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The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and Affiliates seeks to advance the profession of counseling, health equity, and access to mental health services across the globe through counselor certification and capacity building. NBCC offers national certification with foundational eligibility requirements defined by counselors, accountable to counselors, and serving as a model for regulatory licensure requirements. 

Together, NBCC, along with our affiliates, the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE), and the NBCC Foundation (NBCCF), support counselors and other mental health professionals through credentialing, education, scholarships, and legislative efforts to expand equitable access to mental health care.

NBCCF's mission is to: leverage the power of counseling to advance global health equity through expanded access to counseling and mental health services. Its primary objectives are to increase the number of counselors and Mental Health Facilitators working with high-priority populations and to engage them in becoming innovators of counseling practices that benefit underserved communities.

Scholarshipsfellowships, and capacity-building grants, are the primary tools for accomplishing these objectives. NBCCF's strategy is to award scholarships and fellowships to individuals pursuing careers as professional counselors who are affiliated with high-priority populations and commit to serving them after graduation. Capacity-building grants fund expansion efforts to increase mental health resources in rural and minority communities where access to mental health care is extremely limited. Scholars and Fellows participate in innovation training to expand effective practice in their communities. 

Use the forms below to apply to open opportunities! 

*Please note that application forms will appear below by 12:00 AM EST on the date the application opens. If no forms appear below, please check back on the open date of the application period. 

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 military scholarships for service members, veterans, and their spouses pursuing a career in professional counseling. The military scholarship was created to increase the number of counselors available to serve military personnel and families. These scholarships provide financial support to students who are currently enrolled in a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited master’s-level counseling program; are active duty, have served in the military, or are a military spouse; and who commit to serve military personnel in the United States within 1 year of graduation for the duration of a minimum of at least 2 years post-graduation. Five scholarships in the amount of $8,000 are available. 

Eligibility Requirements:  

  • Applicants must currently live in the United States but can be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or an international student with an F-1 Visa.  
  • Applicants must not already possess a master’s degree in a behavioral health field. 
  • Applicants must be veterans or active-duty U.S. military service members or spouses of a veteran or active-duty U.S. military service member. Veterans must have received an honorable discharge. 
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled full time and be in good standing in a CACREP-accredited master’s-level counseling program. Applicants must currently be taking courses. Applicants may not have a pending status, deferred status, or other future start date for coursework.  
  • Applicants are expected to graduate by May 31, 2028 (within 3 years from the date of the scholarship funding). 
  • Eligible applicants must not have an anticipated program completion date before Dec. 31, 2025, which will be verified in writing by their academic department prior to the awarding of funds. 
  • Applicants must commit to becoming nationally certified by applying for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification prior to graduation and to completing the application process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain this certification prior to applying for the scholarship. 
  • Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with military personnel and families. 
  • Applicants must commit to providing mental health services to military veterans, individuals, and/or families in the United States within 1 year of graduation and for the duration of a minimum of at least 2 years post-graduation. 

To check the CACREP status of a program, search the CACREP website. The application opens Oct. 1, 2024, and the application deadline is Dec. 31, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST. Scholarship awardees will be announced by the end of March 2025.  

For questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If you still have questions after reviewing our FAQ document, please email foundation@nbcc.org or call 336-232-0376. 

If you experience any issues with the Submittable application platform, please email Support@submittable.com

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 rural scholarships for students pursuing a career in professional counseling. The rural scholarships were created to increase the number of counselors available to serve people in rural areas. These scholarships provide financial support to students who are currently enrolled in a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited counseling master’s program, live in a rural area, and commit to serve rural populations within 1 year of graduation for the duration of a minimum of at least 2 years post-graduation. Five scholarships in the amount of $8,000 are available. 

