NCC Eligibility
If you wish to apply for the National Certified Counselor credential, use the checklist below to determine if you are eligible to apply under any of the four available options.
GSA-NCC: Are you currently a student in a counseling program at a regionally accredited college or university?
IF YES, contact your department chairperson or faculty advisor to learn if your counseling program is participating in the Graduate Student Application process for the National Certified Counselor credential (GSA-NCC). If your program is participating, you will be given the name of the GSA-NCC campus coordinator to help you determine when you might be eligible to apply. Student applicants obtain the application from their GSA Campus Coordinator.
IF NO, you must complete your degree before applying. If you have completed your degree, please read below.
OPTION B
Are you a graduate of a counseling program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)?
If you are unsure if your program is accredited, visit the CACREP Web site for a directory of accredited programs.
IF YES, then you are eligible to apply under Option B on the NCC - Application for the National Certified Counselor Credential.
Click here for an application
IF NO, you are not eligible under Option B and should read on below.
OPTION C:
Have you completed two or more years of counseling experience and counseling supervision after the date your advanced degree (master’s or higher) with a major study in counseling was conferred?
IF YES, the following requirements must be met to be eligible to apply for the National Certified Counselor credential under Option C.
Click here for an application.
Degree Requirements:
Your master's degree must be either in counseling or contain a major study in counseling. A degree with a major study in counseling is defined as one in which 1) at least half of the credits in your degree program, and no less than 24 semester hours cover at least six different coursework areas below and 2) which contains at least one field experience in supervised counseling.
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Human Growth and Development
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Social/Cultural Foundations
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Helping Relationships (Counseling Theories and Techniques)
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Group Work
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Career and Lifestyle Development
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Appraisal (Tests and Measurements for Individuals and Groups)
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Research and Program Evaluation
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Professional Orientation (to counseling)
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Field experience in counseling for academic credit (Required for Major Study in Counseling)
Coursework Requirements:
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48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of graduate level coursework
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One course in each of the coursework areas listed above
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Each course must carry a minimum of 2 semester hours/3 quarter hours
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All coursework must have been taken at a regionally accredited institution
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Two terms of counseling field experience
Work Experience Requirement:
Supervision Requirements:
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At least 100 hours of face-to-face counseling supervision over a minimum of two years since the date your advanced degree with a major study in counseling was conferred.
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Your counseling supervisor(s) must hold an advanced degree in counseling or a closely related field (social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy) and must not be related to you by blood, marriage, dating, engagement, etc. You do not have to be an employee of your counseling supervisor.
If you meet ALL of the requirements above, you are eligible to apply under Option C. Carefully read the application for more details. If you don’t meet all of the above requirements, you are NOT eligible under Option C.
OPTION D:
Are you fully and currently licensed in your state for the practice of counseling?
If YES and if you and meet all of the following requirements, you are eligible to apply for the National Certified Counselor credential using one of the following applications:
- NCC Application for State Licensed Counselors and California RPCs (Option D).
- NCC Application for Puerto Rico LPCs (Option D)
- You must be fully and currently licensed for the practice of professional counseling by one of the state counselor licensure boards listed in the State Counselor Licensure Boards Directoryor by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Counselors licensed as addictions counselors or marriage and family therapists do not qualify for this application.
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You must hold an advanced degree (master’s or higher) in a mental health field from a regionally accredited college or university. Note: Administration and education (teaching) are not considered mental health fields. If you meet both requirements above, you are eligible to apply for National Certified Counselor credential using the NCC Application for State Licensed Counselors (Option D).
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If you obtained a passing score (national) on the NCE or NCMHCE or on the Florida, Ohio, Texas, or Virginia licensure exams as part of the application process for your state counseling license, and your scores are verifiable through your state licensure board, you may apply on an exam exempt basis.
- If you did not obtain a passing score (national) on the NCE or the NCMHCE or on one of the examinations listed above as part of the process of obtaining your state license for independent practice, but meet the other requirements for Option D, you are eligible to apply and will be required to achieve a passing score on the NCE as part of the application process.
- If you do NOT meet the above requirements, you are not eligible to apply under Option D.
If none of the above application options seem to fit, you probably are not eligible to apply for the National Certified Counselor credential at this time. NBCC offers a pre-review service to help you determine if you meet the educational requirements for National Certified Counselor credential, and if not, what additional coursework requirements must be fulfilled. To request more information, click here.