Candidate Handbook for State Credentialing

1 Candidate Handbook for State Credentialing for the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). 3 Terrace Way Greensboro, NC 27403-3660. Tel: 336-482-2856 Fax: 336-482-2852. * The Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc. (CCE) values diversity. There are no barriers to Credentialing on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation or national origin. revised 4-2018. 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS. TAKING THE 10. About NBCC Identification Independent Testing Agency Security Nondiscrimination Policy Examination Restrictions Eligibility Requirements Misconduct Examination Administration Copyrighted Examination Questions Holidays Beginning the Examination REGISTERING FOR AN Instructions Registration form Expiration Examination Screen Examination Reregistration FOLLOWING THE 12 Fees and Refund Policy Pass/Fail Score Determination SCHEDULING AN 5 Scores Cancelled by NBCC, CCE or Pearson VUE. Testing Center Locations If You Pass the Examination Special Arrangements for Candidates If You Do Not Pass the Examination With Disabilities Appealing Examination Results Examination Appointment Changes Failing to Report for an Examination Missed Appointments and Cancellations Confidentiality Score Verification Inclement Weather, Power Failure or Emergency SELECTED EXAMINATION 6 EXAMINATION 8 Sample Clinical Simulation Preparing for the Examination FOR MORE INFORMATION.

2 All questions and requests for information about State licensure requirements should be directed to the State Credentialing board to which you are applying. (Refer to insert for State -specific information.). All questions and requests for information about All questions and requests for information about the NBCC examination program should be examination scheduling should be directed to directed to Center for Credentialing & Education Pearson VUE. 3 Terrace Way 5601 Green Valley Dr. Greensboro, NC 27403 Bloomington, MN 55437. Voice: 336-482-2856 Voice: 866-904-4432. Fax: 336-482-2852 Web site: Web site: Copyright (C) 2015. National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy or recording, or stored in any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from NBCC. 2. INTRODUCTION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

3 This Handbook provides information about the Please check with your State board for specific examination and registration process for the information about licensure application National Clinical Mental Health Counseling procedures and any additional requirements. Examination (NCMHCE). It outlines the design If you have previously achieved a passing and content of the examination and guides score on an NBCC examination, contact your candidates through the examination process, State board to determine if you are exam- from registration through test-taking. For exempt. You may be required to apply to your your convenience, this Handbook can be State board prior to sitting for the NCMHCE. downloaded from Candidates may not schedule an examination with Pearson VUE until they have registered with CCE. ABOUT NBCC. The National Board for Certified Counselors EXAMINATION ADMINISTRATION. (NBCC) is internationally recognized as a leading provider of counselor Credentialing The examination is delivered by computer at examinations.

4 All 50 states, Guam, Puerto more than 250 Pearson VUE testing centers Rico and the District of Columbia administer located throughout the United States. NBCC examinations as part of their counselor Generally, there are no application deadlines Credentialing requirements. Based on its and a Candidate may submit a registration form reputation for excellence in the examination and fee at any time. Testing is normally during field, NBCC has provided consultation services the first two full weeks of each month. The for examination and credential development examination is administered by appointment to many other organizations in the United States only on dates authorized by CCE, Monday and abroad, including NBCC's affiliate the through Saturday beginning at 8 with the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE). last appointment at 5:30 Please contact NBCC has contracted with CCE to oversee the Pearson VUE for particular locations and examination process. details. Available dates will be indicated when scheduling your examination.

5 Candidates are scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. INDEPENDENT TESTING AGENCY Therefore, candidates are advised to submit registration material approximately 60 days prior CCE has contracted with Pearson VUE to to the desired exam period. assist in the administration and scoring of the NCMHCE. Pearson VUE is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with regional offices in HOLIDAYS. Australia, China, Dubai, India, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Examinations are not offered on the following holidays: New Year's Day NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY. Memorial Day NBCC, CCE and Pearson VUE do not Independence Day (July 4). discriminate against candidates on the basis of Labor Day gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation or Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday national origin. Christmas Eve Day (Limited hours). Christmas Day 3. REGISTERING FOR AN SCHEDULING AN. EXAMINATION EXAMINATION. Examinees have the option to register online or After you have completed the registration via a paper registration form .

