CHAPTER 45
EXAMINERS OF FEE-BASED PRACTICING PASTORAL COUNSELORS
SECTION .0100 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
21 NCAC 45 .0101 ADDRESS
The mailing address for the North Carolina State Board of Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselors is 1001 S. Marshall
Street, Suite #5, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-385(e);
Eff. March 1, 1996.
SECTION .0200 - APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION
21 NCAC 45 .0201 INFORMATION REQUIRED
(a) The following information shall be required in application for Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor and Pastoral
Counseling Associate:
(1) A typed or printed Application form;
(2) A typed or printed Documentation for Certification form;
(3)
(4)
(5)
Official graduate transcript(s) sent directly to the Board by the training institution(s);
Three completed reference forms from persons who affirm to the applicant=s moral character;
Completed supervision reports from past and present supervisors.
(b) Applicants for Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor shall provide written evidence, transcripts or other document(s) evidencing satisfactory completion of a course of study in pastoral psychotherapy.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a)(4); 90-387-(b)(4);
Eff. May 1, 1996.
21 NCAC 45 .0202 REVIEW PROCEDURE
(a) A copy of the applicant's application, documentation for certification form, and all other required supporting documentation shall be mailed to all Board members prior to the next scheduled meeting. The Board shall review the applicant's application, documentation for certification form, and all other required supporting documentation at the next meeting.
(b) If approved, the applicant shall be informed and shall be given information regarding the exam.
(c) If the credentials are unacceptable, the applicant is so informed and is given an explanation of the area(s) which are considered deficient. Applicants may remedy deficiencies within one year from the date of notification of such without having to reapply.
(d) If a question arises during the review process regarding comments made by endorsers or supervisors, the Board shall seek to resolve the question by communicating with the endorser or supervisor, or the Board may refer the matter to their legal counsel or to a member of the Board or employee of the Board for investigation.
(e) If certification is denied, an explanation of the grounds for denial shall be given. The applicant may present additional written information in support of the application to be considered by the Board.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a)(4); 90-387(b)(4);
Eff. March 1, 1996.

21 NCAC 45 .0203 ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE
An applicant who has met all of the requirements as a Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor or Fee-Based Pastoral
Counseling Associate shall be issued a certificate. This certificate displays the applicant's name, date of certification, certification number, the signature of the current chairperson, and the official seal of the Board.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a); 90-387(b);
Eff. March 1, 1996.
SECTION .0300 - EXAMINATION
21 NCAC 45 .0301 TYPES
(a) The Board shall employ a written and oral examination to test an applicant's knowledge in the following areas:
(1)
(2)
(3)
Code of Ethics;
Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselors Certification Act;
Individual Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy;
(4)
(5)
Marriage, Family, or Group Counseling and Psychotherapy;
Religion, Theology, and Ethics of Pastoral Counseling.
(b) The written examination shall be given annually in the spring. A passing score shall consist of 70% correct responses on the written exam.
(c) The oral examination shall be administered to applicants during the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. A passing score on the oral examination shall be determined by the applicant's demonstration to the satisfaction of the Board that skills necessary to engage in pastoral counseling and in-depth pastoral psychotherapy are integrated. These skills include but are not limited to: articulation of one's theory of pastoral counseling and psychotherapy; use of authority in the pastoral counseling and psychotherapy relationship; and emotional availability for the pastoral counseling and psychotherapy process.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a)(3); 90-387(b)(3).
Eff. May 1, 1996.
21 NCAC 45 .0302 REPORTING OF SCORES
Each applicant for certification shall be informed in writing of passage or failure on the Pastoral Counseling
Certification Examination. Those who have not passed the examination shall be informed of the policy regarding reexamination.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a)(3); 90-387(b)(3);
Eff. March 1, 1996.
21 NCAC 45 .0303 RE-EXAMINATION
An applicant who has not passed the written/oral examination may retake the examination provided at least six months has lapsed between the examinations and the applicant pays the required examination fee.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a)(4)h; 90-387(b)(4)s;
Eff. March 1, 1996.
SECTION .0400 - CERTIFICATION RENEWAL

