National Counselor Exam FAQs
First offered in 1983, the National Certified Counselor (NCC) is the premier credential issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), an independent not-for-profit credentialing body for counselors. The National Counselor Certification not only verifies that a counselor meets certain professional standards, but the certification can also improve a counselor's career prospects and provide access to valuable counseling resources.
The NCE uses multiple-choice questions with many of them being scenario based.
The NCE consists of 200 questions of which only 180 are used in your score, the rest of them being questions that are being developed for future use.
You have four hours to complete the NCE exam.
The NBCC uses Pearson VUE to administer and score the NCE and offers the test year round. It has test centers all over the U.S.
- The examination can be taken alone, as part of the state licensure process, or
- The examination can be taken as part of the National Certified Counselor (NCC) application.
Each state has unique licensing and exam requirements for professional counselors.
The NCE covers the following eight domains:
- Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
- Social and Cultural Diversity
- Human Growth and Development
- Career Development
- Counseling and Helping Relationships
- Group Counseling and Group Work dynamics
- Assessment and Testing
- Research and Program Evaluation
The NCE was developed by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). A committee of subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop exam items built on the core knowledge base of practicing counselors was established by the NBCC. Led by psychometric experts with expertise on counseling, the exam reflects the central requirements of counselors, clinical and practical, through real-world simulated case questions.
The NBCC uses Pearson VUE to administer and score the NCE and offered twice a year in spring and fall. It has test centers all over the U.S.
Counselors can work in a variety of specialties and settings with a basic license, but certain national certifications, such as the National Certified Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor designations, demonstrate that a counselor has met additional requirements generally accepted as indicative of expertise in the profession. The National Counselor Certification not only verifies that a counselor meets certain professional standards, but the certification also can improve a counselor's career prospects and provide access to valuable counseling resources.
Passing the NCE allows the counselor to use the "NCC" credential after their name. The National Counselor Certification not only verifies that a counselor meets certain professional standards, but the certification also can improve a counselor's career prospects and provide access to valuable counseling resources. Having passed the NCE, and becoming licensed by a state counseling board, you may also be able to use the "LPC" credential after our name, for Licensed Professional Counselor.
The NBCC uses Pearson VUE to administer and score the NCE. It has test centers all over the U.S. Pearson VUE has two options for taking the NCE:
- Taking the test at a Pearson VUE test center.
- Taking the test at home through Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform.
Yes, the NBCC uses Pearson VUE to administer and score the NCE. It has test centers all over the U.S. Pearson VUE has two options for taking the NCE:
- Taking the test at a Pearson VUE test center.
- Taking the test at home through Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform.
Each state has unique licensing and exam requirements for professional counselors. Many jurisdictions require a candidate to have a graduate degree in an degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits. Additionally, they must meet supervised clinical experience requirements of a certain number of hours of post-graduate professional counseling, and weeks of supervision, sometimes including at least one hour of individual supervision per week, or two hours of group supervision per week as well as pass an ethics exam.
The NBCC uses Pearson VUE to administer and score the NCE. It has test centers all over the U.S. Pearson VUE has two options for taking the NCE:
- Taking the test at a Pearson VUE test center.
- Taking the test at home through Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform.
Each state has unique licensing and exam requirements for professional counselors.
Yes, and each state has unique renewal requirements for professional counselors.
The NBCC will email you once your score is available and you can follow the link in the email.
Practice tests, such as Tests.com's NCE Practice Exam, are a good way to study as it goes over the material you need to know while giving you a chance to practice your test taking skills. Additionally, study guides, text books, class notes, flashcards and videos are important study tools. It is best to use a wide range of test prep to get the most comprehensive coverage of the subject matter.
Tests.com has worked with instructors in counseling to create an NCE Practice Test to help you prepare for the NCE. Tests.com's TestSim online interactive platform allows you to tailor tests to the subjects you want to study and to form tests to fit your study schedule. You can even simulate the actual NCE by setting the number of questions and timer to the time period allowed for the actual test. Get experience reading multiple-choice questions and taking timed tests. Tests.com will help you pass your NCE on your way to a successful career as a licensed counselor. Click here for a free NCE Practice Test.
