Does Indiana accept the NCE for the LMHC?

No. The board accepts the NCE only for the mental health counselor associate licence. For the full LMHC, Indiana’s rules require the NCMHCE, and the board states that the NCE is not an acceptable examination for mental health counselor licensure.

I’m licensed in another state but only passed the NCE. Can I transfer?

Not on the NCE alone. Indiana’s board says the NCE is not equivalent to the NCMHCE, so a counselor licensed elsewhere who has taken only the NCE will not qualify for reciprocity and must apply to take the NCMHCE in Indiana. The board also grants no blanket reciprocity; each application is reviewed on its own.

How many supervised hours does Indiana require?

3,000 hours of post-graduate clinical experience, gained over no less than 21 and no more than 48 months, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. If you graduated after July 1, 2014, you must hold the LMHCA licence before those hours can count toward the LMHC.

How long is my approval to take the NCMHCE?

One calendar year from the board’s first approval, with no extensions — after that you submit a new application and all documents again. Students in their final semester may apply to test early with a letter of good standing, and a repeat attempt is approved no sooner than 90 days after the last one.

What degree does Indiana require?

A graduate degree of at least 48 semester or 72 quarter hours, plus at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of graduate credit in mental health counseling or a related field, covering the board’s required content areas and a supervised practicum and internship. CACREP-accredited programs are one of the accepted routes.

What does it cost, and how do I apply?

You apply online, and the application fee is $50; renewal is $50 every two years, with all licences expiring on April 1 of even years and 40 hours of continuing education per cycle. The NCMHCE itself is paid for separately, directly to the testing service.

How to Become an LMHC in Indiana

Indiana draws a hard line between its two counseling exams. The Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board accepts the National Counselor Examination (NCE) only for the Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA); the full Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) requires the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), even for counselors licensed elsewhere on the NCE. Then come 3,000 supervised hours over 21 to 48 months.

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.

Does Indiana accept the NCE for the LMHC?: No. The board accepts the NCE only for the mental health counselor associate licence. For the full LMHC, Indiana’s rules require the NCMHCE, and the board states that the NCE is not an acceptable examination for mental health counselor licensure.
I’m licensed in another state but only passed the NCE. Can I transfer?: Not on the NCE alone. Indiana’s board says the NCE is not equivalent to the NCMHCE, so a counselor licensed elsewhere who has taken only the NCE will not qualify for reciprocity and must apply to take the NCMHCE in Indiana. The board also grants no blanket reciprocity; each application is reviewed on its own.
How many supervised hours does Indiana require?: 3,000 hours of post-graduate clinical experience, gained over no less than 21 and no more than 48 months, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. If you graduated after July 1, 2014, you must hold the LMHCA licence before those hours can count toward the LMHC.
How long is my approval to take the NCMHCE?: One calendar year from the board’s first approval, with no extensions — after that you submit a new application and all documents again. Students in their final semester may apply to test early with a letter of good standing, and a repeat attempt is approved no sooner than 90 days after the last one.
What degree does Indiana require?: A graduate degree of at least 48 semester or 72 quarter hours, plus at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of graduate credit in mental health counseling or a related field, covering the board’s required content areas and a supervised practicum and internship. CACREP-accredited programs are one of the accepted routes.
What does it cost, and how do I apply?: You apply online, and the application fee is $50; renewal is $50 every two years, with all licences expiring on April 1 of even years and 40 hours of continuing education per cycle. The NCMHCE itself is paid for separately, directly to the testing service.

Test yourself: 3 NCMHCE practice questions

Tap an answer for instant feedback and the full rationale. The full simulator has 4,000+, timed and scored.

Question 1

Soren's presentation involves active purging with physical symptoms and clear nutritional concerns. Reflecting on your scope of competence, what is the most appropriate course of action?

▸ Why C is the answer

Correct. Competent eating-disorder care is multidisciplinary. The psychotherapy is within a competent counselor's scope, while the medical monitoring and nutritional rehabilitation are not - so the right move is to keep providing the counseling and coordinate with a physician and a dietitian for the parts outside your competence. Scope is met by building the team, not by working past its edges alone.

Question 2

You plan to coordinate Soren's care with the outside physician who will handle his medical monitoring. He is worried that his family, who share his health insurance, 'might find out everything.' How do you best handle sharing information?

▸ Why D is the answer

Correct. Coordinating with an outside provider means disclosing protected information, so you get his informed, written authorization first, release only what the physician needs for medical coordination, and tell him plainly what will and will not be shared. This honors his consent, answers his specific worry about his family, and protects the alliance while still enabling the teamwork his care needs.

Question 3

Early in the first session Soren says, 'Making myself throw up is disgusting - you probably think I have no self-control.' Which response best reflects a non-judgmental stance?

▸ Why A is the answer

Correct. He is exposing deep shame and quietly checking whether he is safe with you. Meeting that with genuine, non-judgmental warmth - reflecting the shame and framing the behavior as a symptom rather than a moral failing - communicates acceptance and deepens the alliance, without stepping onto the ground of judging his self-control at all.

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How to Become an LMHC in Indiana

Test yourself: 3 NCMHCE practice questions

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