A year ago, NBCC began offering its 66,000 board certified counselors a digital badge to use on social media, websites, email signatures, and more. NBCC’s partner in the venture, Acclaim, says the average of six views that board certified counselors are getting each time they share the badge is three times the national average for companies that issue digital badges.

Board certified counselors taking advantage of the digital badge say it has been a boon.

“I believe the badge has been a phenomenal tool in promoting my private practice,” says Sherri Kent, NCC, LPC, of Ridgeland, Mississippi. “I have my badge displayed in my office on the lower corner of my license, also on my intake and all correspondence: email, text, and chats.”

The badges are versatile, as counselor educators also are taking advantage. John J.S. Harrichand, PhD, NCC, LPC, CCC, is an assistant professor at The College at Brockport, State University of New York.

“Since receiving my badge, I have had people (counseling professionals, counseling students, and professionals in general) reach out to me inquiring of my professional services,” Harrichand says. “I have also had them ask questions related to obtaining the badge and still others thanking me for being willing to represent the counseling profession through the use of my badge.”

A digital badge is an important tool for board certified counselors in the modern era of communications, as it provides:

• A web-enabled version of your certification that can be shared on social media, your website, and your email signature.
• A trusted method for real-time certification verification.
• Labor market insights that will help connect your skills to jobs.

Another benefit of digital badges is they promote recognition of professional counseling, something that has proven important to many board certified counselors.

“I have had many colleagues and patients comment on the meaning of the badge and have been glad to share,” Kent says. “I believe it has reassured my client base that I am always searching to be certified in as many areas as possible to better help them in their journey.”

Likewise, Harrichand says having the badge attached to an email signature line with the unique URL embedded “is a useful tool, with maximum impact.”

“The badge is allowing us (professional counselors) to spread the word that we are not second to other helping professionals, but on par with them in being regulated by a board and having rules and regulations governing our practice,” says Harrichand, who also shared his digital badge on LinkedIn and Twitter. “This increases our credibility with the public and continues to bring awareness to the meaningful and needed work we do as counselors.”

All board certified counselors have access to badges for National Certified Counselor and any other NBCC-issued credential they have obtained. To learn more about claiming your digital badge, go to https://www.youracclaim.com or email recertification@nbcc.org.  

In addition, you may use the links below for videos on best practices in the use and sharing of your badge:

https://blog.youracclaim.com/home/how-to-manage-and-share-your-acclaim-badge

https://blog.youracclaim.com/home/acclaim-how-to-embed-a-badge-in-your-email-signature

https://blog.youracclaim.com/home/use-your-acclaim-badges-to-learn-which-jobs-require-your-skills