Applying for BCC or BCCR

Q: What must I include in my BCC/BCCR application when I send it in?

A: The application must included the following: 

1) All forms from the application instructions and submissions from the manual.

2) Forms from appendix A, B and C of the manual.

3) All fees for the review, the written exam, the oral exam, and year of certification. 

Q. What must I include in my BT / license testing only application send it in?

A.       1) All forms in the BT/BCC/BCCR manual that are green in color

2) All fees for the review, the written exam and the oral exam.

Commonly Asked Questions & Answers 

Q. What are the cost differences between using the IC & RC certification

process to become licensed or to be licensed and certified?

                                           (BCC/BCCR)                                                     (BT)

A.                                 MCB/IC & RC                                       MCB EXAM ONL Y

Cost of Written exam           $110                                                            $140

Cost of the oral exam           $145                                                            $220

Portfolio review cost              $30

First year certification            $95                                                no certifications is given

                 with these processes

Total                                 $380 Includes Certification                           $360 varies as this also

Requires an additional 2000 hours supervision at your expense.

Whichever process you choose, you will incur an additional cost with BBHT to complete your license application.

Q. Can I take the NADDAC written exam and then the IC & RC oral exam?

A. YES! It is possible to take the IC & RC oral exam towards your licensing process if you are not pursuing certification.  NO! Not if you are also pursuing MCB/IC & RC certification. This is because legal defensibility and reliability of the IC & RC testing process, requires that both the IC & RC written and oral exam be passed. To do otherwise would compromise the process and it would no longer be legally defensible and valid.

Q. So in taking the IC & RC certification process I am taking the IC & RC written and oral exams for both certification and BBHT licensing?

A. Yes. You are basically getting “two for the price of one”.

Q. If I choose to take only the exam(s) and later want my certification, what needs to be done?

A. It will be necessary to pass the IC & RC written exam if you have not already done so. Additionally you will need to meet the remaining certification educational requirements as well as submit your work history, $30 portfolio review fee and $80 for you first year certification.

Q. How do I start the IC & RC Certification or testing only process?

A. Obtain a copy of the BCC/BCCR manual from MCB. The cost is $50 for hard copy or $25 for email version. Check, Money Order, credit or debit card information mailed to: MCB, 4817 Viking BLVD. N.E. Wyoming, MN.  55092; or you may call: (763) 434-9787 with your credit or debit card information and the manual will be sent to you.

Q. I took the IC & RC written counselor certification test in another state. Can I use the results in Minnesota?

A. Yes. The standardized test is used nationwide and is valid in all member countries, states, and other certifying bodies of the IC & RC.

Q. How should I prepare for the IC & RC written counselor certification test?

A. You may use the study guide to divide course work into domains covered in the test. Study groups, review sessions, and extra reading on weak areas are helpful. Applicants typically score lowest in education assessment, and counseling areas on the exam.

Q. I failed the IC & RC written counselor certification test. What can I do to prepare better next time?

A. Review areas where you scored lowest, seek more training, and consider waiting six months to retake the test to gain more experience.

Q. If I cancel/reschedule taking the IC & RC written counselor certification test, do I have to pay the testing fee again?

 A. You may reschedule taking the test once with no additional charge. If you cancel/reschedule taking the test a second time, the fee is forfeited and must be paid again before taking the test. No refunds are issued for cancellations.

 Q. I have a human services bachelor’s degree from a non MCB accredited provider. What will this count for? How many of my college courses will count towards certification requirements? If I send my transcript to MCB, can someone tell me which courses will count?

 A. Appropriate coursework may be counted toward the classroom education requirement. It is up to the applicant to look at a syllabus or course description for all courses taken and look at the MCB’s required competency areas list to determine which competencies were covered in your coursework. The MCB staff can not tell from course titles listed on the transcript which certification education requirements have been met by college courses. Each course will need to be documented separately on a MCB education and training resume sheet and submitted when you apply for certification. When you document courses taken, indicate for each course competencies covered. If you have completed an AODA counseling internship, these hours may count for experience and should be listed on the Professional Experience Resume form.

