[3] In December 1979, the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA) Board of Directors approved a plan to create a generic counselor certification registry.

The separation ensured an unbiased certification process and an assumption of liability on the part of NBCC.

Since 2001, NBCC has worked to pass legislation adding licensed professional counselors (LPC) and marriage and family therapists (MFT) to Medicare.

[5] As a result, a client who sees an LPC or MFT has to immediately cease therapy at the age of 65, when the government mandates that they must leave their health insurance to enroll in Medicare.

The current requirements to become an NCC include:[8] After January 1, 2022, NCC applicants will be required to have a degree from a counselor education program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which includes a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework.

Since its establishment in 1982, NBCC has expanded to include: Created in 1995, CCE provides practitioners and organizations with assessments, business support services, and credentialing in a variety of fields, including counseling supervision, coaching, distance counseling, and human services.

With a focus on cultural sensitivity and understanding, as well as public awareness of the meaning of quality in professional counseling, NBCC-I offers programs and institutes all over the world.

Increasing access to mental health care in rural, military, and minority communities is a major focus for NBCCF.