How to schedule the NCE or NCMHCE

The steps, in order

1. Apply to your state licensing board and get approval to take the exam. The board tells you which exam: NCE or NCMHCE.
2. Log in to or create an account in NBCC’s Credentialing Gateway and register for the exam. Pay by credit card.
3. Wait for the Authorization to Test email from Pearson VUE. It has your candidate ID and the end date of your window.
4. Book online through Pearson VUE’s NBCC page, or call 866-904-4432 (7 am to 7 pm Central, Monday to Friday).
5. Look for Pearson’s confirmation email with your date, time and location. You aren’t booked without it.

Your test window

State licensure candidates get up to a six-month window from their state board. If the board gives you less, you can’t test after that date. If you don’t test in time, you lose the fee.

You can ask for an extension in writing, by email to extensionrequest@cce-global.org, but only before your window ends.

Changing your date

You can reschedule up to 24 hours before your appointment, through Pearson VUE. It costs $50. Miss the appointment without rescheduling and you lose the fee.

Exams aren’t offered on major US holidays, including New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after, and Christmas Day.

Accommodations

If you need testing accommodations for a disability, get them approved before you book. If you book first, you may lose the accommodation or the appointment. Once approved, you book by phone at 800-466-0450, option 3. Accommodations must be requested again each time you register. Online testing allows only limited accommodations.

If you don’t pass

You can retake after 30 days, with a new registration and the full fee. Your state board decides how many attempts you get, and it may set a longer wait. For the NCMHCE, if your board approval has expired, you need a new approval letter first.