State Licensure Examination
NBCC administers the testing programs for all of the state counselor licensure boards in the US. Below you will find registration information for this process.
Registering for the Exam
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Registration Deadlines and Admission Letters
NBCC examinations are given in two formats: Computer-based Testing (CBT) and paper and pencil. Registration information is specific to these two formats. Please read the following instructions to locate registration information for your state.
If you need to test for counselor licensure in a CBT state (see right), use the State Boards Directory where you can then select your state and learn more information.
All other states presently use paper and pencil examinations. For those states, please read the instructions below.
Examination Registration Information for Specific States
Many states have allowed NBCC to post their examination registration forms on their state information page on our State Boards Directory. If you don't see the exam registration form on the state's page, you will see a link to "Information specific to this state" which will tell you how to obtain an exam registration form from the state board. If you do not see either of these links on your state's page, contact the state board directly for exam registration information. Go to the State Boards Directory for exam registration information for your state.
Admission Letters and Directions
Registered candidates for NBCC examinations should receive admission letters and location directions two weeks prior to the examination date.
If you have not received your admittance letter to the examination by the Monday prior to the examination, contact NBCC's Examination Department at examinations@nbcc.org.
On the Day of the Exam
Identification to Enter Exam
You must bring your NBCC admission letter and two forms of identification - one of which includes a picture (e.g., driver's license) - to the testing site. Examples of acceptable IDs include a driver's license or picture ID from the Department of Motor Vehicles, passport, or military ID.
Taking the Examination
NBCC examinations are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time. You are requested to report to the examination location at 8:30 a.m. local time. NBCC urges you to leave early for the examination to allow yourself adequate time to locate the test center and present yourself for admission. No candidate will be admitted after testing has begun.
Beepers, cellular phones, calculators, food and drinks are NOT allowed in the examination room.
Smoking, eating, and/or drinking are prohibited in the examination room before, during and after the administration of the examination. You may use restroom facilities during the examination.
After the Exam
When to Expect Your Scores
Scores cannot be released until all answer sheets have been verified. In some cases, this means a manual review of answer sheets to ensure accuracy.
You can expect to receive your score reports via first class mail approximately six to eight weeks after the exam date. Please don't call about your scores as it slows the scoring process. For your protection and confidentiality, NO scores are released by telephone.
Retaking the Examination
If you applied to take an NBCC examination for a credential to practice in a state, and you failed or did not sit for the exam, please contact your state credentialing board for re-registration information. PLEASE NOTE: State licensure examination fees are subject to change.