When do I take the NCMHCE in New Hampshire?

Before you apply. The board’s instructions say all applicants must pass the NCMHCE prior to submitting an application for licensure, and you may sit it once your master’s or doctoral degree has been granted. You register directly with NBCC and have the result sent to the licensing office.

Is there a state law exam too?

Yes, since 2026. Every applicant for initial licensure, candidates included, must pass a jurisprudence exam on RSA 330-A and the board’s rules. It is open book, the pass mark is 75 percent, you may retake it as often as needed, and from April 9, 2026 it is proctored by Prov. The fee is $60.

How much supervised experience does New Hampshire require?

At least two years and 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical experience. A year counts only if it holds at least 1,500 hours completed within 12 to 24 consecutive months, with one hour a week of individual face-to-face supervision, 100 hours in total. A master licensed alcohol and drug counselor (MLADC) licence can replace up to 1,500 of the hours.

Can I earn my hours in private practice?

Only as an employee. The board’s rule says supervised experience in a private practice requires a W-2 relationship with the site; a 1099 independent-contractor arrangement does not count. Before starting, you and your supervisor file a Candidate for Licensure: Supervision Agreement, and a conditional licence lasts up to two years, renewable once.

What degree does New Hampshire require?

A 60-credit master’s or doctoral degree in clinical mental health counseling from a CACREP-accredited institution or its equivalent. The degree must include at least 33 semester hours across 11 required areas, from abnormal psychology and clinical counseling techniques to addictive behaviors.

What does it cost, and is it called LCMHC?

The application fee is $325, which includes a mandatory $28 professionals’ health program fee, and active renewal every two years is also $325. You apply by mail with a check or money order; renewals are online only. New Hampshire’s own documents say clinical mental health counselor, while NBCC’s directory lists the licence as LCMHC.

How to Become an LCMHC in New Hampshire

New Hampshire reverses the usual order: you pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) before you submit your licence application, not after. Since 2026 the Board of Mental Health Practice also requires an open-book jurisprudence exam on state law, and the clinical mental health counselor licence needs 3,000 hours of supervised post-master’s experience.

Written and reviewed by the LexPort exam-prep team, led by our Founder & Exam-Prep Lead. LexPort builds certification practice questions — this is exam-preparation material, not medical advice. Last reviewed October 2026.

When do I take the NCMHCE in New Hampshire?: Before you apply. The board’s instructions say all applicants must pass the NCMHCE prior to submitting an application for licensure, and you may sit it once your master’s or doctoral degree has been granted. You register directly with NBCC and have the result sent to the licensing office.
Is there a state law exam too?: Yes, since 2026. Every applicant for initial licensure, candidates included, must pass a jurisprudence exam on RSA 330-A and the board’s rules. It is open book, the pass mark is 75 percent, you may retake it as often as needed, and from April 9, 2026 it is proctored by Prov. The fee is $60.
How much supervised experience does New Hampshire require?: At least two years and 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical experience. A year counts only if it holds at least 1,500 hours completed within 12 to 24 consecutive months, with one hour a week of individual face-to-face supervision, 100 hours in total. A master licensed alcohol and drug counselor (MLADC) licence can replace up to 1,500 of the hours.
Can I earn my hours in private practice?: Only as an employee. The board’s rule says supervised experience in a private practice requires a W-2 relationship with the site; a 1099 independent-contractor arrangement does not count. Before starting, you and your supervisor file a Candidate for Licensure: Supervision Agreement, and a conditional licence lasts up to two years, renewable once.
What degree does New Hampshire require?: A 60-credit master’s or doctoral degree in clinical mental health counseling from a CACREP-accredited institution or its equivalent. The degree must include at least 33 semester hours across 11 required areas, from abnormal psychology and clinical counseling techniques to addictive behaviors.
What does it cost, and is it called LCMHC?: The application fee is $325, which includes a mandatory $28 professionals’ health program fee, and active renewal every two years is also $325. You apply by mail with a check or money order; renewals are online only. New Hampshire’s own documents say clinical mental health counselor, while NBCC’s directory lists the licence as LCMHC.

Test yourself: 3 NCMHCE practice questions

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Question 1

You want to secure the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa and rule out binge-eating disorder and a subthreshold, other-specified eating presentation. Which is most important to establish in your diagnostic interview?

▸ Why D is the answer

Correct. Two things decide bulimia versus binge-eating disorder versus a subthreshold picture: whether regular compensatory behavior is present, and whether the binges and that compensation clear the threshold of at least weekly for three months. Pinning down the type and frequency of the vomiting and laxative use over that window is exactly what confirms bulimia and separates it from binge-eating disorder, where compensation is absent, and from an other-specified presentation, where the frequency or duration falls short.

Question 2

Soren reports lightheadedness when he stands, occasional heart palpitations, and fatigue, and he is vomiting most days. Before deciding the appropriate level of care, what is your most appropriate step?

▸ Why A is the answer

Correct. For an eating disorder, level of care is driven first by medical stability. His orthostatic lightheadedness, palpitations, and daily vomiting raise the real possibility of dehydration and electrolyte disturbance, which can be dangerous and which only vitals, labs, and an ECG can quantify. That data is what tells you whether outpatient care is even safe or whether he needs something higher, so you get it before you decide the level of care.

Question 3

To establish a baseline of the severity and range of Soren's eating-disorder symptoms and to track change over treatment, which assessment step is most appropriate?

▸ Why B is the answer

Correct. To baseline this particular disorder you want instruments built for it: a validated eating-disorder measure captures the binge and purge frequency and the overvaluation of shape and weight, and a daily food-and-behavior diary turns his self-report into trackable data. Together they give you a baseline you can re-measure to see whether treatment is working.

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How to Become an LCMHC in New Hampshire

Test yourself: 3 NCMHCE practice questions

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