NCMHCE Test

The National Board for Certified Counselors offers the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) for the purpose of getting credentialed in particular states. The test includes ten case studies which have been created to cover a wide range of experiences, so it is more than just remembering particular information. Candidates must be able to evaluate the case and use their skills with handling problems. Candidates must be able to recognize, assess, diagnose and determine a plan for the problems that are provided.

Each case study is based on a clinical mental health issue. There are between five and eight parts included, which are categorized as either Information Gathering (IG) or Decision-Making (DM). The NCMHCE assesses these three main categories:

  • Evaluation and assessment - Recognize what is bringing on the problem or what the patient indications are, do an assessment of the person's mental status, get a complete biopsychosocial assessment background and recognize individual and relationship functioning.
  • Diagnosis and treatment planning - Incorporate evaluation and observational information together with clinical judgment and come up with a differential diagnosis, create the treatment plan by collaborating with the person, put together a treatment plan that different service providers will participate in, and keep a check on how the person is doing in terms of meeting the objective.
  • Clinical practice - Resolve whether the service has met the person's needs, thrash out ethical and legal issues, and show comprehension of the extent of the candidate's practice (including limitations).

For the given answers, candidates will be given a score from +3 to -3 depending on how suitable and helpful the projected client care would be. Candidates will get a score for IG and DM items, and candidates must get the minimum needed for both sections to pass the test. Successful candidate results will have the following:

  • 3 subscale outcomes for IG
  • 3 subscale outcomes for DM
  • The overall outcome for IG and DM

Commercial Resources for the NCMHCE Test (provided for information only, no endorsement implied)

NCMHCE Test Study Guide from Morrison Media

NCMHCE Test Flashcards from Morrison Media

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