Delaware Counselor License Exam
To get licensed in Delaware, Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as human growth and development, psychopathology, group therapy and professional ethics. Whether you live in Wilmington, Dover, Newark, or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your Professional Counselor’s license.
Need of a License: A license is needed to work as a counselor in Delaware. Licenses are granted by the Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals.
To qualify to become a licensed professional counselor in Delaware, the following must be met:
- Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits.
- Meet clinical experience requirements of 3,200 hours of postgraduate professional counseling, including at least 100 hours of supervision for at least 1600 hours of the clinical experience, in not less than two years, but not more than four years.
- An applicant must earn a passing score on an NBCC (National Board of Certified Counselors) exam, which can be the NCE (National Counselor Exam). Delaware will accept an exam from another certifying organization if certain standards are met.
How to Apply for Licensure
An application for licensure and other documentation can be obtained online. All documents must be sent to:
Board of Mental Health and Chemical dependency Professionals
Cannon Building,
Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, DE 19904
(302) 744-4500
(302) 739-2711
customerservice.dpr@state.de.us
Test Content of the NCE
The NCE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and is administered over a four-hour period. The NCE covers the following six knowledge, skill and task domains:
- Professional Practice and Ethics
- Intake, Assessment and Diagnosis
- Areas of Clinical Focus
- Treatment Planning
- Counseling Skills and Interventions
- Core Counseling Attributes
The questions are aligned to the following CACREP Common Core Areas:
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Diversity
- Counseling and Helping Relationships
- Group Counseling and Group Work
- Career Development
- Assessment and Testing
- Research and Program Evaluation
- Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
For more information, see the NCE Candidate Handbook.
How to Apply to Take the Exam
Delaware does not provide NCE registration information until the licensure application is submitted and approved. Apply online to take the NCE.
The exam is administered by Pearson VUE.
License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
To renew a license, regulations require 40 clock hours of continuing education in acceptable courses and programs offered by approved Continuing Education providers. License renewal is biennial on September 30 of even numbered years.
