Certification and Licensure
Licensure Board -
Students who graduate from the Community Counseling Program, the Mental Health Counseling Program, and the College Counseling Program are eligible for licensure as a Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students must complete a total of 60 semester hours of graduate studies for eligibility for licensure in Pennsylvania . For information related to Counselor Licensure in Pennsylvania , contact the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors.
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=433170
National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) - The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) developed the first general practice counseling credential that was national in scope. NBCC began credentialing National Certified Counselors (NCCs) in 1983. Currently, approximately 40,000 mental health professionals throughout the United States and in over 40 other countries hold this voluntary professional credential. Although the NCC credential isn't required for independent practice and is not a substitute for the legislated state credentials, those who hold the credential appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate that they have met national standards developed by counselors, not legislators.
Licensed Professional Counselor General Information - List of frequently used websites!
National Counseling Exam (NCE) Information Sheet
This FAQ reflects the Department of Counseling & CSP at Shippensburg University's opinions. Anyone who is interested in taking the NCE or becoming a Nationally Certified Counselor is directed to review this information in conjunction with the information provided by the NBCC on their website: http://www.nbcc.org
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the National Counseling Exam (NCE)?
Answer: The NCE is a standardized, criterion-referenced exam developed by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) to establish a benchmark of counseling related knowledge, skills, and professionalism. Counselors who successfully pass the NCE and meet all other criteria (e.g., graduation requirements, sufficient supervision) are eligible for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential, which establishes them as professionals who meet stringent standards for proficiency in counseling-related coursework and knowledge.
2. Why should I take the NCE? Do I need it?
Answer: The NCE is optional for students. However, we encourage our School, Community, and Mental Health-track students to take the NCE for a variety of reasons. Students who graduate from Shippensburg University’s CACREP accredited programs and who pass the NCE are eligible for to become Nationally Certified Counselors. The NCC credentialed counseling professional will find improved interstate portability of their counseling credential. In addition, some organizations and school systems may provide salary incentives for counselors who have an NCC credential. Some states, including Pennsylvania, require the NCC credential for counselors seeking licensure (i.e. becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor [LPC]). Lastly, being an NCC helps to promote counselors’ professional identity and gives them greater access to counseling-related resources like affordable liability insurance policies.
3. Do College Student Personnel (CSP) track students need to take the NCE?
Answer: Very few student affairs positions require it and very few student affairs professionals are nationally certified counselors. However, some Community Colleges (including HACC) prefer employees to be a nationally certified counselor. Also, if you think you may want to earn a doctorate in counselor education or clinical psychology, then you should take the NCE. Lastly, CSP students who plan to take the NCE should take Theories of Counseling as one of their electives, as this content is covered on the exam.
4. Do I need to take the NCE now or can I wait?
Answer: If you elect to take the NCE, it’s your decision when you take it, but we recommend that you take it within six months of your graduation date. It’s less expensive and students may find it easier to pass the NCE when less time has passed between their coursework and the testing date.
5. How much does the NCE cost, and are there other costs associated with having an NCC credential?
Answer: For SU Master’s degree-seeking students who are within 6 months of their graduation date from one of our counseling programs, the cost is $230. Once students pass the NCE , there is an annual fee of $60 to maintain the credential.
For information regarding the pricing of the NCE for graduates beyond the six-month window, see the following link on the NBCC website: http://www.nbcc.org/ncc_credential
You will be directed to download an application that will have pertinent information.
6. What types of payments does NBCC accept for the NCE?
Answer: NBCC will only accept money orders or cashier’s checks for payment. They no longer accept cash, credit cards, traveler’s checks, or personal checks. If you attempt to pay by cash, credit card, traveler’s check, or personal check, your application will not be processed and you will not be allowed to test. Money orders are available from the post office, and cashier’s checks are available from commercial banking institutions.
7. What is the format of the exam, and what is covered on it?
Answer: The NCE is composed of 200 multiple-choice questions that cover CACREP’s eight core content areas: (1) Human growth and development, (2) Social and cultural foundations, (3) Helping relationships, (4) Group work, (5) Career and lifestyle development, (6) Appraisal, (7) Research and program evaluation, (8) Professional orientation. In addition, the NCE also covers knowledge about applicable Field-related experience.
8. What score do I need to pass the NCE?
Answer: The NBCC scores the NCE and determines the cut-scores for passing the exam. The exact percentage of correct answers necessary to pass is not published or available to the general public, but test-takers will receive a scoring summary that provides information about their respective success across the different content areas of the exam as well as descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations).
9. Of the counseling students at Shippensburg University who have taken the NCE, how have they typically fared?
Answer: NBCC does not release students’ individual results or scores to SU. However, NBCC releases aggregate program results, and based on historical data taken from the past three years, 96% of SU counseling students have passed the exam. SU students are well prepared to take this exam.
10. Are study guides available?
Answer: Study guides are available from the NBCC by accessing the following link on their website: http://www.nbcc.org/study. You may be able to find other resources in commercial bookstores as well. Note: the study guides may be helpful but they are somewhat expensive. Students may not need to invest in these resources to be successful on the NCE if they have maintained applicable course materials and class notes to use as study references. If you plan to take the exam, be sure to practice your test-taking skills and strategies as they apply to multiple choice exams.
11. When is the NCE offered at Shippensburg University (SU)?
Answer: The NCE is offered twice per year at SU if enrollment is sufficient, which it has been since 1999. The test is administered on typically the third Saturday in October and April. The actual dates vary by year, but it is roughly around the 20th of those respective months.
12. How do I sign up for the NCE?
Answer: Stop by Dr. Whitman’s office (Shippen 115) to obtain an NCE packet. Packets are mailed from the NBCC headquarters to Dr. Whitman about six months prior to the actual testing date. If you stop by and Dr. Whitman does not have the packets yet, please check back with him later. It is the responsibility of students to obtain a packet when they are available.
13. What should I do with the packet once I’ve filled it out?
Answer: Return it to Dr. Whitman. Do not send it to NBCC! Packets from all of student test-takers are mailed en-masse (together), as required by the NBCC. The deadline for submitting packets is January 5th for the Spring testing date (April) and July 15th for the Fall (October) testing date.
14. What happens after I’ve filled out the application and given it to Dr. Whitman?
Answer: Dr. Whitman mails one parcel containing all the packets to NBCC. Students will receive notification of their exam status approximately one month before their scheduled testing date. If you have not heard from the NBCC within 4 weeks of your testing date, contact Dr. Whitman, who will inquire with the NBCC on your behalf.
School Counseling Certification - Application Instructions
How to apply for a school counselor's certificate:
Students MUST complete a certification application (PDE form 338 C & G) to apply for a school counselor's certificate. As students enter their last class, they can submit their certification applications to Vickie Shaak in Shippen Hall room 352. The application will not be submitted to PDE until the graduate degrees are confirmed. Vickie Shaak will hold your application until that time.
Blank applications are available from the Department of Counseling Lobby or they can be downloaded from the PDE web site, http://www.teaching.state.pa.us (Teaching/ Applications and Forms/ Application Forms /PDE-338G /PDE-338C). The completed forms, along with a check payable to Shippensburg University for $15, and a copy of their PRAXIS scores should be submitted to Vickie Shaak for processing.
After the graduate degree is confirmed, Vickie Shaak will send the application to PDE. Processing time for PDE varies, but it could take 4 - 6 weeks. The certificate is sent directly to the student.
Mail Applications to:
Vickie Shaak
Administrative Assistant
College of Education & Human Services
Shippensburg University
717-477-1373
Shippen Hall Rm. 352
