CMHC (NBCC) - Certified Mental Health Counselor

The Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CCMHC) certification validates the knowledge and skills of mental health counselors. To gain this certification, applicants must meet stringent education, examination, experience, supervision and ethical requirements to ensure the highest practice standards for schools and students. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) offers the CCMHC certification.

Eligibility

To be eligible for CCMHC certification, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Achieved a passing score on the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and hold the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential

• Have a master’s, educational specialist, certificate of advanced study (CAS) or doctoral degree (graduate degree) in counseling from an accredited, recognized institution

• Completed at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of the required graduate program courses

• Completed 100 supervised hours of post-graduate school counseling

• Completed 3,000 hours of postgraduate clinical client work experience

• Completed supervised school field experience equaling one of the following:

  • Nine semester or 15 quarter hours

  • Six semester or 10 quarter hours and a full state license

  • Six semester or 10 quarter hours and 120 additional hours of direct supervision

  • Three semester or five quarter hours and 10 years of continuous experience as a state-licensed counselor

• Completed the following courses with two semester or three quarter hours of graduate-level credit:

  • A Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment course

  • A least 3 of the following 6 courses:

    • Advanced Clinical Skills

    • Family or Couples Counseling

    • Addictions or Substance Abuse Counseling

    • Human Sexuality Counseling

    • Counseling for Trauma, Violence or Abuse

    • Clinical Counseling for Special Populations

For full course requirements, refer to the CCMHC Coursework guide.

Completion Time: Candidates have 3.75 hours to complete the required NCMHCE exam

Cost:

• NCC without exam registration: $250

• NCC with exam registration: $375

• CCMHC without exam registration: $250

• CCMHC with exam registration: $375

Exam Format

Candidates must earn a passing score on the You must have a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). They may register for the NCMHCE exam as part of their CCMHC application or document a passing result earned through a state licensure process or other administration.

The NCMHCE exam includes 11 case studies each with 13 corresponding multiple choice questions with 100 scored questions and 43 unscored questions. Candidates have 3 hours and 45 minutes to take the exam. NCMHCE exam topics include:

• Professional Practice and Ethics (10-20%)

• Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis (20-30%)

• Treatment Planning (10-20%)

• Counseling Skills and Interventions (25-35%)

• Core Counseling Attributes (10-20%)

Test Dates

NBCC offers the NCMHCE exam twice a year during April and October at selected Pearson VUE test centers.

Test Results

NBCC uploads test results to the Credentialing Gateway 4 to 5 weeks after exam completion.

Application Process

• Go to the CCMHC page

• Click “Begin Application” under “Application Fees for Board Certification”

• Create an account or log in to the Credentialing Gateway

• Click “Available Applications”

• Click “Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CCMHC)”

• Complete the Ethics Attestation

• Insert payment information

The CCMHC is valid for 5 years. To maintain certification, the CCMHC must pay an annual fee and complete 100 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every 5 years. The NCC and CCMHC expire at the same time and applicants can renew them together.

Renewal Process

• Log in to the Credentialing Gateway

• Click on “My Certifications” on the left column 

• Click “Pay Now” under the “Recertification Details”

• Complete the Ethics Attestation

• Complete the Continuing Education Attestation

• Insert payment information

Renewal Fee: $85 Annually

NBCC emails an annual certification fee statement about 45 days before each due date. Renewal applicants may pay their annual certification fees online through the Credentialing Gateway or print out and submit their invoice along with their payment by mail.

To renew the CCMHC certification, applicants must complete 100 general CEUs, with 50 of the 100 required in specialty CEUs for the CCMHC. The specialty CEUs must relate to the following categories:

• Counseling and psychotherapy theory and practice

• Abnormal psychology and psychopathology

• Testing and appraisal

• Group counseling and psychotherapy

Renewal applicants don’t have to enter CEU documentation unless selected for an audit. If selected for an audit:

• Log in to the Credentialing Gateway

• Click on “My Certifications” 

• Click the “Continuing Education” tab

• Click the “Report CE” button at the bottom

Renewal applicants can also submit CEU documentation by:

• Mail: NBCC Recertification Department
  3 Terrace Way
  Greensboro, NC 27403

• Fax: 336-547-0017

• Email: [email protected]

• CCMHC Coursework guide

• CCMHC Eligibility Policy

• Content Outline for NCE exam

• Content Outline for NCMHCE exam

• Study guides for NCE and NCMHCE exams

The NBCC also offers the following certifications:

• Master Addictions Counselor (MAC)

• National Certified Counselor (NCC)

• National Counselor Examination (NCE)

• National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

• National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)