{"id":20877,"date":"2016-02-04T19:59:23","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T19:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy?page_id=20877"},"modified":"2026-05-14T10:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:23:18","slug":"nce-practice-test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nce-practice-test\/","title":{"rendered":"NCE<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Practice Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE<sup>&reg;<\/sup>) is administered and maintained by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), an internationally-recognized provider of national counselor certification. It is part of counselor credentialing requirements for candidates seeking certification to practice as a counselor.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free NCE practice test, and check out our premium-quality NCE test prep resources by clicking the links below!<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttonlinks\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/university\/nce?utm_source=academy&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=academy-mu-ads&amp;utm_content=nce-test\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Course Button', 'Course Click', 'NCCTNCPT Course Click']);\">NCE Online Course<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nce-study-guide\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Guide Button', 'Guide Click', 'NCCTNCPT Guide Click']);\">NCE Study Guide<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nce\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Flashcard Button', 'Flashcard Button Click', 'NCCTNCPT Flashcard Click']);\">NCE Flashcards<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"NCE_Question_of_the_Day\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>NCE Question of the Day<\/h2>\n<div class=\"klaviyo-form-XYy4ZU\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"What_to_Expect_on_the_NCE\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What to Expect on the NCE<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MDP6qBEPaF4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-210190\" style=\"box-shadow: 1.5px 1.5px 3px grey;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-2023-12-28-140648865-658dd55930b7a.webp\" alt=\"Thumbnail for the Ace Your NCE video.\" width=\"635.6\" height=\"358.4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-2023-12-28-140648865-658dd55930b7a.webp 908w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-2023-12-28-140648865-658dd55930b7a-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-2023-12-28-140648865-658dd55930b7a-768x433.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 908px) 100vw, 908px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The National Counselor exam is a 200-question, multiple-choice, non-sectioned, pencil and paper formatted test. On the test, you will be presented with a series of questions created from the original eight Council for Accreditation of Counseling &amp; Related Educational Programs (CACREP) content areas and five work behaviors from NBCC\u2019s national job analysis.<\/p>\n<p>All of these questions have undergone review and field-testing prior to being included on the examination and a new version of the National Counselor exam is administered for each new test date.<\/p>\n<p>Of the 200 questions you will be asked, 160 are counted for scoring in order to determine whether you achieve a passing grade, with the remaining 40 being unscored field-test items used for statistics to gauge whether they should be used on future versions of the NCE exam.<\/p>\n<p>Questions will be based on the following six domains:<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Test_Domains\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Test Domains<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Professional Practice and Ethics (12%)<\/li>\n<li>Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis (12%)<\/li>\n<li>Areas of Clinical Focus (29%)<\/li>\n<li>Treatment Planning (9%)<\/li>\n<li>Counseling Skills and Interventions (30%)<\/li>\n<li>Core Counseling Attributes (8%)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>A more in-depth discussion of these content domains is available through Mometrix\u2019s National Counselor exam preparation tools, which includes NCE study guides and NCE practice tests.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/NCE-Outline.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-138334\" role=\"img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/NCE-Outline.svg\" alt=\"exam outline for the nce, which contains 160 scored questions, 40 unscored questions, and a time limit of 3 hours and 45 minutes\" width=\"543\" height=\"515\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's NCE Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nce-study-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nce-study-guide\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"184\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/nce-30575.jpg\" alt=\" Study Guide\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Top_5_Most_Challenging_NCE_Questions\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Top 5 Most Challenging NCE Questions<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you know more about the exam, try your hand at some targeted practice!<\/p>\n<p>Over the last year, we&#8217;ve compiled the data from about 7,000 test-takers who tried their hand at the practice test at the top of this page. According to the data, around 65% of people answered these five questions incorrectly.<\/p>\n<p>Answer each question and read through the answer explanation, whether you got the answer right or wrong. This will help you ensure you&#8217;ve got the topic mastered.