[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-458580-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":80,"doc-detail-458580-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","nce-frequently-asked-questions-faqs","NCE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)","","The National Counseling Exam (NCE) FAQ explains what the exam is, why students may choose to take it, and how it connects to becoming a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). It outlines eligibility considerations for different counseling specializations, recommended timing relative to graduation, and the cost structure including an annual credential maintenance fee. The FAQ also describes the exam format (200 multiple-choice questions with 160 scored) administered electronically via Pearson VUE, coverage areas, scoring approach, and available study guide options.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/nce-frequently-asked-questions-faqs/458580/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/nce-frequently-asked-questions-faqs/458580.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Mabel","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-04","2026-09-30",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":26},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What is the National Counseling Exam (NCE)?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"The NCE is a standardized, criterion-referenced exam developed by NBCC to benchmark counseling knowledge, skills, and professionalism. Passing the NCE and meeting additional criteria can make candidates eligible for the NCC credential.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"Why would a student take the NCE, and is it required?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"The NCE is optional for students, but taking it can support eligibility for the NCC credential and improve credential portability. Some organizations or school systems may offer salary incentives, and certain states may require NCC credentialing for licensure.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"How is the NCE administered and what content does it cover?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"The NCE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions across CACREP’s eight core content areas, with 160 questions counting toward the score and the rest used experimentally. 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Anyone who is interested in taking the NCE or becoming a Nationally Certified Counselor is directed to review this information in conjunction with the information provided by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) on [their website:](their website: www.NBCC.org)[ ](their website: www.NBCC.org)[www.NBCC.org](their website: www.NBCC.org)  \n1. What is the National Counseling Exam (NCE)?  \nAnswer: The NCE is a standardized, criterion-referenced exam developed by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) to establish a benchmark of counseling related knowledge, skills, and professionalism. Counselors who successfully pass the NCE and meet all other criteria (e.g., graduation requirements, sufficient supervisory hours) are eligible for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential, which establishes them as professionals who meet stringent standards for proficiency in counseling-related coursework and knowledge.  \n2. Why should I take the NCE? Do I need it?  \nAnswer: The NCE is optional for students. However, we encourage our Clinical Mental Health, College, and School specialization students to take the NCE for a variety of reasons. Students who graduate from Shippensburg University’s CACREP accredited programs and who pass the NCE are eligible to become Nationally Certified Counselors. NCC credentialed counseling professionals will find improved interstate portability of their counseling credential. In addition, some organizations and school systems may provide salary incentives for counselors who have an NCC credential. Some states, including Pennsylvania, require the NCC credential for counselors seeking licensure (i.e., becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor [LPC]) . Lastly, being an NCC helps to promote counselors’professional identity and gives them greater access to counseling-related resources like affordable liability insurance policies.  \n3. Do College Student Personnel (CSP) specialization students need to take the NCE?  \nAnswer: Very few student affairs positions require it and very few student affairs professionals are nationally certified counselors. However, some Community Colleges (including HACC) prefer employees to be a nationally certified counselor. Also, if you think you may want to earn a doctorate in counselor education or clinical psychology, then you should take the NCE. Lastly, CSP students who plan to take the NCE should take Theories of Counseling and/or Human Development as one of their electives, as this content is covered on the exam.  \n4. Do I need to take the NCE now or can I wait?  \nAnswer: It’s your decision when you take the NCE, but we recommend that you take it within six months of your graduation date, preferably in your last semester. It’s less expensive and students may find it easier to pass the NCE when less time has passed between their coursework and the testing date. If you elect to wait to take the exam after more than 6 months has elapsed from the time you graduated from your Counseling Masters program, you will need to register for the exam directly with NBCC.  \n5. How much does the NCE cost, and are there other costs associated with having an NCC credential?  \nAnswer: For SU Master’s degree-seeking students who are within 6 months of their graduation date from oneof our counseling programs, the cost is $335 . Once students pass the NCE, there is an annual fee of $75 to maintain the credential. If you elect to wait to take the NCE (i.e. more than six months have elapsed since your graduation date, the cost increases to $400.  \n6. What is the format of the exam, and what is covered on it?  \nAnswer: The NCE is composed of 200 multiple-choice questions that cover CACREP’s eight core content areas:  \n(1) Human growth and development, (2) Social and cultura","cbCainPPnk3KARmW","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainPPnk3KARmW","pdf",177194,"English","# What is the National Counseling Exam (NCE)?\n# Why should I take the NCE? Do I need it?\n# Do College Student Personnel (CSP) specialization students need to take the NCE?\n# Do I need to take the NCE now or can I wait?\n# How much does the NCE cost, and are there other costs associated with having an NCC credential?\n# What is the format of the exam, and what is covered on it?\n# What score do I need to pass the NCE?\n# Of the counseling students at Shippensburg University who have taken the NCE, how have they typically fared?\n# Are study guides available?","[{\"question\":\"What is the National Counseling Exam (NCE)?\",\"answer\":\"The NCE is a standardized, criterion-referenced exam developed by NBCC to benchmark counseling knowledge, skills, and professionalism. Passing the NCE and meeting additional criteria can make candidates eligible for the NCC credential.\"},{\"question\":\"Why would a student take the NCE, and is it required?\",\"answer\":\"The NCE is optional for students, but taking it can support eligibility for the NCC credential and improve credential portability. Some organizations or school systems may offer salary incentives, and certain states may require NCC credentialing for licensure.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the NCE administered and what content does it cover?\",\"answer\":\"The NCE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions across CACREP’s eight core content areas, with 160 questions counting toward the score and the rest used experimentally. It is administered electronically via Internet-Based Testing (IBT) through Pearson VUE.\"}]","NCE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | PDF"]