Dear Counseling Students,

You have been endorsed to apply for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) for graduate students, which if successfully passed will provide certification as a National Certified Counselor (NCC). It is important to note, both of these exams taken as a graduate student do not count towards state licensure in the state of California.

On December 15th at 12:00 pm in Warren Hall (MRH 116), we will be facilitating a programmatic training on the NCE/NCMHCE/NCC to provide more details on the process, exam, and pros/cons of taking it as a graduate student. Further, we are working to subsidize the registration fee and more information is also to come on funding opportunities.

Attendance is strongly encouraged if you are interested in taking the exam this spring. As a reminder, the deadline to submit your application and register for the Spring 2023 exam is January 6, 2023, so please plan accordingly.

Please be on the lookout for an official email from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) that will provide more information on registration and timelines. Then feel free to contact us or your advisor with any additional questions.

Common Questions About the Process

What is this application for? The National Certified Counselor (NCC) is the premier counseling certification. Board certification demonstrates to colleagues and the public that you have voluntarily met high national standards for the practice of counseling. Getting a head start on board certification as a student offers several advantages, including a lower application fee, access to reduced rates on student liability insurance, and the opportunity to test while still in school. You can read more about the benefits of national board certification here. You can also find more information regarding other valuable resources on our student information page.

Am I eligible to apply for the NCC? This is a unique opportunity open only to graduate students enrolled in counseling programs that the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) has approved for participation. Students enrolled in degree-granting tracks that have been pre-approved for participation and who have been submitted on the program roster are eligible for the NCC application. If you are pursuing a postgraduate certificate or postgraduate coursework to meet the requirements for licensure, you are not eligible for this student application. You must be enrolled in an approved degree-granting track to apply. 

So is this just about registering for an exam? No, you are submitting an application for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) board certification and the exam is just one of the NCC application requirements. To become an NCC you must pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). This student application opportunity allows you to take the exam before graduation. If you are planning to use this certification exam when applying for state licensure, check with your state licensure board before choosing your exam, especially if you are taking the NCMHCE. The exam will be available between April 14 and May 27, 2023.  THE EXAM IS NOT OFFERED ON CAMPUS. You have the option of taking the exam in-person at a testing center or as a remotely proctored online exam. You will receive more specific information about your registration once your application has been submitted and reviewed. The deadline to submit your application and register for the Spring 2023 exam is January 6, 2023, so please plan accordingly. 

If you have any questions regarding the process, please email NBCC at certification@nbcc.org.