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Iowa Professional Counselor — Requirements & Free Practice

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Temporary license

Mental health counseling temporary license under Iowa Code 272C.12A and 481 IAC 7.3 for a veteran or active-duty military spouse completing additional education or training; separate from the supervised-experience license under 154D.7.

Licensing authority: Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals · Application information

Extension of military temporary license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Extension
Board may extend the military temporary license case by case for good cause. Continue completing required education/training and observing temporary-license conditions; the full application remains pending until successful completion or expiration.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

  • rule 7

    481 IAC 7.3(5)(d), extension of military temporary license

  • code 272C

    Iowa Code 272C.12A(2)-(3), military temporary license and conversion

  • rule 885

    481 IAC 885.1(2), Board adoption of military rules

Temporary licensure for military education or training deficiency
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
Different temporary license
This pathway addresses military education/training deficiency under 272C.12A and 7.3, rather than the postgraduate supervised-experience temporary license under 154D.7.
Eligibility
Veteran or active-duty military spouse licensed elsewhere whose scope is not substantially equivalent and who therefore does not qualify under 272C.12. Board identifies education/training needed for full Iowa licensure.
Examination
Under 7.3(5)(a), pass the licensure examination before temporary issuance; for full mental health counseling licensure this is NCMHCE under 880.3(1)(a)(2). Previously passed examinations receive appropriate credit.
Full application
Full licensure application stays pending until training succeeds or temporary license expires; after successful completion submit records for full issuance.
Term and public safety
Temporary license is for a Board-specified period to complete required education/training, subject to reasonable health/welfare/safety conditions; public-safety deficiency may prevent issuance.

Licensed mental health counselor

Permanent Iowa mental health counseling license. Inactive and retired statuses remain this license; restoration is recorded as a route. Counseling Compact implementation was still pending on the evaluation date.

Licensing authority: Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals · Application information

