New York licenses mental health counselors as LMHCs through the State Education Department, and the requirement is explicit: you must pass the NCMHCE, administered by the NBCC. (NYSED writes it “National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination”; the NBCC’s own title for it is the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination — the same test.) Alongside it you need a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling — a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program of 60 semester hours, or one deemed substantially equivalent — and 3,000 supervised clock hours, of which at least 1,500 must be direct client contact. Licensure and first registration cost $371.
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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 September 2026.
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Which exam does New York require for LMHC licensure?
NYSED states that "you must pass the ‘National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE),’ administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)."
How many supervised hours does New York require?
"At least 3,000 clock hours providing Mental Health Counseling in a setting acceptable to the Department," obtained after the master’s degree. At minimum "1,500 clock hours of such required experience must consist of direct contact with clients."
What degree does New York accept?
A "master’s or doctoral degree in counseling" from a program registered by the Department, accredited by CACREP as a clinical mental health counseling program of 60 semester hours, or deemed substantially equivalent.
What does licensure cost in New York?
$371 for licensure and first registration. A limited permit is $70 and is non-refundable.
Is the New York exam different from other states’?
No. The NCMHCE is a national exam administered by the NBCC, so the test is the same wherever you sit it. What differs by state is the degree, supervised-hour and jurisprudence requirements around it.
Test yourself: 3 NCMHCE practice questions
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Question 1
Maya has made clear she is 'only here because Mom's forcing me.' In this first meeting, what is the best way to begin building an alliance with her?
▸ Why B is the answer
Naming her reluctance out loud and handing her some control is the heart of joining a teen who was made to come. You acknowledge she did not choose this, promise not to push, and ask what she would want, which turns coercion into a small genuine choice. That is what earns the trust of an involuntary adolescent client.
Question 2
Maya says the anger 'comes out of nowhere' and she 'can't stop it once it starts,' then looks down, ashamed. Which response best serves both the alliance and the work right now?
▸ Why C is the answer
Naming the fear and shame she is carrying, and then getting curious together about what comes just before the anger, does two things at once. It tells her she is understood at the moment she feels most exposed, and it quietly begins mapping the pattern that regulation work will later build on. You meet the feeling first and let understanding, not fixing, lead.
Question 3
Maya says that during the worst moments she sometimes thinks 'it would be easier if I just wasn't around,' but adds she would never act on it, has no plan, and the thought passes when she calms down. How do you handle risk here?
▸ Why D is the answer
Passive thoughts of not being around, in a distressed and dysregulated teen, warrant a direct but calm assessment: how often, how intense, any intent, any plan, any access to means, and what helps them pass. You document it and put a simple safety plan in place. That is thorough without over-reacting, and it treats her disclosure with the seriousness it deserves.
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