New Accelerated Counseling Pathway from RBC to Westminster Theological Seminary
Posted On September 17, 2025
Reformation Bible College (Sanford, Fla.) and Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia, Pa.) are announcing a new accelerated pathway that allows students to pursue both a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from RBC and a Master of Arts in Counseling from WTS. This streamlined program is designed to save time while strengthening preparation for ministry.
Under this new agreement, qualified RBC students may begin Westminster’s M.A. in Counseling program after completing 90 credits at RBC, typically over the course of three years. This arrangement allows RBC students to finish their undergraduate studies while earning graduate-level credit from WTS.
The fully online M.A. in Counseling degree combines a comprehensive study of theology taught by Westminster’s distinguished faculty with Christian counseling courses taught by faculty from the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). Students in the M.A. in Counseling program also complete 100 hours of counseling experience. This accelerated pathway reduces the time it takes for a full-time student to earn an on-campus B.A. in Theology from RBC and an online M.A. in Counseling from WTS by one year.
Commenting on this new agreement, Dr. Stephen Nichols, president of RBC, remarked,
“I’m deeply grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Westminster Theological Seminary. This new accelerated program represents an exciting step forward for equipping counselors who are both theologically grounded and professionally trained to serve the church in vital and transformative ways.”
Dr. David Garner, chief academic officer and vice president of global ministries at WTS, highlighted the opportunity this new agreement presents to RBC students.
“Training students for the private ministry of the Word, what is often called biblical counseling, comes by way of Westminster Theological Seminary’s Master of Arts in Counseling program. With deep appreciation for RBC and its faithful ministry, we at Westminster are delighted now to offer a special pathway for RBC students to enter and complete Westminster’s MAC program.”
Nicolette Choi, director of the M.A. in Counseling program at WTS, explained what this new track offers RBC students.
“The new accelerated track allows students to complete their final undergraduate year while earning 30 of the 61 credits toward a fully online Master of Arts in Counseling, taught in collaboration with CCEF faculty. This Christ-centered, biblically grounded program equips students to counsel with wisdom, skill, and compassion, serving the church and caring for people faithfully right where God has placed them. We pray the Lord will use this training to strengthen His church and bring the lasting healing that only Christ can give!”
Dr. John Tweeddale, vice president of academics at RBC, added,
“At RBC, we are committed to preparing students for a lifetime of faithful service to Christ in the church and in the world. This agreement with Westminster gives our students a clear and accessible pathway to receive world-class training in biblical counseling. The blend of on-campus learning at RBC, online graduate study through WTS, and hands-on practical counseling experience offers students well-rounded preparation for a range of ministry-related career paths. We are grateful for this opportunity to strengthen our academic programs in a way that serves our students and meets the pressing needs of the church and world today.”
Prospective students interested in learning more about this new academic pathway can contact the Admissions offices of RBC or WTS for details.
- Contact the RBC Admissions team at admissions@reformationbiblecollege.org or 888-722-1517.
- Contact the WTS Admissions team at admissions@wts.edu or 800-373-0119.