NBCC currently relies upon assessment of certification candidates' experience and supervision as competency checks for certification. As state licensure becomes commonplace, national credentialing becomes even more important to ensure a unified definition of counseling and its practice. National certification is broader than state licensure. State licensure is subject to the politics of the state. Sunset commissions in states may terminate the enabling legislation for credentialing.
National certification provides referral sources across state lines.
The NBCC database identifies counselors in all states who accept referrals. Most state licenses do not provide for a license in a specialty. National certification offers certificants the opportunity to add an advanced specialty designation. Further, NBCC is the central point within the profession for establishing national certificates for specialty training. These organizations disseminate current information on legislation and government regulations and provide interprofessional oversight of credentialing programs.