bondage to chemicals and behaviors. Learning the real history of AA is part of this module as well.)
  • Crisis, Loss & Trauma Counseling (With the glut of information available about trauma, this develops a biblical understanding of loss, grief, crisis, and trauma biblically. Students learn how to help those impacted by these troubles find hope and healing.)

CONTINUING WITH TILBC

Once credentialed, to remain in good standing and maintain your credential, you are required to:
  • Remain a regular part of a Bible-believing church fellowship.
  • Meet at least quarterly with a member of the Mentor Team.
  • Pass the triennial background check.
  • Participate in continuing education opportunities each year.
  • Attend at least two (2) of the monthly TILBC Team Connects each year if Commissioned, three (3) each year if Certified.
  • Attend at least one (1) TILBC in-person training opportunity every four (4) years.