Students enrolled in the Marshall University Counseling Program are required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination as a condition of graduation. The program utilizes the Counselor Education Comprehensive Examination (CECE) to fulfill this requirement. The CECE is offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
The CECE is a 120-item multiple-choice examination that assesses all CACREP core content areas. There is no cost to students for taking the examination. The exam is administered electronically and will be completed on a computer during a designated testing period within the semester in which the student is registered. Students are strongly encouraged to take the CECE in their final semester or the semester immediately preceding graduation. Completion of the CECE is recommended prior to sitting for the NCE or NCMHCE.
Important Note: Students who plan to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) through Marshall University—either prior to graduation or during the semester immediately following graduation—are strongly advised to take the CECE in the semester preceding the licensure examination. This allows sufficient time to receive feedback and adequately prepare for the licensure exam during the final semester. Students may take the NCE or NCMHCE in the semester following graduation through Marshall University, provided they are enrolled in coursework at the time of registration. For more information about the exams, please click here: https://nbcc.org/exams.
The NCE and NCMHCE are offered each semester to students enrolled in the MA, Counseling program at Marshall. During the third week of the semester, the program administrator distributes information regarding the examinations, including instructions for registration. Students are provided with a three-week period to complete the sign-up process. Once the registration deadline has passed, all applications are submitted to the NBCC for processing. Applications remain active for up to two years after submission, allowing students flexibility in scheduling their examination. The review process typically takes approximately eight weeks, after which students become eligible to test. Students will receive an email notification confirming that their application is under review, and upon approval, they are granted a six-month window in which to schedule and complete the examination.
Registration Deadline is the fourth Friday of each term: To register for the CECE, please complete the required form using the following link:
https://marshall.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZMObGyc3FqsDj0
After the registration deadline has passed, students who have successfully registered will receive additional instructions from the Assessment Coordinator regarding exam administration.
The deadline to register for the CECE is the fourth Friday of each semester. Additional information will be distributed to registered students by the sixth Friday of the semester.
For questions or further information regarding the CECE, please contact:
