To get licensed in Wisconsin, Professional Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as assessment and diagnosis, counseling and psychotherapy and professional ethics. Whether you live in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay 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 Wisconsin. Licenses are granted by the Examining Board of Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Counselors and Social Workers.
To qualify to become a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin, the following must be met:
- Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits.
- Meet supervised clinical experience requirements of 3,000 hours of post-graduate professional counseling, including at least 1000 hours of face to face client contact, supervision in not less than two years, or for doctoral holders, 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice. .
- An applicant must earn a passing score on the NCE (National Counselor Exam)
or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam (CRCE).
An application for licensure and other documentation can be obtained online. All documents must be sent to:
Examining Board of Professional Counselors
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708
1-608-266-2112
1-608-261-7083 (fax)
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 and program evaluation
- Professional orientation and ethical practice.
- 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.
For more information, see the NCE Candidate Handbook.
How to Apply to Take the Exam
Apply online to take the NCE.
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
- 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
- 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
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.
The state of Wisconsin will also accept a passing score on the CRC exam.
Test content of the CRC
The test content of the CRC exam is composed of questions measuring 10 knowledge domains of rehabilitation counseling, each of which is subdivided into subdomains.
- Assessment, Appraisal, and Vocational Evaluation
- Job Development, Job Placement, and Career/Lifestyle Development
- Vocational Consultation and Services for Employers
- Case Management, Professional Roles and Practices, and Utilizing Community Resources
- Fundamental Counseling principles, Professional Orientation and ethics, counseling theories, Social and Cultural Issues, and Human Growth and Development
- Principles of Group and Family Counseling
- Principles of Mental Health Counseling
- Medical/ Functional/Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
- Management of Disability
- Research, Program Evaluation, and Evidence-Based Practice
The CRC Exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions. The applicant is allowed three hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam, within an eight day testing window. It is recommended that applicants reserve four hours for time to check in, review test instructions, and a tutorial to become familiar with using the computer test system.
CRC Exam Scoring
The CRC Exam is scored based on two components: the applicant’s knowledge of counseling, and rehabilitation and disability. Both parts must earn a passing score.
How to Apply to Take the Exam
You can find the registration information and the CRC application and other documents online, or write:
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
1699 E. Woodfield Road
Suite 300
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847-944-1325
Fax: 847-944-1346
License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
To renew a license, regulations require 30 clock hours of continuing education in acceptable courses and programs, every two year renewal period. This must include four hours in professional ethics and boundaries.
______________________________________________________
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.
