Reference

NCE and NCMHCE facts at a glance

Last updated September 29, 2026 · Published by Counseling Exam Assist

Short answer

The NCE is NBCC's 200-question multiple-choice counselor exam (160 scored, 3 h 45 min). The NCMHCE is NBCC's clinical exam with 11 case simulations. Both are criterion-referenced with form-specific cut scores. A national first-time pass-rate comparison was not verified.

Side-by-side facts

Fact	NCE	NCMHCE
Administered by	NBCC	NBCC
Format	200 multiple-choice questions	11 clinical case simulations
Scored items	160 (40 pretest)	100 scored questions; one unscored case
Time	225-minute exam; 255-minute session	225-minute exam; 255-minute session
Exam fee	~$275	~$275
Scoring	Form-specific cut score	Form-specific cut score
Typical first-time pass rate	Not verified nationally	Not verified nationally
Common use	NCC credential; LPC in many states	LMHC / LCMHC / LPCC clinical licensure

Format and scoring facts are summarized from the current NBCC handbooks; confirm registration details with your state board.

Exam facts checked October 17, 2026 against NBCC’s current state-licensure handbooks:

NCE handbook · NCMHCE handbook

The NCE’s eight CACREP curriculum areas are study categories, not its six scored work-behavior domains. Its current scored blueprint includes Professional Practice and Ethics; Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis; Areas of Clinical Focus; Treatment Planning; Counseling Skills and Interventions; and Core Counseling Attributes. On the NCMHCE, Areas of Clinical Focus is represented through case diagnoses and scenarios, not separately weighted scored items.

These formats apply before July 1, 2027. NBCC has announced new specifications effective that date; check the outline for your test date. We did not locate verified national first-time or retake pass rates in the official materials reviewed. Practice scores are not official passing scores or a guarantee of an exam result.

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Frequently asked questions

Who administers the NCE and NCMHCE?

Both are developed and administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and delivered at Pearson VUE test centers.

How many questions are on the NCE?

200 multiple-choice questions, of which 160 are scored, in 3 hours 45 minutes.

How many cases are on the NCMHCE?

The current NCMHCE has 11 case studies with 9–15 multiple-choice questions per case, 130–150 questions overall and 100 scored questions. One case study is unscored. Exam time is 225 minutes (3 hours 45 minutes); the full session is 255 minutes including the agreement, tutorial and scheduled break.

Which counseling exam has the lower pass rate?

We did not locate a verified national first-time or retake pass rate in the NBCC/CCE materials reviewed. State or program results should not be presented as national statistics.

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