Licensure by endorsement
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board page
The permanent-license page generally asks for NCMHCE scores; its quoted examination instructions are retained as an implementing demand. They do not replace the route-specific endorsement requirements.
Prior license
Previously licensed as a mental health counselor in another jurisdiction; provide verification from the most recent licensing authority with initial date, status and discipline, and disclose public/pending complaints.
Similar requirements
154D.8 requires evidence the issuing jurisdiction has similar licensure requirements. Submit completed application and fee. The route-specific statute and 880.5 do not require an identified examination or a score submission.
Verification alternative
An applicant unable to satisfy endorsement may apply under 501.1 if eligible.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by examination
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
Application
Submit the online application and nonrefundable licensure fee; the permanent-license instructions state $120.
Application lifetime
Application is active for two years; incomplete applicants must file a new application, supporting materials and fee.
Background check
Submit two fingerprint cards and a signed waiver for DCI/FBI checks and pay the cost, under the rule effective on September 22, 2026.
Board instruction wording
The permanent-license page says "Proof of passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) of the NBCC." It then says "Please Note: Effective Jan. 1, 2022, for a mental health counselor license, the NCMHCE of the NBCC." The current rule requires NCMHCE for the permanent license.
Clinical experience
Complete Board-approved supervised clinical experience after graduate coursework except thesis: minimum two years, 3,000 total hours, 1,500 direct-client hours and 110 direct-supervision hours; no more than 50 group-supervision hours; continue supervision afterward. Submit the plan and attestations.
Earlier education
Rule 880.4(2)(a) and the Board instructions describe 45 semester hours for applicants who entered before July 1, 2012; the statute states at least 60 or equivalent. The Board must determine applicability/equivalence for the individual applicant.
Education
Iowa Code 154D.2(1)(a) requires a master’s degree of at least 60 semester hours or equivalent from a nationally accredited institution or Board-approved program. Rule 880.4(2) describes CACREP or CCE-evaluated content-equivalent master’s/doctoral counseling programs with a mental health emphasis.
Exam administration
Register directly with NBCC; passing criterion is the national testing authority’s criterion at administration; the testing service must send scores directly to the Board.
Foreign education
Foreign-trained applicants must obtain an IERF equivalency evaluation at their expense and receive the Board’s final determination under 880.4(3).
Out of state supervision
Contact the Board to determine credit for supervised experience completed elsewhere without licensure there.
Previous ncmhce
If NCMHCE was passed for the temporary license, it need not be taken again for permanent licensure.
Supervision content
880.7 requires assessment, diagnosis, treatment, evidence-based modalities, differential treatment planning and preparation for independent practice, including ethics, law, documentation, coordination of care, self-care and practice management.
Supervision started before 2022
New or additional supervision requirements do not apply to supervision begun before July 20, 2022.
Supervisor
Supervisor must hold an active Iowa independent social work, counselor or marriage/family therapist license, have three years of independent practice and six-hour/graduate supervision training; obtain Board approval for an exception.
Late renewal within the grace period
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Complete 40 approved hours per biennium, including three ethics hours; supervisors also complete three supervision hours. First renewal after initial licensure has a CE exemption; reactivated licensees may use CE earned during the current compliance period.
Currency
The October 7, 2026 amendments requiring renewal compact-eligibility/background-check review do not apply on September 22, 2026.
Late fee
Meet renewal requirements and submit the late fee within the 30-day grace period; after that the license is inactive and requires reactivation.
Mandatory reporter
Document child/dependent-adult abuse identification/reporting training when the practice duties trigger it; 880.10(3) describes two hours within three years, five-year record retention and military/hardship waivers.
Period
Renew biennially for October 1 of even-numbered years through September 30 of the next even-numbered year; submit renewal and fee before expiration. Initial issuance within six months of renewal defers that renewal.
Posttests
Independent-study course posttests are continuing-education conditions, not separately registered licensing examinations.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure with military education, training or service credit
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
Military credit
Request credit against identified education/experience qualifications with military transcripts, DD214/VMET, affidavit or equivalent proof. Board decides whether to grant credit; no credit applies to an examination requirement.
Remaining requirements
Meet ordinary licensure qualifications not satisfied by the granted credit, including application, background check, supervised experience and NCMHCE. No military-credit application fee is required; licensure fees follow the Board’s determination.