Eligibility Requirements:  

  • Applicants must currently live in the United States but can be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or international student with an F-1 Visa. 
  • Applicants must not already possess a master’s degree in a behavioral health field. 
  • Applicants must reside in a rural area as defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled full time and be in good standing in a CACREP-accredited master’s-level counseling program. Applicants must currently be taking courses. Applicants may not have a pending status, deferred status, or other future start date for coursework.  
  • Applicants are expected to graduate by May 31, 2028 (within 3 years of the date of the scholarship funding).  
  • Eligible applicants must not have an anticipated program completion date before Dec. 31, 2025, which will be verified in writing by their academic department prior to the awarding of funds.  
  • Applicants must commit to becoming nationally certified by applying for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification prior to graduation and to completing the application process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain this certification prior to applying for the scholarship. 
  • Applicants must commit to providing mental health services in a rural area in the United States within 1 year of graduation and for the duration of a minimum of at least 2 years post-graduation.  

To check the CACREP status of a program, search the CACREP website. The application opens Oct. 1, 2024, and the application deadline is Dec. 31, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST. Scholarship awardees will be announced by the end of March 2025. 

For questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If you still have questions after reviewing our FAQ document, please email foundation@nbcc.org or call 336-232-0376. 

 If you experience any issues with the Submittable application platform, please email  Support@submittable.com

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 application period for the Dr. Nicholas Vacc Scholarship. The NBCC Foundation will administer one doctoral-level counseling scholarship of $5,000. This program is made possible by an endowment in memory of Dr. Nicholas Vacc. The NBCC Foundation helps ensure that the behavioral health needs of all Americans are met, regardless of language or culture, thereby reducing health disparities and improving overall community health and well-being. By strategically promoting and providing scholarships to doctoral counseling students, the Dr. Nicholas Vacc Scholarship Endowment supports the infrastructure that engages individuals focused on research and/or testing that strengthens the profession of counseling. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status. 
  • Applicants must not already possess a doctoral degree in a behavioral health field. 
  • Applicants must currently be nationally certified by holding the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification. If the applicant is not currently nationally certified, they must document all of the following:  
  1. A full state license as a professional counselor;  
  2. A passing score on the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE); and  
  3. A commitment to apply for the NCC certification and to complete the application within the shortest possible timeframe after notification of the award. 
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled full time for the fall 2024 semester and be in good standing in a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited doctoral-level counseling program. Applicants may not have a pending status, deferred status, or other future start date for coursework.  
  • Applicants are expected to graduate by May 31, 2028 (within 3 years after notification of the award). 
  • Eligible applicants must not have an anticipated academic program completion date before Dec. 31, 2025, which will be verified in writing by their academic department prior to the awarding of funds. 
  • Applicants must focus their dissertation on research and/or testing that strengthens the profession of counseling.  
  • Applicants must be a member of Chi Sigma Iota.  

To check the CACREP status of a program, search the CACREP website. The application opens Oct. 1, 2024, and the application deadline is Dec. 31, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST.  

Scholarship awardees will be announced by the end of March 2025.  

For questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions or email foundation@nbcc.org. If you still have questions after reviewing our FAQ document, please email foundation@nbcc.org or call 336-232-0376. 

If you experience any issues with the Submittable application platform, please email Support@submittable.com

The NBCC Foundation is seeking dynamic presenters for our monthly webinar programs on:

  1. Innovations in Counseling: Working with Minority Populations 
  2. Building Professional Excellence

These webinars enhance care for underserved minorities and provide ongoing training to NCCs and CCE credential holders in addition to Foundation scholars and fellows. These resources become part of our capacity-building plan and are archived in our webinar library available on i-counseling. Webinars are conducted online, and no travel commitment is required from our webinar presenters. The NBCC Foundation handles all the logistics of managing the webinar platform, advertising and promotion. All webinar presenters must hold a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or a related mental health field and be a board certified counselor.

Please use this form to nominate a presenter for an NBCC Foundation webinar. 

The NBCC Foundation is seeking dynamic presenters for our monthly webinar programs on (1) Innovations in Counseling: Working with Minority Populations and (2) Building Professional Excellence. These webinars enhance care for underserved minorities and provide ongoing training to NCCs and CCE credential holders in addition to Foundation scholars and fellows. These resources become part of our capacity-building plan and are archived in our webinar library available on CCE Academy. 

