Massachusetts Counselor License Exam

To get licensed in Massachusetts, Professional Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as assessment and diagnosis, counseling and psychotherapy, and administration, supervision and consultation. Whether you live in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, or another city or county, 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 Massachusetts. Licenses are granted by the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions.

To qualify to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts, the following must be met:

Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits.
Meet supervised clinical experience requirements of 3,360 hours of postgraduate professional counseling, including at least 130 hours of supervision, in not less than one year. There must be one hour of supervision for every 16 hours of practice. 75 hours must be individual supervision; the remaining 55 hours can be in group supervision.
An applicant must earn a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

How to Apply for Licensure

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

Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals

Division of Professional Licensure

1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118

1-617-727-3080
1-617-727-2197 (fax)

Test content of the NCMHCE

The NCMHCE consists of ten hypothetical clinical mental health counseling cases. The cases are clinical simulations that use a multiple select/correct format where there are multiple options as possible correct answers. The questions are centered on the ten cases and explore the nuances of the particular case. The NCMHCE assesses an applicant’s ability to engage in clinical problem solving, including the identification, analysis, diagnosis and treatment of clinical issues.

Each of the ten cases is divided into five to eight sections and classified either as information gathering or decision making activities. The sections on Information gathering evaluate a candidate’s ability to gather clinical data that is needed in the decision making process. The sections on decision making evaluate a candidate’s ability to solve clinical problems using data.

The ten cases cover three content areas:

Assessment and Diagnosis

Integration of client assessment and observational date
Identification of precipitating problems/symptoms
Identification of level of individual or relationship functioning
Identification of pertinent familial issues

Counseling and Psychotherapy

Imparting information to the client about ethical standards and practice
Clarification of roles of the counselor and client
Apply individual counseling in accordance with the treatment plan
Evaluation of referral information

Administration, Consultation and Supervision

Maintenance of client records
Determine if counseling services being delivered are meeting client needs
Communicate orally with others to maintain professional communication
Assistance clients to connect with needed social services

Each of the ten cases in the NCMHCE is scored a +/- 3 which is based upon appropriate client/patient care. A passing score is above the minimum required for both the information gathering and decision making sections.

How to Apply to Take the Exam

You can find the registration information and the NCMHCE application online, or write:

The National Board of Certified Counselors
3 Terrace Way
Greensboro, North Carolina 27403-3660

(336) 547-0607

The exam is administered by Pearson VUE.

License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

To renew a license, regulations require 30 clock hours of continuing education in acceptable courses and programs offered by approved Continuing Education providers. The hours must be completed every two year licensure renewal period.

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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

• Diagnostic and Assessment Services

• Professional Practice

• Professional Development, Supervision and Consultation

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