CCMHC

General Information
The CCMHC was launched in 1979 under the National Academy for Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NACCMHC) which was formed by the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). In 1993, the NACCMHC and NBCC came to an agreement whereby NBCC would administer the CCMHC credential beginning July 1 of that year. There are currently over 1,000 NCCs who hold the credential nationwide. The CCMHC credential is the only counseling credential recognized by TRICARE.

CCMHC Application
NBCC's Official Preparation Guide for the Examination of Clinical Counselor Practice (ECCP)
The NBCC ECCP Study Guide includes information on the development of the ECCP, test-taking strategies, and sample cases. To order, click here.
 

Requirements

  • The NCC credential is a pre-requisite.
  • 60 semester hours of graduate coursework including Theories of Counseling, Psychotherapy, and Personality; Counseling and Psychotherapy Skills; Abnormal Psychology and Psychopathology; Human Growth & Development Theory; Group Counseling and Psychotherapy; Career Development; Professional Orientation and Ethics for Counselors; Research; Appraisal; and Social/Cultural Foundations.
  • The academic course of study must have included 9 to 15 semester hours of clinical training in supervised practica/internship relevant to the practice of clinical mental health counseling.
  • A minimum of two years (24 months) of supervised post-master's clinical practice which includes 3,000 hours of direct clinical client contact in a clinical setting with 100 hours of direct clinical counseling supervision.
  • A passing score on the Examination of Clinical Counseling Practice (ECCP). If you passed the NCMHCE for state credentialing, you will not be required to take the ECCP.
  • Candidates for the CCMHC credential are required to submit an audio or video tape of a clinical counseling session for review following receipt of a passing score on the ECCP.
Equivalent Entry Option

Applicants who have fewer than 60 graduate semester hours (90 quarter hours) in counseling, but a minimum of 48 semester hours (72 quarter hours), and coursework in ALL required areas, may substitute documented training and/or supervised clinical experience for the additional 12 semester hours (18 quarter hours).

To be considered for equivalent entry, the applicant may submit:

  • Documentation of completion of clinically relevant workshops. One hour of semester credit will be granted for every 15 clock hours of workshop participation.
  • Documentation of additional supervised client contact above the required 3,000 hours. Forty hours of client contact may be substituted for one hour of semester credit.

NOTE: All coursework must have been completed for graduate credit at regionally accredited colleges or universities.