Webinars are conducted online, and no travel commitment is required from our webinar presenters. The NBCC Foundation handles all the logistics of managing the webinar platform, advertising and promotion. All webinar presenters must hold a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or a related mental health field and be a board certified counselor.

The NBCC Foundation (NBCCF) offers scholarships and fellowships to increase counseling services where they are needed most. NBCCF Board of Trustees determines priority areas annually. The current priority underserved areas are military communities, rural communities, minority populations, substance abuse, and career counseling and guidance. NBCCF also offers the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) scholarships and training awards. These awards enhance the careers of credentialed professionals by providing financial assistance to those seeking additional credentials and continuing education opportunities. 

NBCCF is accepting applications for volunteer application reviewers and mentors. 

NBCCF Volunteers Eligibility Requirements:

All NBCCF volunteers must meet the following eligibility requirements: 

• A master’s degree (or higher) in counseling and a minimum of two years of postgraduate experience. 

• Certification as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) in good standing.

• Counseling experience related to serving military, minority, rural populations, career counseling, or underserved minority populations.

• Volunteer application reviewers must commit to one review cycle.

• Volunteer mentors must commit to providing mentorship for a minimum of one year.



Application Reviewer Opportunities:

NBCCF volunteers will review scholarship and fellowship applications and rate applicants based on Board-determined criteria. Foundation staff will provide online training, the review periods will be 2-4 weeks in duration, and average eight hours of actual review time. All review processes will be online.

Interested NCCs should submit a brief letter of interest and résumé. The letter should demonstrate eligibility and availability and explain the potential candidate’s interest in being an application reviewer. 

Additional Eligibility Requirements for Reviewers:

      Fellowship and Scholarship Reviewers:

  • Experience and knowledge with one or more of the following:

                 Career counseling and guidance

                 Substance abuse

                 Military and veteran populations

                 Rural communities

                 Underserved minority groups

                 Transition age youth


      CCE Scholarship Reviewers:

  • Must hold one of the following CCE credentials, and be in good standing:

                  CCE Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS)

                  Board Certified Coach (BCC)

                  Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF)

                  Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH) 

  • Extensive experience working with and knowledge of one or more of the populations that the listed credential holders serve.

Mentorship Opportunities:

Each year, the Foundation awards fellowships and scholarships to more than 80 counseling master’s students who commit to serving the Foundation’s priority underserved populations of military communities, rural communities and minority populations or providing career development services. The fellowships and scholarships provide substantial financial awards as well as training and support services, including mentors. 

Experienced master’s-level National Certified Counselors (NCCs) have the opportunity to volunteer as mentors for the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) and NBCC Foundation scholarship program. Fellows and scholars with active mentor connections demonstrate increased success in completing master’s programs, contributing effective research, and attaining related employment and other opportunities. NBCCF will match mentors and Fellows or Scholars based on interests and experience. 

At minimum, mentors will provide four interactions with their assigned Fellow or Scholar and make themselves available for additional inquiries based on mutual agreement with their mentee. Mentors will receive online training and orientation prior to engagement. The duration of the commitment is one year. 

NCCs interested in mentoring can submit their application (including a brief letter of interest and résumé). The letter of interest should demonstrate eligibility and explain the candidate’s interest in being a mentor and expected achievements and outcomes for the mentoring process. 

Additional Eligibility Requirements for Mentors:

      Master’s Level Fellowship or Scholarship Mentors:

  • Counseling experience related to serving military, minority, rural populations, career counseling, or underserved minority populations.
  • Commit to providing mentorship for a minimum of one year. 


      Doctoral Level Fellowship Mentors:

  • Doctoral degree in counseling and a minimum of two years of postdoctoral experience;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with racially and ethnically diverse populations; and
  • Counseling experience related to providing mental health or substance abuse services to underserved minority populations.
  • Commit to providing mentorship for a minimum of one year. 


For more information about the Foundation scholarship and fellowship programs, visit www.nbccf.org  



National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation