NBCC Examinations

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National Certification and State Licensure

NBCC’s examinations are used in national certification and state licensure applications. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam require one or more of NBCC’s examinations for licensure. Each examination is the product of a painstaking research and development process and undergoes regular review and revision by content experts.

NBCC Examinations Are Used:

Learn More About How Our Assessments Are Developed, Including:

  • How the profession is engaged in the process
  • Content development
  • Quality control

What Are the NBCC Examinations?

  • The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is the most portable examination in counseling. It is one of the examination options for NBCC’s flagship certification, the National Certified Counselor (NCC), and is required for licensure in some states.
  • The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) is one of the examination options for the NCC and is required for the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, one of NBCC’s national specialty certifications. The NCMHCE is required for licensure in some states.

Special Exam Accommodations

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NBCC makes sure that each of its examination administration sites is accessible to candidates with disabilities.

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Prepare for the Examination

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To help you get ready for an examination, you can order study guides from NBCC or another organization.

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Request a Score Verification

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Request a score verification to have your score sent to a state licensure board or other organization.

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Questions About Examinations?


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