Veteran or active duty military spouse reciprocity
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
Eligibility
Veteran under Iowa Code 35.1(2), or active-duty military spouse, holding an unrestricted professional license elsewhere. Provide ordinary reciprocity documentation and proof of military/spouse status. Application receives priority/expedited processing.
Previous examination
7.3(1) requires licensure examinations and credits previously passed examinations consistent with Iowa law. Under 880.3(1)(a)(2) the counselor examination is NCMHCE; prior passage remains a leaf.
Scope
Board assesses substantial equivalence of practice scope; additional education/training may be required, and disciplinary/criminal issues may bar issuance.
Verification instead
Applicants meeting all 272C.12 conditions may instead use the separately recorded without-examination verification route; that statute outranks general military reciprocity instructions.
Permanent licensure after military temporary license
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
Education
Hold the military temporary license while the full application is pending; complete and submit records of the Board-identified additional education or training. 272C.12A(3) requires issuance after these records are submitted.
Exam before temporary
7.3(5)(a) requires previously passing the examination required for full counselor licensure, NCMHCE. Prior passage is retained as a leaf; no second sitting is asserted.
Remaining eligibility
Meet the Board’s eligibility and public-safety conditions; the full license is pending until successful completion or temporary expiration.
Reactivation of inactive or retired license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit reactivation application, fee and verification from the most recent licensing jurisdiction, disclosing public/pending complaints.
Competence
Provide current active license elsewhere OR CE taken within the two preceding years: 40 hours if inactive less than five years, 80 hours if inactive more than five years. The rule does not expressly state the hours at exactly five years; Board determines the individual application.
Currency
The October 7, 2026 reactivation background-check amendment is not effective on the evaluation date.
Status
Inactive, lapsed, delinquent, closed and retired categories under 881.1 are statuses of the same license, not additional credential identities.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Biennial renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Complete 40 approved hours per biennium, including three ethics hours; supervisors also complete three supervision hours. First renewal after initial licensure has a CE exemption; reactivated licensees may use CE earned during the current compliance period.
Currency
The October 7, 2026 amendments requiring renewal compact-eligibility/background-check review do not apply on September 22, 2026.
Mandatory reporter
Document child/dependent-adult abuse identification/reporting training when the practice duties trigger it; 880.10(3) describes two hours within three years, five-year record retention and military/hardship waivers.
Period
Renew biennially for October 1 of even-numbered years through September 30 of the next even-numbered year; submit renewal and fee before expiration. Initial issuance within six months of renewal defers that renewal.
Posttests
Independent-study course posttests are continuing-education conditions, not separately registered licensing examinations.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by verification
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Application, fees, fingerprint cards/waiver when required, statutory-compliance attestation, criminal/disciplinary documents and written scope statement with the issuing jurisdiction’s laws.
Board page
The permanent-license page generally asks for NCMHCE scores. 272C.12 expressly provides issuance without examination for this pathway; its unnamed prior-exam evidence remains a condition.
Compact
501.1(5) makes Iowa compact-privilege holders ineligible; this license confers no interstate compact practice privilege.
Discipline
Meet 272C.12 restrictions on revocation, surrender, discipline, pending complaints/investigations and criminal history; unresolved matters delay issuance without denial.
License
Currently licensed in an issuing jurisdiction with substantially similar scope, in good standing everywhere. Issuing jurisdiction imposed and verifies minimum education and applicable experience/supervision.
Prior exam
Attest that an examination required by the other issuing jurisdiction was previously passed, if applicable. The statute names no particular examination; this unresolved prior-exam slot is an applicant condition.
State law exam authority
272C.12(3)(c) reserves authority to require a state-law examination. No identified counselor state-law examination is prescribed in the obtained counselor licensing rules; the reserved authority does not identify an exam leaf.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure with work experience substitution
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
Ordinary requirements
Submit application, fee and background check; satisfy the ordinary licensing requirements not replaced by Board-approved experience.
Passing score
NCMHCE remains required, even if passed before application.
Work experience
Relocated to Iowa from a jurisdiction without licensing for this profession; document Iowa residency and at least three years of substantially similar practice in the four preceding application years. Board may treat that experience as satisfying education/training/work-experience qualifications; all remaining requirements and the same examination remain.