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you struggled with these questions or aced them on your first try, be sure to take the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/academy-pq.app.mometrix.com\/practicequestion\/products\/NCEPQ\" target=\"_blank\">full practice test<\/a> to get a better idea of how prepared you really are!<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 2em;\"><div class=\"nce-question-container\">\r\n    <p class=\"nce-question-text\">1. Would Freud\u2019s psychodynamic approach and Albert Ellis\u2019 REBT favor the emic or the etic approach?<\/p>\r\n    \r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice1\" value=\"A\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">A.<\/span>&nbsp;They would both favor the etic approach.<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice1\" value=\"B\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">B. <\/span>&nbsp;They would both favor the emic approach.<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice1\" value=\"C\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">C. <\/span>&nbsp;Freud would favor the etic approach and Ellis the emic.<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice1\" value=\"D\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">D. <\/span>&nbsp;Freud would favor the emic approach and Ellis the etic.<\/label>\r\n    <button class=\"nce-submit-btn\" onclick=\"checkAnswer(1)\">Submit<\/button><br>\r\n    <div id=\"feedback1\" class=\"nce-feedback-text\"><\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"explanation1\" class=\"nce-explanation-text\"><\/div>\r\n <div class=\"bugreport\">Found a bug? <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appgcc1PP0BbzPCbI\/shr5gZ1gnO15kxPFw?prefill_Test=NCE&prefill_Question+Number=1&prefill_Which+Form=General-IQ-Feedback&prefill_UP-ID=General-IQ-Feedback%20-%20NCE%20-%201&hide_Test=true&hide_Which+Form=true&hide_UP-ID=true&hide_Question+Number=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Let us know!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\"><div class=\"nce-question-container\">\r\n    <p class=\"nce-question-text\">2. Which level of care would best meet the client\u2019s current needs:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p class=\"nce-blockquote\">A client diagnosed with schizophrenia was admitted to an inpatient hospitalization program and is now ready for discharge. He has responded well to medication and group therapy and is no longer a threat to himself. However, he continues to need assistance with treating avolition and anhedonia.<\/p>\r\n    \r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice2\" value=\"A\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">A.<\/span>&nbsp;Outpatient therapy<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice2\" value=\"B\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">B. <\/span>&nbsp;Residential treatment<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice2\" value=\"C\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">C. <\/span>&nbsp;Partial hospitalization<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice2\" value=\"D\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">D. <\/span>&nbsp;Crisis stabilization unit<\/label>\r\n    <button class=\"nce-submit-btn\" onclick=\"checkAnswer(2)\">Submit<\/button><br>\r\n    <div id=\"feedback2\" class=\"nce-feedback-text\"><\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"explanation2\" class=\"nce-explanation-text\"><\/div>\r\n <div class=\"bugreport\">Found a bug? <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appgcc1PP0BbzPCbI\/shr5gZ1gnO15kxPFw?prefill_Test=NCE&prefill_Question+Number=2&prefill_Which+Form=General-IQ-Feedback&prefill_UP-ID=General-IQ-Feedback%20-%20NCE%20-%201&hide_Test=true&hide_Which+Form=true&hide_UP-ID=true&hide_Question+Number=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Let us know!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\"><div class=\"nce-question-container\">\r\n    <p class=\"nce-question-text\">3. What would G. L. Harrington or William Glasser most likely say regarding transference?<\/p>\r\n    \r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice3\" value=\"A\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">A.<\/span>&nbsp;It is a normal process in therapy that can be analyzed and resolved.<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice3\" value=\"B\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">B. <\/span>&nbsp;It impedes progress and need not occur if the therapist is genuine.<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice3\" value=\"C\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">C. <\/span>&nbsp;It is disregarded as an internal state without observable behaviors.<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice3\" value=\"D\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">D. <\/span>&nbsp;It is encouraged, and it is used as an exploratory therapeutic tool.<\/label>\r\n    <button class=\"nce-submit-btn\" onclick=\"checkAnswer(3)\">Submit<\/button><br>\r\n    <div id=\"feedback3\" class=\"nce-feedback-text\"><\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"explanation3\" class=\"nce-explanation-text\"><\/div>\r\n <div class=\"bugreport\">Found a bug? <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appgcc1PP0BbzPCbI\/shr5gZ1gnO15kxPFw?prefill_Test=NCE&prefill_Question+Number=3&prefill_Which+Form=General-IQ-Feedback&prefill_UP-ID=General-IQ-Feedback%20-%20NCE%20-%201&hide_Test=true&hide_Which+Form=true&hide_UP-ID=true&hide_Question+Number=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Let us know!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\"><div class=\"nce-question-container\">\r\n    <p class=\"nce-question-text\">4. Which of the following does NOT correctly pair a model of consultation with the person who developed it?