Because of the recognized quality of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) certification program, international counseling colleagues often approach this organization seeking assistance with professionalization. Most are familiar with U.S. credentialing structures and the ways mechanisms such as certification distinguish between the levels of preparation within a field. While NBCC does not encourage counselors abroad to adopt American-style standards for the profession, often they seek a similar structure. Their desire to implement country-specific counseling credentials is a force that drives NBCC International (NBCC-I)’s work abroad.

NBCC-I’s efforts center on the formation of structures needed to create a distinct professional group within each country. Project leadership and management are provided by native counselors who are most sensitive to local needs. As other countries undertake the creation of credentials, NBCC-I recognizes the importance of maintaining distance as an advisor to the process for two important reasons:

1. It is inappropriate to introduce a certification structure based on U.S. culture rather than the native culture.
2. Stakeholder involvement in the design of quality assurance measures is critical.

In the interest of space, we have highlighted NBCC-I’s general approach to providing professionalization assistance.

Credentialing-Certification
NBCC-I is often asked by counseling associations or groups abroad to develop certifications. Being profession-driven, rather than government-regulated, certifications are not subject to legislative processes. As a result, they are easier to modify to reflect advances in the field and more readily allow for the development of specialties (i.e., addictions counseling, crisis counseling, supervision, etc.). As a rule, NBCC-I does not dictate specific certification requirements, but instead serves as a resource to local experts who determine requirements. Table 1 provides a brief summary of NBCC-I’s approach to working with colleagues in the certification development process.

Standards of Professional Practice and Conduct
Standards of Professional Practice and Conduct, like Codes of Ethics, are documents created by members of the counseling profession to define responsible practice. These are generally drafted with an aspirational or proscriptive stance. Drafting and enforcement of such documents are steeped in culturally anchored processes and outlooks. Consistent with our commitment to cultural specificity, NBCC-I does not suggest the adoption of the NBCC Code of Ethics or any other U.S.-authored document, except when U.S. certification is sought.

While executing our mission, we strive to promote the development of counselors as a distinct group of educational, career/vocational, and mental health/social support specialists. We believe that leadership in the globalization of the profession better prepares us all for increasingly integrated economies and societies.