Virginia Counselor License Exam

To get licensed in Virginia, Professional Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as assessment and diagnosis, counseling and psychotherapy, and administration, supervision and consultation. Whether you live in Norfolk, Richmond, or Lynchburg 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 Virginia. Licenses are granted by the Virginia Board of Counseling.

To qualify to become a licensed professional counselor in Virginia, the following must be met:

• Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits.
• Meet supervised clinical experience requirements, defined as a 3.400 hour residency, 200 hours of which must include face to face supervision.
• An applicant must earn a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).

The Application for Licensure

An application for licensure and other information must be submitted to the address below on forms provided by the Virginia Board of Counseling that may be obtained online, or by contacting the Board by mail at:

Virginia Board of Counseling
Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico Virginia 23233-1463

Phone: (804) 367-4610
Fax :( 804) 527-4435
coun@dhp.virginia.go

Test content of the NCMHCE

The test format comprises of 11 case studies. Each case study is followed by 9-15 multiple-choice questions, divided into counseling phases: the intake and assessment phase, the first follow-up counseling session, and the second follow-up counseling session. Candidates will have 4 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam.

Six different counseling domains will be addressed throughout these case simulations, to include:

• Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis
• Treatment Planning
• Counseling Skills and Interventions
• Professional Practice and Ethics
• Core Counseling Attributes
• Areas of Clinical Focus, which is the given information provided in each case study

For more information, see the NCMHCE Candidate Handbook.

How to Apply to Take the Exam

Apply online to take the NCMHCE.

License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

According to regulations, a license must be renewed every year, with at least 20 hours of board-approved continuing education completed, including at least two hours on professional ethics, standards of counseling practice or Virginia law governing behavioral science professions.

For more information on licensing and exam prep, go to Tests.com's NCE Guide.

And take Tests.com's free NCE Practice Test.

For counseling exam preparation products and services, such as study guides, practice tests, flashcards and courses, go to Tests.com's NCE listings.