NCE Exam Format | NCE Course Contents | NCE Course Outline | NCE Exam Syllabus | NCE Exam Objectives

This handbook provides information about the examination and registration process for the National
Counselor Examination (NCE). It outlines the design and content of the examination and guides candidates
through the examination process, from registration through test-taking.



The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) is internationally recognized as a leading provider of
national counselor certification. Additionally, 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia administer
NBCC examinations as part of their counselor credentialing requirements. Based on its reputation for
excellence in the examination field, NBCC has provided consultation services for examination and credential
development to many other organizations in the United States and abroad, including NBCCs affiliate the
Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE). NBCC has contracted with CCE to oversee the certification
examination process.



The examination is delivered in a pencil and paper format at more than 75 national sites and 350 campuses
located throughout the United States. NBCC has contracted with Pearson VUE to assist in the electronic
administration of the examination delivered either on college campuses or at Pearson VUE test centers. The
examination is administered twice a year, in April and October. The examination is usually held on the third
Saturday of the month.



You may postpone or defer your examination date to the next available administration without penalty as long
as you contact NBCC more than 30 days prior to the exam date. If your request is less than 30 days prior to the
exam or if you do not take the exam on your scheduled date, you will pay a $150 reregistration fee to take it
on the next administration date. If an emergency (illness, accident, death in the family, etc.) prevents you from
taking the exam on your scheduled date, you may be eligible for a waiver of the reregistration fee, depending
on your specific circumstances.


The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is a 200-question, multiple- choice, nonsectioned examination.
The NCE represents each of the original eight CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related
Educational Programs) content areas, with question content also emerging from the five work behaviors
determined by NBCCs national job analysis. Thus, the content validity of the NCE is anchored on the five
empirically validated work behaviors determined to be most relevant for competent counseling practice and
the eight CACREP curriculum educational standards.
A different form (version) of the NCE is compiled for each administration of the examination.
Each forms questions, which are drawn from the item pool for the NCE, have undergone extensive review
and field-testing.

Although each form of the NCE contains different questions, the content areas and the respective numbers of
questions representing those areas are consistent. Within the set of 200 questions on each form of the NCE, 160
of the questions are counted for the purpose of determining whether you surpass the minimum criterion (i.e.,
“passing”) score for that form. Thus, the maximum possible score a respondent can achieve is 160.

The remaining 40 items are unscored field-test items. Field-test items are included on the exam to gather item
statistics to evaluate their performance for use on future exams.

The following is an outline of the eight CACREP domains on which the examination questions are based:

1. Human Growth and Development — Studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of
individuals at all developmental levels.

2. Social and Cultural Diversity — Studies that provide an understanding of issues and trends in a
multicultural and diverse society.

3. Counseling and Helping Relationships — Studies that provide an understanding of counseling and
consultation processes.

4. Group Counseling and Group Work — Studies that provide an understanding of group development,
dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills, and other group work approaches.

5. Career Counseling — Studies that provide an understanding of career development.

6. Assessment and Testing — Studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to
assessment and evaluation.

7. Research and Program Evaluation — Studies that provide an understanding of types of research methods,
basic statistics, and ethical and legal considerations in research.

8. Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice — Studies that provide an understanding of
all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards
and credentialing.

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The following is an outline of the five work behavior domains derived from a job analysis of professional
counselors. The descriptions of the work behaviors are intended to be broad examples and are not exhaustive.

1. Fundamental Counseling Issues — Theory and application of counseling clients with conditions that
may be a focus of clinical attention, and clients with various disorders including but not limited to
neurocognitive, personality, anxiety and depressive disorders.

2. Counseling Process — Assessing a clients course of development or ones appropriateness for working
with a specific client. Conducting diagnostic interviews, distance counseling and school/community
outreach.

3. Diagnostic and Assessment Services — Assessing clients educational preparation and potential for harm
to self and others. Conducting biopsychosocial interviews, initial assessments and custody evaluations.
4. Professional Practice — Advocating for client needs and the profession of counseling. Applying career
counseling interventions, current counseling and multicultural counseling models.

5. Professional Development, Supervision and Consultation — Communicating with credentialing boards
and consulting with the justice system, peers or other professionals, prescribers of medications, and
professional organizations.