<\/p>\r\n    \r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice4\" value=\"A\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">A.<\/span>&nbsp;Caplan \u2013 mental health consultation model<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice4\" value=\"B\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">B. <\/span>&nbsp;Bandura \u2013 social learning consultation model<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice4\" value=\"C\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">C. <\/span>&nbsp;Bergan \u2013 process consultation model<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice4\" value=\"D\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">D. <\/span>&nbsp;Schein \u2013 purchase consultation model<\/label>\r\n    <button class=\"nce-submit-btn\" onclick=\"checkAnswer(4)\">Submit<\/button><br>\r\n    <div id=\"feedback4\" class=\"nce-feedback-text\"><\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"explanation4\" class=\"nce-explanation-text\"><\/div>\r\n <div class=\"bugreport\">Found a bug? <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appgcc1PP0BbzPCbI\/shr5gZ1gnO15kxPFw?prefill_Test=NCE&prefill_Question+Number=4&prefill_Which+Form=General-IQ-Feedback&prefill_UP-ID=General-IQ-Feedback%20-%20NCE%20-%201&hide_Test=true&hide_Which+Form=true&hide_UP-ID=true&hide_Question+Number=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Let us know!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 3.5em;\"><div class=\"nce-question-container\">\r\n    <p class=\"nce-question-text\">5. A scatter plot depicts:<\/p>\r\n    \r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice5\" value=\"A\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">A.<\/span>&nbsp;A multitude of single scores<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice5\" value=\"B\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">B. <\/span>&nbsp;Pairs of scores<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice5\" value=\"C\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">C. <\/span>&nbsp;One score<\/label>\r\n    <label class=\"nce-choice-label\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"choice5\" value=\"D\" class=\"nce-choice-input\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">D. <\/span>&nbsp;The unscored results of an experiment<\/label>\r\n    <button class=\"nce-submit-btn\" onclick=\"checkAnswer(5)\">Submit<\/button><br>\r\n    <div id=\"feedback5\" class=\"nce-feedback-text\"><\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"explanation5\" class=\"nce-explanation-text\"><\/div>\r\n <div class=\"bugreport\">Found a bug? <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appgcc1PP0BbzPCbI\/shr5gZ1gnO15kxPFw?prefill_Test=NCE&prefill_Question+Number=5&prefill_Which+Form=General-IQ-Feedback&prefill_UP-ID=General-IQ-Feedback%20-%20NCE%20-%201&hide_Test=true&hide_Which+Form=true&hide_UP-ID=true&hide_Question+Number=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Let us know!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Eligibility_and_Registration\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Eligibility and Registration<\/h2>\n<p>In order to register to take the National Counselor exam, you must first apply for certification. Once your application is accepted and approved, you may then proceed to register for the examination at an approved Pearson VUE test center or online through onVUE.<\/p>\n<p>The NCE exam is administered twice a year, in both April and October. Typically, it is held on the third Saturday of the respective months. When you send in your registration, you will be asked to submit an appropriate fee, which can be paid with a credit card. Keep in mind that any application fees are neither refundable nor transferable, so plan your examination date accordingly.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"What_to_Expect_on_Test_Day\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What to Expect on Test Day<\/h2>\n<p>When you arrive at your designated Pearson VUE testing center, you will be asked to present two separate forms of current, valid ID. Both of these must have your signature and the same first and last names as they appear on your certification eligibility notification, but only one is required to have a photo. Your photo ID may be any of the following approved forms of government-issued identification:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Driver\u2019s license<\/li>\n<li>Passport<\/li>\n<li>State or military ID<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your identification is required as a security measure in order to provide equal opportunity for all candidates to demonstrate their skills and abilities. Additional security measures include: no cameras, notes, or related items permitted in the testing area; no calculators; no guests or visitors; and no personal items permitted other than keys and wallets. All items you need for the NCE exam, including writing materials, will be provided at check in.<\/p>\n<p>If you fail to provide acceptable identification, fail to abide by the set security standards or arrive more than 15 minutes later than your designated exam time, you will not be admitted to the testing area and you will not be issued a refund, so be sure to plan ahead.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Deferring_or_Missing_Your_Appointment\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Deferring or Missing Your Appointment<\/h2>\n<p>If you need to postpone or defer your examination date to the next available administration, you may do so without penalty if you contact NBCC more than 30 days before your scheduled exam date. If you fail to contact NBCC within the allotted time frame, or you do not show up for your examination, you will be required to pay a $150 reregistration fee to take it on the next available administration date. The only exceptions would be in the event of an emergency, such as an accident or illness, which may waive the reregistration fee upon approval.