6 Online registration process and are approved to schedule your is the preferred method, as it requires a shorter examination, you will receive an e-mail from processing time. Pearson VUE with your Candidate ID number. There are two ways to schedule an appointment o begin the online registration process, go to for the examination: and choose the ProCounselor tab. Candidates cannot 1. Online scheduling is the preferred method. schedule an examination appointment with To use this service: Pearson VUE until CCE has processed their Retrieve your Candidate ID number registration. Pearson will send e-mail notification from the e-mail. to registered candidates with examination scheduling procedures. Go to and select Create Account.. Follow the simple, step-by-step To instead request a paper registration form , instructions to select your contact Be aware examination program and register that a paper registration will require an for an examination. extended processing time.

7 Or REGISTRATION EXPIRATION 2. Telephone: Call Pearson VUE at 866-904-4432. to schedule an examination appointment. A Candidate who fails to test within six months This toll-free number is answered from 7 after registering with CCE forfeits the registration to 7 Central time Monday through and all fees paid to take the examination. Friday. You may experience extended hold times. EXAMINATION REREGISTRATION When scheduling an examination, be prepared to confirm a location and a preferred date If you are unsuccessful in your examination and time for testing, and to provide your client attempt, you may reregister after a three-month Candidate ID number. Pearson VUE uses this waiting period by following the same registration number only for identification in maintaining process; however, you will not be able to re-test your record. When you contact Pearson VUE to until you have completed a three month waiting schedule an examination appointment, you will period. The actual retest date will depend on be notified of the time to report to the testing the monthly testing schedule and site center.

8 Please make a note of it, because you availability. A separate fee is required each time will not receive additional communications you register for the exam. confirming your scheduled appointment. FEES AND REFUND POLICY TESTING CENTER LOCATIONS. Candidates must submit the appropriate fee to Pearson VUE testing centers have been selected register. Online payment must be made by to provide accessibility to most candidates in all credit card (VISA, MasterCard or American states and major metropolitan areas. A current Express). Paper registration forms must include a listing of Pearson VUE testing centers, including cashier's check or money order payable to addresses and driving directions, is available NBCC. (Personal checks are not accepted.) at Pearson VUE's Web site ( Examination fees are not refundable or com). Specific address information will also transferable and expire if the registration process be provided when a Candidate schedules an is not completed within one year.

9 Examination appointment. 4. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MISSED APPOINTMENTS AND. CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES CANCELLATIONS. CCE and Pearson VUE comply with the A Candidate forfeits the examination Americans with Disabilities Act and strive registration and all fees paid to take the to ensure that no individual with a disability examination when he or she: is deprived of the opportunity to take an Intends to reschedule an examination but examination solely by reason of that disability. fails to contact Pearson VUE at least 24. With supporting documentation, CCE hours before the examination appointment. and Pearson VUE will provide reasonable Arrives more than 15 minutes late for an accommodations for candidates with examination. permanent or temporary disabilities or for whom Fails to report for an examination English is a second language. Please note that appointment for any reason. accommodations must be pre-approved by your State board and/or CCE. Visit A separate registration and examination fee for State -specific are required to reregister for the examination.

10 Information on special accommodations. INCLEMENT WEATHER, POWER. Candidates testing with approved special accommodations must schedule their FAILURE OR EMERGENCY. examination via Pearson VUE's toll-free In the event of inclement weather or number (800-466-0450) and inform Pearson unforeseen emergencies on the day of an VUE of the need for special accommodations. examination, Pearson VUE will determine Please note, in order for an accommodation whether circumstances warrant the to be approved, the Candidate must cancellation and subsequent rescheduling of submit supporting documentation to an examination. The examination will usually Supporting be rescheduled if the testing center personnel documentation must be submitted on are unable to open the facility. If power to a letterhead; dated within five years of the testing center is temporarily interrupted during request; include the Candidate 's full name, an administration, your examination will restart date of birth, diagnosis and recommended where you left off and you may continue the accommodation(s); and be signed by a examination.