NBCC 2027 examination specifications

How to register for the NCMHCE

To register for the NCMHCE, start with the counseling board for state licensure or the NBCC application for national certification. Follow the approval and payment instructions for that path. When you have authorization, schedule with Pearson. Check which edition applies to your sitting before committing to a date near the 2027 transition.

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Which application should you start with?

Identify the credential you are pursuing and the organization that decides eligibility. State boards use the NCMHCE as one step in licensure where their rules require it. NBCC accepts the NCMHCE as one of two examination options for the National Certified Counselor credential and uses it for the exam requirement of the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor specialty.

The same exam name can appear in different application instructions. Before you pay, verify the required examination, which account to use, where your results should go and whether another test is required. If a graduate program is coordinating registration, ask which credential or authorization the program registration covers.

What changes between state licensure pathways?

Your board determines which exam you need and whether it must approve your eligibility before you register. Use the board’s current instructions and follow its referral to the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) or the applicable examination portal. Keep your board and exam deadlines together so you can see which one comes first.

Florida’s board directs mental health counseling candidates to apply to CCE for the NCMHCE without prior board approval. The Florida page lists US$350 for the initial exam and US$275 for re-examination. California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences requires approval of the LPCC licensure application and a passing result on the separate California Law and Ethics Exam before NCMHCE registration. California also publishes deadlines for the first attempt and for re-examination.

These examples were checked November 12, 2026. Use the rules and fees for the jurisdiction where you are applying, even if you plan to test at a center in a different state. Check the board’s instructions if you need an exam score sent to a different jurisdiction or intend to use a result obtained under another pathway.

How do you register through NBCC certification?

Read the eligibility policy for NCC or CCMHC before starting in the Credentialing Gateway. In the NCC pathway, select the exam that satisfies your application. To qualify for the CCMHC specialty, you must already be an NCC in good standing. Ask NBCC which exam documentation it has on file and which steps are still due.

As checked November 12, 2026, NBCC lists US$375 for either credential application when exam registration is included and US$250 when it is excluded. Those are national credential application fees. Review the application summary and ask NBCC which option applies if you already have an exam result. A state board may charge separate fees for a state licensure pathway.

NBCC’s national scheduling page describes year-round administration and a six-month testing window. Use the dates in your own authorization, especially for a specialty application, extension or repeat attempt. Book within both the start and end dates shown in that authorization.

If your application dashboard and a general scheduling page give different instructions, ask NBCC about your application before paying again or moving an appointment. Keep the confirmation that identifies your program so you can refer to it if you need help with accommodations, timing or a repeat attempt.

How do you book or change your appointment?

Wait for your approval message. Confirm the registered exam, name, testing window and any pathway-specific instructions before choosing a seat.
Use the Pearson scheduling instructions in your confirmation. Depending on the options available to you, choose a Pearson test center or a remotely proctored OnVUE appointment.
Follow the accommodations process for your pathway before scheduling. Use the approval instructions to check which delivery option can support the arrangements.
Save the appointment date, local time and location or online check-in instructions. If you need to cancel or reschedule, check the applicable deadline and whether a change still falls within your authorization window.
For a sitting near the 2027 transition, confirm the exam edition with NBCC or the authority that issued your authorization. The specification shows an effective date of July 1, 2027. NBCC’s live FAQ describes a summer rollout and leaves the exact operational cutoff open.

What should you check before registering for a retake?

The currently linked state handbook describes a 30-day wait after an unsuccessful attempt unless the board requires longer. Check that your board approval is still valid and confirm the new registration and fee with your pathway. If it has expired, ask the board what approval is needed before you pay.

The currently linked national certification handbook lists a minimum 30-day wait and a maximum of three attempts within two years under one NCC or CCMHC application. Confirm the current policy, authorization, and applicable fees before booking. If the retake is near the transition, verify the version for the new date even if your previous attempt used the earlier exam.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one NCMHCE registration fee for everyone?

The fee depends on whether you are applying for state licensure or NBCC certification and on the applicable program. Use your board or NBCC application as the fee source.

Does paying or booking lock in the exam edition?

NBCC says the version is determined by the date you sit. Check the current transition guidance before choosing or moving an appointment near the switchover.