<\/p>\n<p>If there are unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather, that prevent test administrators from opening the facility and require cancellation and rescheduling of the NCE examination on behalf of NBCC, you will receive an e-mail or telephone notification with instruction on how to reschedule your exam.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's NCE Flashcards<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get complex  subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button blue-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Flashcards<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nce\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"577\" height=\"312\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-removebg-preview-5.png\" alt=\" Flashcards\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Understanding_Your_Score\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Understanding Your Score<\/h2>\n<p>Your National Counselor examination score is based on a modified Angoff method and is solely determined based on your performance on the examination, with no prior work experience or variables factored into your score. A passing score is determined by subject matter experts, who evaluate questions on the NCE exam to establish a number of correct responses that would adequately demonstrate the required level of proficiency. Since each version of the exam is different, the number of correct responses needed to obtain a passing score will vary slightly for each version. Your own capabilities will allow you to pass or fail the NCE exam, with no influence from other test takers.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Retaking_the_Exam\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Retaking the Exam<\/h2>\n<p>If you do not receive a passing score, you are permitted three attempts before your application is closed, so you may reregister and retake the NCE exam on the next available test day.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"NCE_vs_NCMHCE\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>NCE vs. NCMHCE<\/h2>\n<p>The NCE and <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/ncmhce-study-guide\/\">NCMHCE<\/a> are both counselor licensure exams, but there are some notable differences between them. Wondering which exam is right for you?<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at the details of each exam here:<\/p>\n<table class=\"vs-table aligncenter desktop-only\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"visibility: hidden;\"><\/td>\r\n<th rowspan=\"2\">NCE<\/th>\r\n<th rowspan=\"2\">NCMHCE<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"visibility: hidden;\"><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Time<\/th>\r\n<td>3 hours and 45 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>3 hours and 45 minutes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Question Count<\/th>\r\n<td>200<\/td>\r\n<td>130\u2013150<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Domains<\/th>\r\n<td>6 domains<\/td>\r\n<td>5 domains<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Subjects<\/th>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol style=\"margin-left: 1.25em;\">\r\n \t<li>Professional Practice and Ethics<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis<\/li>\r\n        <li>Areas of Clinical Focus<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Treatment Planning<\/li>\r\n        <li>Counseling Skills and Interventions<\/li>\r\n        <li>Core Counseling Attributes<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol style=\"margin-left: 1.25em;\">\r\n \t<li>Professional Practice and Ethics<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Treatment Planning<\/li>\r\n        <li>Counseling Skills and Interventions<\/li>\r\n        <li>Core Counseling Attributes<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Prerequisites<\/th>\r\n<td>Graduate-level degree or higher from a counseling program<\/td>\r\n<td>Graduate-level degree or higher from a counseling program<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Fee<\/th>\r\n<td>$275<\/td>\r\n<td>$275<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Option to Retake<\/th>\r\n<td>3 attempts within 2 years<\/td>\r\n<td>3 attempts within 2 years<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Pass or Fail<\/th>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"mobile-only\"><table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Time<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; width: 50%; \">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">3 hours and 45 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">3 hours and 45 minutes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Question Count<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; width: 50%; \">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">200<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">130\u2013150<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Domains<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; width: 50%; \">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">6 domains<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">5 domains<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Subjects<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; max-width: 50%;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\"><ol style=\"margin-left: 1.25em;\">\r\n \t<li>Professional Practice and Ethics<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Areas of Clinical Focus<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Treatment Planning<\/li>\r\n        <li>Counseling Skills and Interventions<\/li>\r\n        <li>Core Counseling