Below are the exams required for each level of counselor licensure in Illinois (LPC, LCPC).

LPC (National Counselors Exam)

• To qualify to take the exam, you must have graduated from your masters program or sponsored by your university to take the exam prior to graduating
• This exam assesses candidates knowledge of theortetical and skill-based tenets that are necessary for an entry-level counselor to safely practice
• There are 6 domains covered on the NCE (Click here for details from NBCC Website)
  • Professional Practice and Ethics (12%)
  • Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis (12%)
  • Areas of Clinical Focus (29%)
  • Treatment Planning (9%)
  • Counseling Skills and Interventions (30%)
  • Core Counseling Attributes (8%)
• 200 multiple-choice questions, with 160 being scored.

LCPC (National Mental Health Counselors Exam)

• Required for clinical licensure in Illinois. To become an LCPC in Illinois you must take and pass both the NCE and the NCMHCE
• Designed to assess knowledge, skills, and abilities determined to be important for providing effective services
• Measures an individuals ability to apply and evaluate knowledge in core counselor skills and competencies and to practice competently as a professional counselor
• This exam is case-study based. The case studies are designed to capture a candidates ability to identify, analyze, diagnose, and develop plans for treatment of clinical concerns
• There are 6 Domains covered on the NCMHCE (Click here for details from NBCC website)
  • Professional Practice and Ethics (15%)
  • Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis (25%)
  • Areas of Clinical Focus (~0%)
  • Treatment Planning (15%)
  • Counseling Skills and Interventions (30%)
  • Core Counseling Attributes (15%)
• 11 case studies. Each case study will comprise one narrative and 9-15 multiple-choice questions. Out of the total multiple choice questions, 100 will be scored.