Free NCE Practice Test (National Counselor Examination and NCMHCE)
Counselor licensing exam practice questions written to NBCC’s NCE and NCMHCE content outlines, with an explanation for every answer.
Over the past year a client has needed more alcohol to feel the same effect, tried and failed to cut down, missed work after drinking and kept drinking despite arguments with his wife. How many substance use disorder criteria does this describe, and what severity?
360 original NCE questions · 22 NCMHCE case studies · a timed 200-question NCE and an 11-case NCMHCE practice exam
NCE practice questions by CACREP area
NBCC aligns the NCE’s questions with the eight CACREP core areas and scores them by six domains. Each area has a guide with free sample questions and a free ten-question drill with an explanation after every answer. The NCMHCE has its own case study drill and practice exam.
Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
50 questions
The ACA and NBCC codes of ethics, confidentiality and its limits, duty to warn, informed consent, dual relationships, record keeping, HIPAA and FERPA, licensure, supervision and advocacy.
Social and Cultural Diversity
40 questions
Multicultural and social justice counseling competencies, acculturation, racial and cultural identity models, worldview, broaching, bias and microaggressions, and the cultural formulation interview.
Human Growth and Development
45 questions
Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg, Bowlby and Ainsworth, Gilligan and Levinson, moral and cognitive development, aging, grief models, trauma across the lifespan and family life cycle.
Career Development
35 questions
Holland, Super, Krumboltz, Gottfredson and Roe, career assessments, career counseling with clients facing layoff, retirement or disability, and labor market information.
Counseling and Helping Relationships
85 questions
Counseling theories (person-centered, CBT, REBT, Adlerian, Gestalt, reality, solution-focused, narrative, family systems), basic skills, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention and treatment planning.
Group Counseling and Group Work
40 questions
Group stages (Tuckman, Corey), Yalom’s therapeutic factors, screening and informed consent for groups, leader skills such as linking, blocking and cutting off, and difficult member behavior.
Assessment and Testing
35 questions
Intake and mental status exams, diagnosis with the DSM-5-TR, suicide and risk assessment, screening tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT, C-SSRS), reliability, validity and score interpretation.
Research and Program Evaluation
30 questions
Research designs, sampling, variables, statistical tests and significance, effect size, single-subject designs, needs assessment, program evaluation and research ethics.
Mixed NCE Drill
All eight CACREP areas
Ten NCE questions drawn from all eight CACREP areas, for a quick check across the exam.
NCMHCE Case Study
22 case studies · 12 questions each
One whole NCMHCE-style case study: an intake summary and two counseling sessions, each followed by four questions, with an explanation after every answer.
NCE Practice Exam
200 questions · 3 h 45 min
160 scored in NBCC’s six domain counts, plus 40 unscored field-test questions mixed in, as on the real exam.
NCMHCE Practice Exam
11 case studies · 225 min
132 questions with sections that lock as you continue; 100 scored in NBCC’s domain shares.
Ready for a full exam?
200 questions in 3 hours 45 minutes, drawn to NBCC’s six domain counts with 40 unscored questions mixed in, scored by domain, with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillThe NCE and NCMHCE at a glance
Answer NCE practice questions written to NBCC’s content outline, read the explanation for every answer, then take a timed practice exam in the format of the exam you will sit, with a score for every domain.
The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) runs two counselor exams. The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is 200 standalone multiple-choice questions. The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) is 11 clinical case studies. State licensing boards choose which exam they require, and either one can lead to the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential. Both exams change to new versions on July 1, 2027; until then, the formats below are in force.
