The Michigan llpc should take the nce NOW
Newly graduated counseling masters students find a supervisor, apply for their LLPC (limited license professional counselor), and start working to gain experience. Most gather the minimum of 3,000 supervised working hours in just about 2 years (2 years being the minimum length of time the state allows to be eligible to apply for full LPC licensure). These working experience hours combined with 100 hours of direct supervision are part of what’s needed in the LPC application for full licensure…along with passing scores on the National Counselors Examination (NCE).
Question - is your brain more prepared to take a couple hundred question exam on Theory, Statistics, Ethics, Assessment and Testing, etc. right after graduation from school (and, I might add RIGHT after passing some kind of comprehensive exam in order to graduate that is, in most cases, IDENTICAL to the NCE) OR several years down the road into professional experience? Let me make your answer a little easier - After studying for the NCE, I’ve never needed to use Psychological Probability and Statistics again, and I’ve been an LPC for 10 years - licensed in 3 states - had a couple handfuls of different jobs - owned my own private practice - am an ACS (supervisor) …. ya wont use it again.
There must be a reason why Michigan LLPC’s wait to take the NCE until closer to the end of their supervised experience. I emailed LARA to ask - here is the direct response I received on January 27, 2021:
We do not determine eligibility for the NCE, nor do we have any time constraints or restrictions on when it needs to be taken in relation to your application for initial licensure. The exam is not required to obtain the LLPC, however if the LLPC is lapsed for more than 3 years then you would need to take or retake one of the approved exam or submit evidence of current certification issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors, the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, or an equivalent program.
When they mention lapse in the LLPC - they’re taking about your limited license being experience without renewal. We definitely cannot predict the future, not even in terms of professional development (COVID 19 has made that crystal clear). My thought for you, Michigan LLPC, is this - if your plan is to find a supervisor, get started with clinical work and work consistently through your supervised hours - take the NCE as soon as you’re eligible - which is RIGHT after you have official graduate transcripts in your hand.
Take the plunge Michigan LLPC - click here - look through the requirements, learn about the options. At a minimum, then you’re prepared to register as soon as the time is right for you.