temporary license in mental health counseling

Supervised license under Iowa Code 154D.7 for completing postgraduate clinical experience; three-year term and Board-discretion renewal.

Licensing authority: Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals · Application information

Initial supervised temporary licensure
Application
Submit the online application and nonrefundable licensure fee; the permanent-license instructions state $120.
Application lifetime
Application is active for two years; incomplete applicants must file a new application, supporting materials and fee.
Background check
Submit two fingerprint cards and a signed waiver for DCI/FBI checks and pay the cost, under the rule effective on September 22, 2026.
Earlier education
Rule 880.4(2)(a) and the Board instructions describe 45 semester hours for applicants who entered before July 1, 2012; the statute states at least 60 or equivalent. The Board must determine applicability/equivalence for the individual applicant.
Education
Iowa Code 154D.2(1)(a) requires a master’s degree of at least 60 semester hours or equivalent from a nationally accredited institution or Board-approved program. Rule 880.4(2) describes CACREP or CCE-evaluated content-equivalent master’s/doctoral counseling programs with a mental health emphasis.
Foreign education
Foreign-trained applicants must obtain an IERF equivalency evaluation at their expense and receive the Board’s final determination under 880.4(3).
Military credit
Military service credit may satisfy identified education/experience requirements under adopted 481 Chapter 7 but never the examination; any granted credit remains subject to Board determination.
National examination
Pass NCE or NCMHCE and have testing service send scores to Board. If NCMHCE is passed here it is not taken again for permanent issuance; NCE alone does not satisfy permanent licensure.
Practice setting
Work within an agency or group with at least one independently licensed mental health provider; no solo practice or practice solely with other temporary licensees.
Supervision
Submit a Board supervision plan before issuance; license is only for completing postgraduate supervised clinical experience, under a qualified supervisor, for three years. Remain supervised until permanent issuance; send completed-experience attestation within 30 days.
Term
Renewal of the three-year license is at Board discretion.
Reactivation of inactive supervised temporary license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit reactivation application, fee and verification from the most recent licensing jurisdiction, disclosing public/pending complaints.
Competence
Provide current active license elsewhere OR CE taken within the two preceding years: 40 hours if inactive less than five years, 80 hours if inactive more than five years. The rule does not expressly state the hours at exactly five years; Board determines the individual application.
Currency
The October 7, 2026 reactivation background-check amendment is not effective on the evaluation date.
Status
Inactive, lapsed, delinquent, closed and retired categories under 881.1 are statuses of the same license, not additional credential identities.
Temporary limit
880.14 applies to an inactive mental health counseling license. Reactivation does not remove the temporary license’s supervised-experience purpose, Board-controlled three-year term/renewal, supervision plan or agency/group limitation.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Discretionary renewal of supervised temporary license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Purpose
Continue only to complete supervised clinical experience, remain supervised and use the required agency/group setting until permanent issuance.
Renewal
Board may renew the three-year supervised temporary license; pay the renewal fee set by Board. The statutory renewal clause specifies no new licensing examination.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination

