Preparing for the National Counselor Exam (NCE)

The NCE exam is a 200-item multiple-choice examination designed to assess knowledge areas that are fundamental to the counseling profession. The exam contains each of the eight CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs) content and additional contents from the five work behaviors determined by NBCC’s national job analysis. Out of the 200 questions, 160 questions are scored while the rest of the questions (40 items) are unscored field-test questions.

The Eight CACREP Exam Domains

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Human Growth and Development

Studies theories of individual and family development across the lifespan

Social and Cultural Diversity

Studies that provide an understanding of issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society

Counseling and Helping Relationships

Studies theories and models of counseling

Group Counseling and Group Work

Studies theoretical foundations of group counseling and group work

Career Development

Studies theories and models of career development.

Assessment and Testing

Studies individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation

Research and Program Evaluation

Studies the importance of research and program evaluation in advancing the counseling profession

Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice

Studies aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards and credentialing

Things to remember when TAKING THE nce

Use time wisely. Relax and take your time answering each question.
Read all directions and questions carefully.
If the correct answer is not immediately obvious, eliminate alternatives that are incorrect.
Actively reason through the questions. Engage the questions.
Anticipate the answer, then look for it.
If you do not know the answer, take a wild but educated guess. Remember you are not acing the exam. You just need to pass the NCE. Your clients or supervisor will never ask what is your score.