National Counselor Certification National Counselor Examination State Licensure

National Counselor Certification National Counselor Examination State Licensure Presentation by Dr. Salene Cowher, NCE Site Coordinator for EUP Assisted by Caitlin Lovey, Graduate Assistant

• Why we are doing this presentation – To help inform those students or those eligible on what National Counselor Certification, State Licensure, and the National Counselor Examination are about. • National Counselor Certification=NCC • National Counselor Examination=NCE • Licensed Professional Counselor=LPC

National Counselor Certification NCC • What is Certification – Certification vs. State Licensure (Refer to Handout) • Benefits – Helps generate client referrals – Keeps counselor in touch with current professional issues – Advances counselor’s professional accountability and visibility • Who is eligible – Graduate Students (those about to graduate) – CACREP Graduates • Post-graduate expectations waived – Non-CACREP Graduates • Completion of 3, 000 hours of counseling work experience over 24 months post-master's. • Completion of 100 hours of counseling supervision over 24 months post-master's. Supervisor must hold a master's in a mental health field. Supervision is defined as time spent meeting directly with your counseling supervisor regarding your counseling of your clients. – Post Graduate Students* • Reviewed on a case by case basis (Taken from NBCC. org)

Terminology • License: Permission granted by a state government allowing practice of a trade by an individual meeting professional criteria. • Certification: A voluntary credential granted by a private agency or government to denote professional status. • Accreditation: Official agency approval of an academic institution’s degree program. (CACREP) (Wittmer & Clark, 2007, Pg. 354)

National Counselor Examination • What the NCE is/used for? – NCE is used to assess knowledge, skills and abilities that are viewed as important to provide effective counseling services. – Passing the NCE is required for National Counselor Certification and State Licensure. (Note: State requirements/expectations may vary) • Eligibility/requirements – Graduate Student Applicant – CACREP Graduates – Non-CACREP Graduates (board-eligible) (Taken from NBCC. org)

National Counselor Examination • Content areas – Human growth and development – Social and cultural foundations – Helping relationships – Group work – Career and lifestyle development – Appraisal – Research and program evaluation – Professional orientation and ethics

National Counselor Examination • Tests are given in October & April • Exam format – 200 multiple-choice questions over a four hour time period • Special Accommodations – Testing sites are selected with access for candidates who have physical disabilities. If special assistance is required, the candidate must request permission from the NBCC. The request must be made in writing at the time of application. (Taken from NBCC. org)

National Counselor Examination • Scoring – Of the 200 questions on the exam, only 160 count toward the final score. The other 40 questions are used for field research to determine future use. – The maximum score for the NCE is 160. • Results – Results will be mailed within eight weeks of the exam date. – If your total score meets or exceeds the minimum passing criterion, then you have passed. (Taken from NBCC. org)

State Licensure • Qualifications – Those who have completed a 60 hr master’s program • 3 years or 3, 600 hours of supervised clinical experience • Those who hold a doctoral degree: 2 years or 2, 400 hours of supervised clinical experience – Those who have completed less than a 60 hr master’s program, who are employed as a counselor • Note: Educational specialist candidates with a baccalaureate degree who hold a current and valid PA license as a counselor and can provide a copy of this license as part of their application for the related PA Educational Specialist certification area are not required to take any test to receive the related certificate. (Taken from PA Department of State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors website & ETS. org)

Qualitative Research • 33 Surveys were sent out to EUP counseling students who have taken the NCE – Looking as far back as April 2007 – Questions: How much time did you take to prepare for the NCE, What study materials did you use to prepare for the NCE, Did you study alone or with a group/partner, What sections did you have trouble with, and Why do you think you had trouble with these sections?

Qualitative Research • 11 surveys returned All female 8 students were community, 2 were school guidance, and 1 was college. Preparation time range: 25 hours-10 months before exam Materials used: course material, notes, homemade study guides/flash cards, Rosenthal’s Encyclopedia of Counseling, Andrew A. Hedwig’s NCE Study Guide, NBCC study material, Counseling exam prep review, and the AATBS (Association for the Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences) study program. – Majority of students studied alone; one studied with a partner, one studied both alone and in a group, one studied alone but reinforced her knowledge by teaching material to non-counseling students. – Areas of Challenge: Career, Theory, Appraisal, Ethics, Group, & Assessment – –

References • • • PA Department of State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors (Information about PA Licensure) – http: //www. dos. state. pa. us/bpoa/cwp/view. asp? a=1104&q=433177 ETS Praxis 2 website – http: //www. ets. org/portal/site/ets/menuitem. 1488512 ecfd 5 b 8849 a 77 b 13 bc 3 921509/? vgnextoid=9 a 06 f 68 e 3 b 838110 Vgn. VCM 10000022 f 95190 RCRD&vgne xtchannel=a 892 f 68 e 3 b 838110 Vgn. VCM 10000022 f 95190 RCRD Encyclopedia of Counseling – http: //www. howardrosenthal. com/ Counseling exam prep review – http: //www. counselingexam. com/ Association for the Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences Study Program – http: //www. aatbs. com/intro. asp National Board for Certified Counselors – NBCC. org