Provider
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); administered through the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) and delivered by Pearson VUE at test centers or online through OnVUE
Format
11 clinical case studies, each with one narrative in three sections (initial intake summary and two counseling sessions) followed by 9–15 four-option, single-answer multiple-choice questions; one case study is unscored
Exam questions
130–150 multiple-choice items, of which 100 are scored
Time limit
225 minutes to complete the examination within a 255-minute test session (one scheduled 15-minute break after the fifth case study)
Passing score
Cut score set through standard setting and applied to other forms through statistical equating; the total score is the number of correctly answered scored items
Examination outline
  • 1. Professional Practice and Ethics — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities related to maintaining proper administrative and clinical protocols. (15% of scored items) (15%)
    • A. Assess your (the counselor) competency to work with a specific client
    • B. Understand statistical concepts and methods in research
    • C. Practice legal and ethical counseling
    • D. Clarify counselor/client roles
    • E. Discuss client’s rights and responsibilities
    • F. Discuss limits of confidentiality
    • G. Explain counselor/agency policies
    • H. Review payment, fees, and insurance benefits
    • I. Explain counseling processes, procedures, risks, and benefits
    • J. Explain uses and limits of social media
    • K. Inform clients about the legal aspects of counseling
    • L. Obtain informed consent
    • M. Discuss confidentiality as it applies to electronic communication
    • N. Establish group rules, expectations, and termination criteria
    • O. Assess competency to provide informed consent
    • P. Monitor the therapeutic relationship and build trust as needed
    • Q. Review client records
    • R. Provide adequate accommodations for clients with disabilities
    • S. Provide information to third parties
    • T. Provide referral sources if counseling services are inadequate/inappropriate
    • U. Advocate for professional and client issues
    • V. Supervision
    • W. Create and maintain documentation appropriate for each aspect of the counseling process
    • X. Awareness and practice of self-care
  • 2. Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively conduct client intake, assessment, and diagnosis. (25% of scored items) (25%)
    • A. Conduct a biopsychosocial interview
    • B. Conduct a diagnostic interview
    • C. Conduct cultural formulation interview
    • D. Conduct an initial interview
    • E. Determine diagnosis
    • F. Perform a Mental Status Exam (MSE)
    • G. Consider co-occurring diagnoses
    • H. Determine level of care needed
    • I. Determine the appropriate modality of treatment
    • J. Assess the presenting problem and level of distress
    • K. Evaluate an individual’s level of mental health functioning
    • L. Screen clients for appropriate services
    • M. Select, use, and interpret appropriate assessment instruments
    • N. Use formal and informal observations
    • O. Assess for trauma
    • P. Assess substance use
    • Q. Obtain client self-reports
    • R. Evaluate interactional dynamics
    • S. Conduct ongoing assessment for at-risk behaviors (i.e., suicide, homicide, self/other-injury, and relationship violence)
    • T. Use pre-test and post-test measures to assess outcomes
    • U. Evaluate counseling effectiveness
  • 4. Treatment Planning — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop an effective course of treatment. (15% of scored items) (15%)
    • A. Collaborate with client to establish treatment goals and objectives
    • B. Establish short- and long-term counseling goals consistent with client’s diagnosis
    • C. Identify barriers affecting client goal attainment
    • D. Identify strengths that improve the likelihood of goal attainment
    • E. Refer to different levels of treatment (e.g., outpatient, inpatient, residential)
    • F. Refer to others for concurrent treatment
    • G. Guide treatment planning
    • H. Discuss termination process and issues
    • I. Discuss transitions in group membership
    • J. Follow up after discharge
    • K. Use assessment instrument results to facilitate client decision-making
    • L. Review and revise the treatment plan
    • M. Engage clients in review of progress toward treatment goals
    • N. Collaborate with other providers and client support systems (documentation and report writing)
    • O. Discuss with clients the integration and maintenance of therapeutic progress
    • P. Educate client to the value of treatment plan compliance
  • 5. Counseling Skills and Interventions — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct effective counseling. (30% of scored items) (30%)
    • A. Align intervention with client’s developmental level
    • B. Align intervention with counseling modality (individual, couple, family, or group)
    • C. Align intervention with client population (e.g., veterans, minorities, disenfranchised, disabled)
    • D. Implement individual counseling in relation to a plan of treatment
    • E. Establish therapeutic alliance
    • F. Apply theory-based counseling intervention(s)
    • G. Address addiction issues
    • H. Address cultural considerations
    • I. Address family composition and cultural considerations
    • J. Evaluate and explain systemic patterns of interaction
    • K. Explore family member interaction
    • L. Explore religious and spiritual values
    • M. Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems
    • N. Help clients develop support systems
    • O. Help facilitate clients’ motivation to make the changes they desire
    • P. Improve interactional patterns
    • Q. Provide crisis intervention
    • R. Educate client about transference and defense mechanisms
    • S. Facilitate trust and safety
    • T. Build communication skills
    • U. Develop conflict resolution strategies
    • V. Develop safety plans
    • W. Facilitate systemic change
    • X. Provide distance counseling or telemental health
    • Y. Provide education resources (e.g., stress management, assertiveness training, divorce adjustment)
    • Z. Provide psychoeducation for client
    • AA. Summarize
    • AB. Reframe/redirect
    • AC. Facilitate empathic responses
    • AD. Use self-disclosure
    • AE. Use constructive confrontation
    • AF. Facilitate awareness of here-and-now interactions
    • AG. Facilitate resolution of interpersonal conflict
    • AH. Use linking and blocking in a group context
    • AI. Management of leader–member dynamics
    • AJ. Model giving and receiving of feedback
    • AK. Address impact of extended families
    • AL. Contain and manage intense feelings
    • AM. Explore the influence of family of origin patterns and themes
    • AN. Address the impact of social support network
    • AO. Use “structured” activities
    • AP. Promote and encourage interactions among group members
    • AQ. Promote and encourage interactions with the group leader
    • AR. Use psychoeducation as a part of the group process
    • AS. Explain phases in the group process
    • AT. Identify and discuss group themes and patterns
    • AU. Create intervention based on the stage of group development
    • AV. Challenge harmful group member behaviors
    • AW. Address the potential interaction of members outside of the group
  • 6. Core Counseling Attributes — This section encompasses behaviors, traits, and dispositions of effective counselors. (15% of scored items) (15%)
    • A. Awareness of self and impact on clients
    • B. Genuineness
    • C. Congruence
    • D. Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to gender orientation and gender issues
    • E. Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to multicultural issues
    • F. Demonstrate conflict tolerance and resolution
    • G. Empathic attunement
    • H. Empathic responding
    • I. Foster the emergence of group therapeutic factors
    • J. Non-judgmental stance
    • K. Positive regard
    • L. Respect and acceptance for diversity
    • M. Use foundational listening, attending, and reflecting skills
Examination sources

