Counselor Exam Prep Success Stories

I am writing today to thank you for your incredible, comprehensive Study Guide for the NCE exam. I passed. I mean, really well, and thank you so much! I have three suggestions for verbiage changes on some pages and have included them on the Feedback Form. Wishing you all the best. Sherry from Colorado

Hi Dr. Helwig, I wanted to quickly share my unique story with you, and how your study guide and course helped me pass the NCE. TWICE. I graduated from UCCS in 2011 and immediately passed the NCE at that point. You had come down to teach your review course to us that year and I found your style and guide to be much more user-friendly that Rosenthal or any other exam preps out there. In the following 10 years, I moved around quite a bit with my husband. When we returned to Denver, I finally submitted my LPC application. I was told that some of my experience hours and my NCE score were far too old. Passing an exam containing content from a 2 year master’s program felt nearly impossible. I haven’t seen some of these theories in many years, nor have I been in a classroom setting since then. I decided my technique would be to “cram” last minute and “wing” the test to see if I’d by chance pass (essentially treat it as a very expensive practice test), and if not, I’d retake it in 3 months after proper studying. I took about 2 days to review your study guide. Theories felt rusty, career felt completely foreign, but other things were very, very applicable to my current career and the political and social climate (ethics, socio/cultural). Again, your notes and style are straightforward, concrete, easy for my rusty “mom brain” to interpret and relearn. Then I took the exam this past Saturday and passed! I remember the NCE being more applied to actual counseling practice than the CPCE, and this really held true for me. Most of the questions were clear and made logical sense to me, and I simply felt more seasoned in my knowledge after having a decade of field experience. I noticed quite a bit of focus on career and group content, and the passing score required this round was 89/160. I hope this story brightens your day, because counseling students across the region very much appreciate your help… even 10 years later! Jessica from Colorado

I just wanted to let you know that I just took the CPCE and I passed. 🙂 I thoroughly enjoyed your videos and you DID touch on aspects of various issues that were on the test — I remember a couple relating to ethics and even group counseling. So THANK YOU! Ana of Rhode Island

I tested this morning and your information was my favorite by far!!!! Thank you! Teresa of Texas

Thank you so much for what you do. I graduated in 2011 and took the exam and did not pass (missed by a few points). Meanwhile continue my career in Mental health. As I took a sabbatical, I attempted again some years later and missed it again by a few points. Here we are in a global pandemic and I was encouraged by my husband no time better than now to try again. After extensive research in different study guides, I ordered yours and I am thankful I did! I finally PASSED! Thank you so much for all that you do! I didn’t know this was such a weight I had been carrying. I feel so accomplished and ready to help people on their healing journeys. Aisha of Texas

I live in the Southern CT area and have your book and really like it. I took the exam for the first time in early December and missed the mark by 8 points. I didn’t feel prepared enough as I just used the purple Rosenthal book which was fine but I know I would have passed had I had your book in addition. I finally understand a lot of the research content which beforehand I was quite weak in. It’s been a long time since I graduated with my masters in school counseling with honors. Thing is, a lot has changed since! Thanks. Kacey from Connecticut

Hi Dr. Helwig, my name is Erin, and a few months ago I ordered your material. I am very happy to say that I passed my test with all of your reading materials and your video. I told myself if I pass my test, I am going on a cruise! Guess what, I am going on my first cruise this Spring! Anyways, thank you so much for your material. Your material was very organized and structured, which helped me to understand and clarify the theories and what was relevant! I am going to highly recommend your material to anyone taking the NCE! Once again, thank you very much for all your help. Erin from Missouri

I have previously taken the NCE twice and used Rosenthal’s study material and audio guide. I was so discouraged after receiving two failing scores. I felt I knew the material well and understood the concepts, until I purchased your study guide in August of last year. The format and presentation of your material is so useful and certainly user friendly. Your practice exam was perfect practice and I think I might have found it a bit more challenging than the actual NCE! I appreciated the most important concepts being in bold, and the use of explicit and clear examples. It even gave me a sense of confidence I had been lacking. I took the NCE for the third time yesterday and where three is a charm, it definitely had everything to do with using your study guide. I received a 105 and the cutoff was an 85. Thank you so much for being my guidance throughout this process – if you were in front of me I would give you a big hug! I will definitely share my thoughts and appreciation for you and your guide when speaking with prospective NCE/CPCE exam takers. Sincerest gratitude.

Thank you! Due to studying your book, I passed counseling comprehensive exam! I am so happy! Your book is so very easy to understand! Thank you thank you!

I purchased the study guide and DVD a year ago. I passed the CPCE and completed NCE in December with a passing grade of 89. I wanted to say thank you. The DVD was very informational.

I passed my CPCE Exam with the help of your book!! Thank you!!!!!

Just want to let you know. I passed the NCE today with a 112. It was a very difficult test. Thanks for your encouragement and your book. I think your structured questions helped give me the confidence to prepare myself for the type of questions that would be asked. Once again, thanks.