Hawaii Counselor License Exam

To get licensed in Hawaii, Professional Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as human growth and development, psychopathology, group therapy and professional ethics. Whether you live in Honolulu, or on the islands of Maui or Kaua’i, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your Professional Counselor’s license.

Need of a License: A license is needed to work as a counselor in the State of Hawaii. Licenses are granted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing.

To become a licensed professional counselor in Hawaii the following must be met:

Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits.
Of not less than 3,000 hours of with 100 hours of face to face clinical supervision in not less than two years and in not more than four years
An applicant must earn a passing score on the NCE (National Counselor Exam).

How to Apply for Licensure

An application for licensure and other documentation can be obtained online. All documents must be sent to:

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - PVL

Mental Health Counselor Program
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801

(808) 586-2693

Test Content of the NCE

The NCE measures the applicants’ knowledge of the following eight content areas:

The psychology of human growth and development
Socio-cultural diversity
Establishing helping relationships
Group dynamics and group therapy
Career goals and development
Assessment of psychopathology and treatment needs
Research methods andprogram evaluation
Professional orientation and ethical practice.

The applicant’s knowledge of the following five work areas are also measured by the NCE:

Fundamental issues in counseling
The process of counseling
Diagnostic and assessment services
Professional practice issues
Ongoing professional development and the need for clinical supervision and consultation.

The exam consists of 200 questions, 40 of which are not scored, but are included for purpose of research. The actual score is based on 160 questions. The number of questions the applicant must get correct to pass varies between test versions. Four hours are given to complete the exam.

For more information, see the NCE Candidate Handbook.

How to Apply to Take the Exam

Apply online to take the NCE.

The exam is administered by Pearson VUE.

License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

To renew a license, no continuing education is needed. The license needs to be renewed on a Triennial basis on June 30.

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For more information on licensing and exam prep, go to Tests.com's NCE Guide.

And take Tests.com's free NCE Practice Test.

For counseling exam preparation products and services, such as study guides, practice tests, flashcards and courses, go to Tests.com's NCE listings.

Quality starts with who wrote the material.

Our practice exam writer

Diane Dean, LPC, RN-BC, MA,

is a licensed professional counselor and educator with over 20 years experience in healthcare. She has taught at many colleges and universities, including the University of Pittsburgh.

Stacy Fruhling, LCPC, LCADC, NCC, MAC,

is an adjunct professor in psychology and counseling at the Ann Arundel Community College and the Community College of Baltimore.

Lisa Slade, MS, LPC, NCC,

is an adjunct professor in psychology, counseling, sociology and human services at Caldwell University in the Graduate School of Psychology, at the University of Bridgeport and at the Housatonic Community College.

OUR PRACTICE EXAM COVERS THE ACTUAL NCE DOMAINS:

The NCE contains 200 multiple-choice, non-sectioned questions. There are different versions of the test. Test questions come from a pool of questions that have been extensively reviewed and researched for content accuracy and clarity.

Below are the eight domains tested by the NBCC on the NCE:

• Human Growth and Development

• Social and Cultural Diversity

• Helping Relationships

• Group Counseling

• Career Counseling

• Assessment and Testing

• Research and Program Evaluation

• Professional Orientation and Ethics

Five work behaviors are also tested:

• Fundamentals of Counseling

• Counseling Process