National Counselor Examination (NCE)
- Owner
- National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), with its affiliate the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE). Required for counselor licensure in many states and one of two exam options for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential
- Format
- 200 multiple-choice questions with four options: 160 scored and 40 unscored field-test questions mixed in. At a Pearson VUE test center or online through OnVUE
- Time
- 3 hours 45 minutes of exam time in a 4 hour 15 minute session, with one scheduled 15-minute break after question 100
- Content
- Six domains (scored items): Professional Practice and Ethics 19, Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 19, Areas of Clinical Focus 47, Treatment Planning 14, Counseling Skills and Interventions 48, Core Counseling Attributes 13. Questions are also aligned with the eight CACREP core areas
- Passing score
- Set with a modified Angoff method and statistical equating, so it varies slightly by form. NBCC does not publish a fixed number; your score report shows your score and the passing score of your form
- Fee
- $375 for the NCC application with exam registration. The state licensure handbook does not list the exam fee
- Retakes
- After a 30-day waiting period, with a new registration and fee each time. Your state board sets how many attempts you get
- Change ahead
- From July 1, 2027: 170 questions with three options each (30 field-test), six new domains, and a scaled score from 100 to 500 with 360 to pass
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- Format
- 11 clinical case studies, one of them unscored. Each case has an intake summary and two counseling sessions, each followed by multiple-choice questions with four options: 9–15 questions per case, 130–150 in all, 100 scored
- Time
- 225 minutes of exam time in a 4 hour 15 minute session, with one scheduled 15-minute break after the fifth case study
- Navigation
- You can review and change answers within a section. Once you continue to the next section of a case, you cannot return to earlier sections
- Content
- Professional Practice and Ethics 15%, Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 25%, Treatment Planning 15%, Counseling Skills and Interventions 30%, Core Counseling Attributes 15%. Areas of Clinical Focus are covered through the case scenarios, not at item level
- Passing score
- Your score is the number of scored questions you answer correctly. The passing score is set by standard setting and equated across forms; NBCC does not publish a fixed number
- Fee
- $375 for the NCC or CCMHC application with exam registration. The state licensure handbook does not list the exam fee
- Retakes
- After a 30-day waiting period; your state board sets the number of attempts
- Change ahead
- From July 1, 2027: 10 case studies, six new domains, and a scaled score from 100 to 500 with 360 to pass
The six domains NBCC scores
Both exams use the same six domains from NBCC’s 2019 job analysis. The NCE counts scored questions per domain; the NCMHCE gives percentages of its 100 scored questions and covers Areas of Clinical Focus through its case scenarios.
| Domain | NCE scored items | NCMHCE share |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Practice and EthicsCompetence, legal and ethical practice, roles, client rights, limits of confidentiality, informed consent, records, referral, supervision and self-care. | 19 (12%) | 15% |
| Intake, Assessment, and DiagnosisBiopsychosocial, diagnostic and cultural formulation interviews, mental status exam, diagnosis and co-occurring conditions, level of care, risk assessment and assessment instruments. | 19 (12%) | 25% |
| Areas of Clinical FocusThe concerns clients bring: depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, substance use, suicidal thoughts, relationships and family, development, career, sleep, eating, identity and discrimination. | 47 (29%) | Through the cases |
| Treatment PlanningGoals and objectives with the client, strengths and barriers, referral and levels of care, termination, follow-up and reviewing the plan. | 14 (9%) | 15% |
| Counseling Skills and InterventionsTheory-based interventions, crisis intervention and safety plans, family and couples work, group leadership skills, psychoeducation, reframing, confrontation and here-and-now work. | 48 (30%) | 30% |
| Core Counseling AttributesSelf-awareness, genuineness, congruence, empathy, positive regard, a non-judgmental stance and respect for diversity. | 13 (8%) | 15% |
Where the exam fits in becoming a licensed counselor
- Complete, or be well advanced in, a graduate counseling program accredited by CACREP or housed in an institutionally accredited college or university, with courses in the eight core areas.
- Find out which exam your state board requires: the NCE, the NCMHCE or either. Some states have their own rules on when you can test.
- Register through NBCC for state licensure (your board approves you and sets a test window of up to six months) or as part of the NCC application, then schedule at a Pearson VUE test center or online through OnVUE.