Q. Can I count a course that is not endorsed by the board toward certification requirements?

 A. Although a seminar or course may not specifically be endorsed the MCB, that does not mean it will not count toward certification requirements. Endorsed seminars are guaranteed to count for a spefici number of hours and to cover specific competency areas. Completed education and training resume sheets documenting the hours and content earned for each seminar/course are typically distributed to attendees at completion.

Unendorsed seminars must be documented on education and training resume sheets by the attendee; The attendee must refer to the certification handbook to determine which competency areas were covered by the course/seminar attended.

Both endorsed and unendorsed training sheets may be used towards meeting certification requirements as a BCC or BCCR. Each seminar/course attended will need to be documented separately on one of our education and training resume sheets and submitted when you apply for certification (credential holders and applicants must submit a copy of their certificate of attendance, grade transcript or other written proof of attendance in order to count the hours for recertification or original certification.

Q. I received my training and supervision in another state. How do I apply for certification in Minnesota?

A. If it is a reciprocity level state, your supervision will count if done by a reciprocity level certified Clinical Supervisor or Reciprocity Certified Counselor. Otherwise, you will need to have a Minnesota certified counselor or clinical supervisor (CSS) provide core function training. Experience and education must be documented on Minnesota’s corm and meet Minnesota’s requirement.

Q. After I take my courses, how do I get my practicum placement?

A. Most schools assist counselors in practicum placement, but is is the counselor’s responsibility for seeking position in the AODA field.

Q. Where can I learn more about the certification process?

A. For more specific details on the application process and requirement, it is recommended that the counselor purchase the Counselor Certification Manual for $50 hardcopy or $25 email version from the MCB office. (see order form on page 19)

 The Oral Interview

Q. How should I prepare for the oral interview?

A. If you are just beginning to work, the CPM orals study guide will be valuable. It is available for purchase from the MCB office. If you are near your orals date, you should begin to review the core functions and global criteria listed in the Case Presentation Method Candidate Guide. Keep in mind it is important to be specific to your case presentation during your oral interview.

Q. What can I use to study during my optional one hour study period the day of my oral interview?

A. At the start of your study hour, you will be given a copy of the global criteria and the twelve core functions, the questions you will be asked during your oral interview, and a copy of your case presentation. NO additional materials may be brought in or used to prepare for the oral interview during the one hour study periods. You will be able to use only the materials given to you by the Certification Board staff.

Q. What can I take in with me to use during my oral interview?

A. A copy of the twelve core functions and global criteria definitions and pool of questions will be provided for you at the time of your interview. They will be collected when your oral exam concludes. Please be aware the during your oral exam, you will NOT have your case study with you.

Field of AODA Counseling

Q. I am interested is getting into the field of AODA counseling. Where should I start?

A. Do a self assessment-what your experience has been, what your classroom education and training has been, what your life situation is. What would suit you best as far as gaining your education and training? Can it be done on a full-time or part-time basis? Do you already have a Bachelors degree? Related experience? Explore the options for getting training (see question below). Interview people at each type of training program to further assess your needs and their offerings, then pursue your course of action.

Q. Where can I get training?

A. There are three forms of training available to the AODA field designed specifically to meet the AODA requirements certification.

The three forms are:

1)       Academic degree programs

2)       Vocational programs

3)       Community based programs

Other programs in Human Services, a variety of Masters degree programs, and various workshops/conferences meet a portion of the certification requirements.

It is up to the applicant to look at a syllabus and course description for all courses taken and look at MCB’s required competency areas list to determine which competencies were covered in your coursework. Each course will need to be documented separately on MCB education and training resume sheets and submitted when you apply for certification. When you document courses taken, indicate for each course the competencies covered.

Q. How do I find a job before I’m experienced or certified?

A. Many people find jobs through their practicum placement. The job market is dictated by a variety of forces. As in all markets, the new graduate must work hard at finding that first job. It is helpful if people can relocated, and are willing to take entry level positions.

The AODA field is in a great deal of change and as the job market had gotten tighter and tighter, employers have begun to require more and more education. In a tight job market, the people who find jobs are the ones who have good training, proven competency, and aggressively market themselves to potential employers.

Q. I‘ve let my certification lapse, what can I do to get it back?

A. The CEU’s would need to be submitted, just as if there had been no lapse. There is a reinstatement fee of $250 if the lapse occurred less than 2 years ago and #350 if the lapse occurred 2 or more years ago plus the current years certification fee.