Atlanta Campus Catalog 2011-2012 - Mercer University

Licensure and the National Counselor Examination (NCE)Before any candidate can apply for Licensed Associate Professional Counselor(LAPC) status in the State of Georgia, he/she must demonstrate a passing score on theNational Counselor Exam (NCE). Candidates are urged to complete this examinationprior to graduation from the program.The exam is the next step in the licensing process, and it is advantageous to completethe exam while the student is able to use the resources of the program for preparation.The NCE covers the eight common core areas as defined by the Council forAccreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) Standards forPreparation. These common core areas and the relevant Mercer courses are:A. Human growth and development (COUN 614. Life Span Development)B. Social and cultural foundations (COUN 602. Introduction to Clinical Mental HealthCounseling, and COUN 613. Cultural Perspectives in Counseling)C. Helping relationships (COUN 606. Psychological Helping Skills I and COUN 612.Counseling Theory)D. Group work (COUN 605. Group Process & Procedures)E. Career and lifestyle development (COUN 601. Career/Vocational Counseling)F. Appraisal (COUN 617. Individual Analysis & Testing)G. Research and program evaluation (COUN 621. Research and ProgramEvaluation)H. Professional orientation and ethics (COUN 618. Ethics and Professional Issues)Prior to taking the NCE, students should have completed the following courses:COUN 601. Career and Vocational Guidance (3 hours)COUN 602. Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 hours)COUN 604. Psychopathology (3 hours)COUN 605. Group Techniques and Procedures (4 hours)COUN 606. Psychological Helping Skills I (3 hours)COUN 612. Counseling Theory (3 hours)COUN 613. Cultural Perspectives in Counseling (3 hours)COUN 614. Lifespan Development (3 hours)COUN 617. Individual Analysis and Testing (3 hours)COUN 618. Ethics and Professional Issues (3 hours)COUN 621. Research and Program Evaluation (3 hours)The NCE consists of 200 multiple choice items. Scores for each section and a totalscore will be reported to the graduate program for each student. Students will be allowedfour hours to complete the examination, including the demographic questionnaire. Resultswill be available four weeks after the date of the administration. Each student will beresponsible for the cost of the examination and any subsequent retake of the examination.The exam will be offered twice a year in April and October. Please see the ExamCoordinator for application information and test dates.Examination Date:Application Deadline Date:April February 1October September 1COLLEGE OF CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES / 245