- If you do not pass, you can retest after a 30-day waiting period; your state board sets how many attempts you get.
Studying for the social work licensing exam instead? See our ASWB practice test.
How to use this NCE and NCMHCE prep
- Take the free mixed drill to see where you stand across all eight CACREP areas.
- Drill your weakest areas. Counseling and helping relationships carries the most weight, because Counseling Skills and Interventions (48) and Areas of Clinical Focus (47) are the two largest NCE domains.
- Taking the NCMHCE? Work through the free case study drill to learn the intake-and-sessions format, then read the NCMHCE guide.
- Take the full practice exam for your exam under its real clock, then drill your two lowest domains and take it again. Each new sitting draws questions and cases you have not seen first.
Common questions
How many questions are on the NCE?
200 multiple-choice questions with four options each. 160 are scored and 40 are unscored field-test questions mixed in at random; you cannot tell them apart. You have 3 hours and 45 minutes, with one scheduled 15-minute break after question 100.
What score do you need to pass the NCE?
NBCC sets the passing score with a modified Angoff method and equates it across forms, so it varies slightly from form to form and is not published as a fixed number. The maximum score is 160, one point per scored question, and your score report shows the passing score for your form. Our results show your score and your score in every domain, not a pass line.
What is the difference between the NCE and the NCMHCE?
The NCE is 200 standalone multiple-choice questions on counseling knowledge. The NCMHCE is 11 clinical case studies: each has an intake summary and two counseling sessions, each followed by four-option questions, 130 to 150 in all. States choose which exam they require for licensure, and many accept either. Both are options for the NCC credential.
Is the NCMHCE still a simulation?
No. The NCMHCE switched to its current case-study format with multiple-choice questions in November 2022. You review and change answers within a section, but you cannot go back to a section once you continue to the next one. Our NCMHCE practice exam works the same way.
Is the NCE changing?
Yes, on July 1, 2027. The new NCE will have 170 questions with three options each (30 of them field-test items), six new domains from a 2024–2025 work analysis, and a scaled score from 100 to 500 with 360 to pass. Until then, the exam is the 200-question, four-option format our practice exam follows.
How much does the NCE cost and when can I retake it?
NBCC lists $375 for the National Certified Counselor application with exam registration. For state licensure, the handbook does not list the exam fee. If you do not pass, you can retake the exam after a 30-day waiting period, paying the fee again; your state board sets how many attempts you get.
Does NBCC have official practice tests?
The NBCC Foundation sells study guides for $34.95 each: the NCE guide has 180 practice questions and the NCMHCE guide has six practice case studies. These questions are original practice written to NBCC’s published content outlines; they are not NBCC exam questions.
Ready for test day?
200 questions in 3 hours 45 minutes, drawn to NBCC’s six domain counts with 40 unscored questions mixed in, scored by domain, with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillSources
- NBCC: National Counselor Examination (NCE) page
- NBCC: NCE Content Outline (domains, scored items, 200 questions in 3 hours 45 minutes)
- NBCC: NCE State Licensure Candidate Handbook (revised September 24, 2024): session timing, scoring, retakes
- NBCC: NCE Examination Specifications effective July 1, 2027
- NBCC: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) page
- NBCC: NCMHCE Content Outline (revised October 8, 2025): case-study format and scoring
- NBCC: NCMHCE State Licensure Candidate Handbook (revised November 20, 2025)
- NBCC: NCMHCE format comparison chart (case-study format for licensure candidates from November 2022)
- NBCC: NCMHCE Examination Specifications effective July 1, 2027
- NBCC: National Certified Counselor (NCC) application fees
Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to NBCC’s NCE Content Outline and NCMHCE Content Outline in force; they are not NBCC exam questions. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) or Pearson VUE. NCE, NCMHCE and NCC are marks of NBCC. Diagnostic questions describe symptoms in our own words and do not reproduce the DSM-5-TR.