21 NCAC 45 .0401 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL FORM
The renewal form shall be mailed in the spring of each year with renewal being on or before January 1, of the following year. The form shall ask for current home and business addresses and telephone numbers. Pastoral Counseling
Associates shall submit an additional form documentating required supervision.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-389;
Eff. March 1, 1996.
21 NCAC 45 .0402 SECOND NOTICE
After the renewal date has passed, a second notice shall be sent to every delinquent individual, advising them that the renewal fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), as well as the late fee of twenty five dollars ($25.00), are due.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-389;
Eff. May 1, 1996.
SECTION .0500 - CONTINUING EDUCATION
21 NCAC 45 .0501 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
(a) A form for continuing education requirements shall be mailed with the annual renewal form. Each Fee-Based Practicing
Pastoral Counselor and Pastoral Counseling Associate shall complete a total of 50 hours of continuing education each year in the following identified areas:
(1) Category I - Pastoral Theology;
(2)
(3)
Category II - Clinical Theory and Practice;
Category III - Pastoral, Psychological and Psychiatric Diagnosis;
Category IV - Consultation and Supervision; (4)
(5) Category V - Reading Books and Professional Journals in the field of Pastoral Counseling and
Psychotherapy.
(b) In a continuing education year, 20 hours of the 50 hours required shall be contact hours in either Category I - Pastoral
Theology, Category II - Clinical Theory and Practice or Category III - Pastoral, Psychological and Psychiatric Diagnosis.
(c) A continuing education year shall be June 1 to May 31 of the following year.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-389;
Eff. May 1, 1996.
SECTION .0600 - DEFINITIONS
21 NCAC 45 .0601 EQUIVALENCY
(a) Equivalencies shall be considered on a case by case basis.
(b) Should a candidate choose to make a case for equivalent experience, education or training, the candidate shall document a formal request to the Board. The Board shall assign a Board member to meet with the candidate and review the request. The request shall then be taken to the Board for either approval or disapproval. The onus for documentation of equivalency shall

rest entirely with the candidate. Should equivalency not be granted, the candidate shall be given consultation regarding how to fulfill the particular standard.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a)(4)c,d,f,g; 90-387(a)(4)c,e,f,h;
Eff. May 1, 1996.
SECTION .0700 - TEMPORARY CERTIFICATES
21 NCAC 45 .0701 ISSUANCE OF TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE
(a) The Board of Examiners shall issue temporary certificates at no additional cost than that of customary fees at the time of application to the Board of Examiners for a temporary certificate.
(b) A person who requests a temporary certification as a Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor or a Fee-Based Practicing
Pastoral Counseling Associate shall:
(1) Submit an application to take the next examination offered by the Board and pay the non-refundable application fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00);
(2) Pay the non-refundable examination fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) for Fee-Based Practicing
Pastoral Counselor or the non-refundable examination fee of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for
Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counseling Associate;
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Complete all of the documentation for certification form and all other supporting documentation required by the Board for assessing whether the candidate is qualified to take the written and oral examination;
Be assigned a Board member to function as a liaison/presenter to the full Board and to the sub-committee assigned by the Board to review the request;
Consult with the liaison/presenter in an individual consultation prior to the meeting with the sub-committee;
Pass the multiple choice components of the Board's written examination which covers knowledge of G.S.
(7)
90, Article 26 and The Code of Ethics;
Be interviewed by a sub-committee of the Board and be recommended by the sub-committee to the Board for a temporary certificate.
(c) Temporary certificates shall be valid for no longer than one year and shall be automatically terminated at the time of the next examination given by the Board.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-384;
Eff. May 1, 1996.
SECTION .0800 - SUPERVISION
21 NCAC 45 .0801 APPROVED SUPERVISION
(a) The 250 hours of supervision required for certification as a Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor and the 125 hours of supervision required for certification as a Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counseling Associate shall be documented as provided by a Diplomate of the American Association for Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors under supervision by a Diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors or a North
Carolina Certified Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor.
(b) Any supervision beyond the required 250 hours may be documented as provided by a clinician in another mental health discipline who is current in certification or licensure with the particular certifying or licensing group or was current at the time of the supervisory experience.
History Note: Authority G.S. 90-385(f); 90-387(a)(4)d; 90-387(b)(4)h;
Eff. October 1, 1996.