Hawaii Counselor License Exam

To get licensed in Hawaii, Professional Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as human growth and development, psychopathology, group therapy and professional ethics. Whether you live in Honolulu, or on the islands of Maui or Kaua’i, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your Professional Counselor’s license.

Need of a License: A license is needed to work as a counselor in the State of Hawaii. Licenses are granted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing.

To become a licensed professional counselor in Hawaii, the following must be met:

Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits. Of not less than 3,000 hours of with 100 hours of face to face clinical supervision in not less than two years and in not more than four years
An applicant must earn a passing score on the NCE (National Counselor Exam).

How to Apply for Licensure

An application for licensure and other documentation can be obtained online. All documents must be sent to:

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - PVL
Mental Health Counselor Program
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801

(808) 586-2693

Test Content of the NCE

The NCE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and is administered over a four-hour period. The NCE covers the following six knowledge, skill and task domains:

Professional Practice and Ethics
Intake, Assessment and Diagnosis
Areas of Clinical Focus
Treatment Planning
Counseling Skills and Interventions
Core Counseling Attributes

The questions are aligned to the following CACREP Common Core Areas:

Human Growth and Development
Social and Cultural Diversity
Counseling and Helping Relationships
Group Counseling and Group Work
Career Development
Assessment and Testing
Research and Program Evaluation
Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice

For more information, see the NCE Candidate Handbook.

How to Apply to Take the Exam

Apply online to take the NCE.

The exam is administered by Pearson VUE.

License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

To renew a license, no continuing education is needed. The license needs to be renewed on a Triennial basis on June 30.

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