The RHM Difference
What Sets Restoring Hope Apart
It's not just what you learn—it's who you become. That's formation.
Mentorship That Shapes You
Direct, ongoing relationship with seasoned counselors — not just content delivery. Your faculty knows your strengths and growth edges.
Real Clients, Real Stakes
You practice counseling with actual people in our teaching clinic. Supervised by Dr. Jeffrey Gross and senior staff. This is not theory—it's formation through presence.
Oral Exams Ensure Authenticity
Video-recorded oral defenses prove you genuinely understand and can articulate biblical truth. Not a workaround—a guard against surface-level certification.
Degree + Credential
You earn an AAATI-accredited degree AND RHM certification. Nationally recognized. Opens doors to licensure, academic advancement, and credible ministry.
Philosophy
Why Formation Matters
Certification Without Formation Is Hollow
A certificate proves you passed an exam. A formation program proves you've been transformed—in your theology, your character, your listening, your presence with suffering people. RHM is committed to the latter.
Biblical Counseling Requires More Than Knowledge
Yes, you need to know Scripture, theology, and technique. But you also need wisdom, discernment, humility, and the Holy Spirit's work in your own soul. Formation addresses all of it.
The Teaching Clinic Is Irreplaceable
Reading about counseling and actually counseling are different worlds. RHM students do both, under supervision, in a sacred space. You learn what it means to shepherd a wounded person.
Community Matters
Healing happens in community, not isolation. RHM's cohort-based model, discussion boards, and group events create belonging—something self-paced programs simply cannot replicate.
Side-by-Side
Program Comparison
How Restoring Hope School of Biblical Counseling (RHSBC) compares to ACBC, IBCD, and NCA programs.
| Category | RHM (RHSBC) | ACBC | IBCD | NCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Type | Degree + Certification (AAATI-accredited) | Certification only (requires degree) | Training + Certification | Certification only |
| Formation Model | Discipleship-focused; mentorship with faculty; communal learning | Self-paced study; individualized testing | Cohort-based; structured mentoring | Self-directed study; exam-based |
| Practical Application | Live teaching clinic with real clients under supervision; practicum required | Supervised ministry experience optional; no teaching clinic | Limited supervision; self-directed practice | Minimal required supervision |
| Assessment Method | Oral exams (video-recorded); written exams; practicum hours | Written exams only; minimal oral assessment | Written assessments; limited oral feedback | Written exams; optional practicum |
| Cost | $149 app + $199-399/course (flexible online) | $800-1200/exam; course fees vary | $300-500/course + cohort fees | $200-400/course |
| Program Duration | Flexible (self-paced); 1-5 years depending on degree level | 2-4 years (study at own pace; fixed exam windows) | 12-24 months (structured cohorts) | 18-36 months (self-paced with milestones) |
| Theological Foundation | Scripture-centered; ecclesiological (church as healer); soul-care tradition | Scripture-centered; individual-focused counseling | Scripture-centered; systemic/relational focus | Scripture-centered; varied theological emphases |
| Accreditation | AAATI (federal 501c3 nonprofit) | Institutional credentialing (self-accrediting) | No formal accreditation | Self-accrediting |
Note: Information based on publicly available program details as of 2026. All listed organizations offer Scripture-centered biblical counseling training. For official details on each program, visit their respective websites.
"I've been in ministry for 15 years, but my time in the RHSBC practicum fundamentally changed how I listen and care for people. It wasn't just another degree—it was formation. Being in the teaching clinic, getting feedback from Dr. Gross, wrestling with Scripture together... that's where the real transformation happened."
Sarah M.
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling (RHSBC)