National Counselor Examination

Provider
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); administered through the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) and delivered by Pearson VUE at test centers or online through OnVUE
Format
200-question, multiple-choice, non-sectioned examination; scored and unscored items appear in jumbled order; a different form is compiled for each administration
Exam questions
200 multiple-choice questions: 160 scored and 40 unscored field-test items
Time limit
225 minutes to complete the examination within a 255-minute test session (one scheduled 15-minute break after question #100)
Passing score
Criterion passing score set by a modified Angoff method and adjusted for each form by statistical equating; passing scores may vary slightly for each version
Examination outline
  • 1. Professional Practice and Ethics — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities related to maintaining proper administrative and clinical protocols. (12% of items; 19 scored items) (12%)
    • A. Assess your (the counselor) competency to work with a specific client
    • B. Understand statistical concepts and methods in research
    • C. Practice legal and ethical counseling
    • D. Clarify counselor–client roles
    • E. Discuss client’s rights and responsibilities
    • F. Discuss limits of confidentiality
    • G. Explain counselor agency policies
    • H. Review payment, fees, and insurance benefits
    • I. Explain counseling processes, procedures, risks, and benefits
    • J. Explain uses and limits of social media
    • K. Inform clients about the legal aspects of counseling
    • L. Obtain informed consent
    • M. Discuss confidentiality as it applies to electronic communication
    • N. Establish group rules, expectations, and termination criteria
    • O. Assess competency to provide informed consent
    • P. Monitor the therapeutic relationship and build trust as needed
    • Q. Review client records
    • R. Provide adequate accommodations for clients with disabilities
    • S. Provide information to third parties
    • T. Provide referral sources if counseling services are inadequate/ inappropriate
    • U. Advocate for professional and client issues
    • V. Seek supervision/consultation
    • W. Create and maintain documentation appropriate for each aspect of the counseling process
    • X. Awareness and practice of self-care
  • 2. Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively conduct client intake, assessment, and diagnosis. (12% of items; 19 scored items) (12%)
    • A. Conduct a biopsychosocial interview
    • B. Conduct a diagnostic interview
    • C. Conduct cultural formulation interview
    • D. Conduct an initial interview
    • E. Determine diagnosis
    • F. Perform a Mental Status Exam (MSE)
    • G. Consider co-occurring diagnoses
    • H. Determine level of care needed
    • I. Determine the appropriate modality of treatment
    • J. Assess the presenting problem and level of distress
    • K. Evaluate an individual’s level of mental health functioning
    • L. Screen clients for appropriate services
    • M. Select, use, and interpret appropriate assessment instruments
    • N. Use formal and informal observations
    • O. Assess for trauma
    • P. Assess substance use
    • Q. Obtain client self-reports
    • R. Evaluate interactional dynamics
    • S. Conduct ongoing assessment for at-risk behaviors (i.e., suicide, homicide, self/other injury, and relationship violence)
    • T. Use pre-test and post-test measures to assess outcomes
    • U. Evaluate counseling effectiveness
  • 3. Areas of Clinical Focus — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge and skills related to areas of clients’ concern(s). (29% of items; 47 scored items) (29%)
    • A. Adjustment related to physical loss/injury/medical condition
    • B. Aging/geriatric concerns
    • C. Behavioral problems
    • D. Bullying
    • E. Caregiving concerns
    • F. Cultural adjustments
    • G. End-of-life issues
    • H. Fear and panic
    • I. Financial issues
    • J. Gender identity development
    • K. Grief/loss
    • L. Hopelessness/depression
    • M. Loneliness/attachment
    • N. Hyper/hypo mental focus
    • O. Intellectual functioning issues
    • P. Insomnia/sleep issues
    • Q. Maladaptive eating behaviors
    • R. Remarriage/recommitment
    • S. Developmental processes/tasks/issues
    • T. Obsessive thoughts/behaviors
    • U. Occupation and career development
    • V. Physical issues related to anxiety
    • W. Physical issues related to depression
    • X. Physical/emotional issues related to trauma
    • Y. Process addictions (pornography, gambling)
    • Z. Racism/discrimination/oppression
    • AA. Religious values conflict
    • AB. Retirement concerns
    • AC. Ruminating and/or intrusive thoughts
    • AD. Separation from primary care givers
    • AE. Sexual functioning concerns
    • AF. Sleeping habits
    • AG. Spiritual/existential concerns
    • AH. Stress management
    • AI. Substance use/addiction issues
    • AJ. Suicidal thoughts/behaviors
    • AK. Terminal illness issues
    • AL. Visual/auditory hallucinations
    • AM. Worry and anxiety