Attributes<\/li>\r\n<\/ol><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\"><ol style=\"margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0em;\">\r\n \t<li>Professional Practice and Ethics<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Treatment Planning<\/li>\r\n        <li>Counseling Skills and Interventions<\/li>\r\n        <li>Core Counseling Attributes<\/li>\r\n<\/ol><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Prerequisites<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; width: 50%;\">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">Graduate-level degree or higher from a counseling program<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">Graduate-level degree or higher from a counseling program<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Fee<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; width: 50%; \">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">$275<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">$275<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Option to Retake<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; width: 50%; \">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">3 attempts within 2 years<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">3 attempts within 2 years<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"two-vs-table-mobile\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5em;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"vs-2-header\" colspan=\"2\">Pass or Fail<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 10px;\">\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none; width: 50%; \">NCE<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"background-color: #feea9a; padding: 5px; font-size: 80%; color: #333; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; border-top: none;\">NCMHCE<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Comparing_Counseling_Theories\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Comparing Counseling Theories<\/h2>\n<p>To excel on the NCE, you need to be familiar with several counseling theories, and trying to remember the similarities and differences can quickly become overwhelming.<\/p>\n<p>To help you compare major counseling theories quickly and accurately, we&#8217;ve compiled the most important theories in one place, including key founders, core ideas, goals, and common techniques.<br \/>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/cdnjs.cloudflare.com\/ajax\/libs\/font-awesome\/6.7.0\/css\/all.min.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\r\n<div class=\"multprint\">\r\n    <div class=\"pdf-item-large\">\r\n        <div class=\"image-container-large\">\r\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn-academy.pressidium.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Counseling-Theories-Comparison.pdf\">\r\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/NCE-Counseling-Theories-Comparison-scaled.webp\" alt=\"NCE Counseling Theories Comparison\" width=\"490.2\" height=\"750.88\" \/>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n            <button class=\"print-button-large\" aria-label=\"Print\" title=\"Print PDF\" onclick=\"printPDF('https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Counseling-Theories-Comparison.pdf')\">\r\n                <span class=\"fas fa-print\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n            <\/button>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <a class=\"pdfdownloadbutton\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn-academy.pressidium.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Counseling-Theories-Comparison.pdf\">\r\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pdfdownloadbutton-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.mometrix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/download-icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" \/><span class=\"pdfdownloadbutton-label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Download Theories Comparison Sheet<\/span>\r\n  <span class=\"sr-only\">Download NCE Counseling Theories Comparison Sheet PDF<\/span>\r\n        <\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Preparing_for_the_NCE_Exam\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Preparing for the NCE Exam<\/h2>\n<p>Since you are expected to pass the exam prior to entering the professional field, it is essential to prepare for the National Counselor exam as best you can prior to your first attempt. The most effective method to make sure you are well-equipped for success is by utilizing resources available to you. Mometrix has prepared study materials for your NCE exam prep that includes both an NCE study guide and an NCE practice test with NCE practice questions that have been designed to help you assess your skills and review the CACREP and work behavior domains that you will encounter on test day.<\/p>\n<p>If you find benefit from our efforts here, check out our premium quality NCE study guide or NCE online prep course to take your studying to the next level. Just click the links below. Your purchase also helps us make even more great, free National Counseling exam content for test-takers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttonlinks\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/university\/nce?utm_source=academy&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=academy-mu-ads&amp;utm_content=nce-test\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Course Button', 'Course Click', 'NCCTNCPT Course Click']);\">NCE Online Course<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nce-study-guide\/\">NCE Study Guide<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nce\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Flashcard Button', 'Flashcard Button Click', 'NCCTNCPT Flashcard Click']);\">NCE Flashcards<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"NCECourse\" class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"NCE_Online_Prep_Course\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>NCE Online Prep Course<\/h2>\n<p>If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an <strong>online NCE prep course<\/strong> designed to give you everything you need to succeed!