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United States · Licensing exam

Taking the NCE exam in Texas

Texas accepts either the NCE or the NCMHCE for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license, and you don’t need the board’s approval before you register for either one. You also need to pass the Texas Jurisprudence Exam, an online test on the state’s counseling law. These are the rules of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) as of October 2026.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Which national exam Texas accepts

BHEC accepts the NCE, the 200-question multiple-choice exam, or the NCMHCE, the case-study exam. CCE runs both for NBCC, so you deal with CCE to check your eligibility, register and track your scores.

Exam acceptedNCE or NCMHCE
Board approval firstNot required
Attempt limitNone from Texas; NBCC’s 30-day wait applies
Scores to BHECCCE sends them, usually in 4 to 6 weeks
Jurisprudence examRequired, taken online
NCE exam and NCMHCE compared →

How do you register for the NCE exam in Texas?

  1. Register in NBCC’s Credentialing Gateway. BHEC says Texas doesn’t require prior approval, so you can do this straight away.
  2. Book and take the NCE or NCMHCE. Texas sets no limit on how many times you can attempt it for a Texas license.
  3. If you don’t pass, NBCC’s own rules apply: wait 30 days, then register again and pay the fee again.
NCE exam registration, step by step →

Getting your scores to the Texas board

BHEC says CCE usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to check and process scores. If you tested for Texas licensure, CCE releases them to BHEC on its own. If you tested for another state or for another reason, ask CCE to send your scores to the Texas Licensing Portal.

The Texas jurisprudence exam for counselors

Every LPC applicant takes it. It covers the Licensed Professional Counselor Act, the Council’s rules and other laws that apply, and it’s given online through eStrategy Solutions, a company BHEC works with. A pass doesn’t count for the marriage and family therapist, psychologist or social worker boards. BHEC’s jurisprudence page doesn’t give the number of questions, the fee or the pass mark.

Where the exams fit in a Texas LPC application

BHEC’s application page lists several routes: an LPC Associate license, upgrading from Associate to LPC, and licenses for counselors already licensed in another state. You apply online, and an application expires if the fee isn’t paid within 30 days. The jurisprudence requirement is in Council rule 22 TAC 882.5.

Sources: Texas BHEC · NBCC and 2 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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