The National Counselor Examination is a requirement for counselor licensure in many states and for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification. The NCE® is also used by the military health systems. Richmont Graduate University provides the unique opportunity for students to take this exam prior to graduation.
Pursuing a career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) often requires a state counseling license. To obtain this license, most states require individuals to meet certain qualifications such as holding a master’s degree, completing a specified number of supervised clinical training hours, and passing an examination for licensure. Many states utilize the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE®) for their licensing exam.
Richmont Graduate University administers the NCE® which is available to students as part of the CMHC curriculum. The NCE® will assess students on their knowledge, skills, and abilities as they pertain to the counseling profession. The NCE® is used by many states as the state licensure exam. Satisfactory scores on the National Counselor Examination are required if students wish to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
Students who are planning for the NCE® should have at least 6 courses in the 8 NBCC (National Board of Certified Counselors) required content areas completed prior to taking the exam and be enrolled in the last two during their final semester of the program. Students planning to graduate during the spring or summer terms may take the exam during the last spring term of the program.
| Year | Richmont Pass Rate for all CMHC Students | Mean NCE Score for Richmont-Atlanta CMHC Students | Mean NCE Score for Richmont-Chattanooga CMHC Students | Mean NCE Score for CACREP Programs | Mean NCE Score for non-CACREP Programs | Mean NCE Score for Professionals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 100% | 115 | 122 | 109.71 | 109.02 | 94.12 |
In 2015, Richmont CMHC students had a passing rate of 100% on the NCE exam. Our students also scored higher than the mean at CACREP accredited schools, non-CACREP accredited schools, and professionals in the field.
Eligible students will receive an email from the NBCC indicating their eligibility. Students who are interested in taking the NCE in April must register by the preceding January. Please register following the link that was provided to you by the NBCC.
Exam fees for 2016 are $335. You must use your Richmont Graduate University email address. NBCC will contact you via email with further instructions and a website link to their online application. The National Counselor Examination (NCE®) will take place at Richmont Graduate University on April 16, 2016.
The exam is scheduled for 4 hours and begins at 9:00 am. Examinees should arrive at the testing site no later than 8:45 am. Special accommodations will be granted to students with specific learning or language needs, or students who cannot take the exam on a Saturday due to religious reasons, provided such requests are made to NBCC by the registration deadline via NBCC’s form to request a special accommodation.