<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what you&#8217;ll find in the NCE course:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mocblurb\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"moclessons\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"mocpqs\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"mocvideos\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"mocflash\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"mocmoney\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"mocmobile\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Everyone learns differently, so we&#8217;ve tailored the NCE online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the NCE exam.<\/p>\n<p>Click below to check it out!<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/university\/nce\/?utm_source=academy&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=academy-mu-ads&amp;utm_content=nce\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Course Button', 'Course Click', 'NCE Course Click']);\"><button class=\"buttontranscript\">Start your NCE Online Course<\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/university\/nce\/\" class=\"mobile-ad\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Mobile Ad', 'Mobile Click', 'NCE Mobile Click']);\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/NCE-Mobile-Ad.webp\" alt=\"Ad for a Mometrix online course\" width=\"353\" height=\"354\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"FAQs\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>FAQs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the national counseling exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The National Counseling Exam, or NCE, is an exam for those who wish to become counselors. The NCE measures the skills, knowledge, and abilities that are needed to provide effective counseling services.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is a passing score on NCE exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>There are 200 questions on the NCE exam. The cutoff score to be considered as passing is in the high 90s.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What does NCE stand for in counseling?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>NCE stands for National Counselor Examination<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How much does it cost to take the National Counselor Exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The cost to register for the NCE is $275.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How do you sign up for the NCE?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>To sign up for the NCE, you will need to visit the NBCC website: http:\/\/www.nbcc.org\/Licensure\/ExamRegistration<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"author\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Headshot of Mometrix associate Peter Rench.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Peter-Rench-scaled.webp\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">By <span itemprop=\"name\">Peter Rench<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&amp;M University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"editor\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Aaron Lanni profile pic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image_2024-12-11_124906662.png\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">Edited by <span itemprop=\"name\">Aaron Lanni<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Aaron is the content manager and lead editor for Mometrix Academy. He regularly produces, updates, proofreads, and edits content to ensure it meets Mometrix\u2019s quality and accessibility standards.<\/p>\n<\/div><p class=\"alignright author-desc author-link\"><a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/editorial-guidelines\/\">Learn more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> \u2192<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/\">Mometrix Academy &#8211; Home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">NCE is a registered trademark of National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., which is not affiliated with Mometrix Test Preparation and does not endorse this page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE&reg;) is administered and maintained by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), an internationally-recognized provider of national counselor certification. It is part of counselor credentialing requirements for candidates seeking certification to practice as a counselor. Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free NCE practice test, &#8230; <a title=\"NCE&reg; Practice Test\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nce-practice-test\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about NCE&reg; Practice Test\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":272221,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-20877","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-contains-misc-pdf","7":"page_category-counseling-and-social-work","8":"page_category-course-pages","9":"page_category-nce-pages","10":"page_type-exam-overview","11":"page_domain-nce"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20877"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20877\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":294323,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20877\/revisions\/294323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}