    • AN. Adoption issues
    • AO. Blended family issues
    • AP. Child abuse-related concerns
    • AQ. Child development issues
    • AR. Dating/relationship problems
    • AS. Divorce
    • AT. Family abuse/violence (e.g., physical, sexual, emotional)
    • AU. Interpersonal partner violence concerns
    • AV. Marital/partner communication problems
    • AW. Parenting/co-parenting conflicts
    • AX. Emotional dysregulation
  • 4. Treatment Planning — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop an effective course of treatment. (9% of items; 14 scored items) (9%)
    • A. Collaborate with client to establish treatment goals and objectives
    • B. Establish short- and long-term counseling goals consistent with clients’ diagnoses
    • C. Identify barriers affecting client goal attainment
    • D. Identify strengths that improve the likelihood of goal attainment
    • E. Refer to different levels of treatment (e.g., outpatient, inpatient, residential, etc.)
    • F. Refer to others for concurrent treatment
    • G. Guide treatment planning
    • H. Discuss termination process and issues
    • I. Discuss transitions in group membership
    • J. Follow-up after discharge
    • K. Use assessment instrument results to facilitate client decision making
    • L. Review and revise the treatment plan
    • M. Engage clients in review of progress toward treatment goals
    • N. Collaborate with other providers and client support systems (documentation and report writing)
    • O. Discuss with clients the integration and maintenance of therapeutic progress
    • P. Educate client to the value of treatment plan compliance
  • 5. Counseling Skills and Interventions — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct effective counseling. (30% of items; 48 scored items) (30%)
    • A. Align intervention with client’s developmental level
    • B. Align intervention with counseling modality (individual, couple, family, or group)
    • C. Align intervention with client population (e.g., veterans, minorities, disenfranchised, disabled)
    • D. Implement individual counseling in relation to a plan of treatment
    • E. Establish therapeutic alliance
    • F. Apply theory-based counseling intervention(s)
    • G. Address addiction issues
    • H. Address cultural considerations
    • I. Address family composition and cultural considerations
    • J. Evaluate and explain systemic patterns of interaction
    • K. Explore family member interaction
    • L. Explore religious and spiritual values
    • M. Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems
    • N. Help clients develop support systems
    • O. Help facilitate clients’ motivation to make the changes they desire
    • P. Improve interactional patterns
    • Q. Provide crisis intervention
    • R. Educate client about transference and defense mechanisms
    • S. Facilitate trust and safety
    • T. Build communication skills
    • U. Develop conflict resolution strategies
    • V. Develop safety plans
    • W. Facilitate systemic change
    • X. Provide distance counseling or telemental health
    • Y. Provide education resources (e.g., stress management, assertiveness training, divorce adjustment)
    • Z. Provide psychoeducation for client
    • AA. Summarize
    • AB. Reframe/redirect
    • AC. Facilitate empathic responses
    • AD. Use self-disclosure
    • AE. Use constructive confrontation
    • AF. Facilitate awareness of here-and-now interactions
    • AG. Facilitate resolution of interpersonal conflict
    • AH. Use linking and blocking in a group context
    • AI. Management of leader–member dynamics
    • AJ. Model giving and receiving of feedback
    • AK. Address impact of extended families
    • AL. Contain and manage intense feelings
    • AM. Explore the influence of family of origin patterns and themes
    • AN. Address the impact of social support network
    • AO. Use “structured” activities
    • AP. Promote and encourage interactions among group members
    • AQ. Promote and encourage interactions with the group leader
    • AR. Use psychoeducation as a part of the group process
    • AS. Explain phases in the group process
    • AT. Identify and discuss group themes and patterns
    • AU. Create intervention based on the stage of group development
    • AV. Challenge harmful group member behaviors
    • AW. Address the potential interaction of members outside of the group
  • 6. Core Counseling Attributes — This section encompasses behaviors, traits, and dispositions of effective counselors. (8% of items; 13 scored items) (8%)
    • A. Awareness of self and impact on clients
    • B. Genuineness
    • C. Congruence
    • D. Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to gender orientation and gender issues
    • E. Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to multicultural issues
    • F. Demonstrate conflict tolerance and resolution
    • G. Empathic attunement
    • H. Empathic responding
    • I. Foster the emergence of group therapeutic factors
    • J. Non-judgmental stance
    • K. Positive regard
    • L. Respect and acceptance for diversity
    • M. Use foundational listening, attending, and reflecting skills
Examination sources