Current Counselor Exam Prep Information

This section is designed to keep readers informed as to current professional counselor-related information. This info will focus on national issues, trends and exam schedules.

Exam Schedule

NBCC provides for national certification testing usually the third Saturday in April and October.

Universities with graduate programs in counselor education may administer, with NBCC approval, the NCE to their graduating students each semester and summer term.

For licensure, states are permitted to administer the NCE many times each month through NBCC’s contracted services with Pearson Vue.

The 400+ counselor education programs may administer the CPCE each term including summers.

ACA Division Changes

For a current list of ACA Divisions as well as their names/titles, go to: www.counseling.org.

ACA now has 19 divisions. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the American Mental Health Counselors Association are no longer divisions of ACA. There will continue to be collaboration between these two associations and ACA.

Computer-Based Testing

NBCC and its affiliate, Center for Credentialing and Education, contract with Pearson Vue to provide testing facilities and services for licensure and certification for counseling. There are hundreds of Pearson Vue locations in the US. and abroad.

All states use computer-based testing for licensure. For more information, visit: www.pearsonvue.com. The CPCE is also on computer.

See the Study Guide for the National Counselor Examination and CPCE and the NCE and CPCE Workshop DVDs to learn more about Dr. Andrew Helwig’s counselor exam preparation materials.

NCE / CPCE Study Guide Special Offers

All products and workshops have been developed by Dr. Andrew Helwig since 1990. Dr. Helwig has conducted over 245 “live” one-day counselor examination review sessions in 18 states. Over 4,000 counselors have participated in these workshops for counselor exam prep.

Special Offer – Save $20!

Purchase both the Study Guide (Instant PDF Download) and Workshop DVDs for $84, a $20 savings.

Special Offer – Save $20!

Purchase both the Study Guide (Printed Version) and Workshop DVDs for $84, a $20 savings.

Success Stories

Your book was one of the best resources I used, hands down. The way you brokedown complex concepts made them not only understandable but also something I could confidently carry into the exam. You have a real gift for making the material feel approachable without losing any of its depth.

Chris from Colorado (August 2024)

Request For Feedback

I expect to revise the Study Guide for the National Counselor Exam and CPCE early in 2025. I would very much appreciate comments, suggestions, feedback from Study Guide […]

NCE Exam Changes (Updated – May, 2023)

Here is the current known range of items on the NCE based on exam results sent to me by several counselors over the last twelve months. CACREP AREAS […]

Online Master’s Degrees

With all the legislation and emphases by community agencies on mental health counseling, there is an increasing need for graduate-trained counselors. Although I am not a strong advocate […]