Psychotherapists Training Institute

Exam Ace

How does one ACE the exam?

It's easy!!!!

Step 1 - Commit to a profession
Step 2 - Spend lots of money on an education
Step 3 - Learn how to apply all of that learning to real people
Step 4 - After juggling education, internships, and your life for several years, begin to look at passing your licensing exam
Step 5 - Learn what the exam is testing you on
Step 6 - Understand how the exam is constructed
Step 7 - Practice, Practice, Practice

We at PTI assume you have already taken steps 1, 2, 3 and 4. We are here to take you through steps 5, 6 & 7.

Step 8 is Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate!!!!!

We would love to be invited to step 8.

Let's look at Step 5.

The PTI NCMHCE Study Guide provides you with the content areas the NCMHCE clinical licensing exam covers. There are tools in the Study Guide to help you identify which content areas you are strong in, and those that need more study.

Steps 6 & 7.

The NCMHCE exam is often new to people. It was designed to determine how well you can apply all of your knowledge and experience, and be in a stand alone professional practice. PTI's Exam Ace gives you an opportunity to practice with the exam structure so you can ACE the exam. Take a look at our example and see if you want to know more.

Readiness Assessment

LMHC License Examination Readiness Assessment

Use this simple worksheet to assess your knowledge level and readiness to pass the NCMHCE examination. Enter a Number ranging from 1-5 next to each statement. 1 = Not True, 5 = Very True
Add up your scores enter your total at the bottom. Match your total score to test preparation recommendations.

Content Areas:

_____ Growth & Development
_____ Personality & Social Development
_____ Assessment
_____ Diagnosis
_____ Treatment Planning
_____ Counseling Theories
_____ Family Therapy
_____ Group Therapy
_____ Treatment Modalities
_____ Substance Abuse
_____ Psychopharmacology
_____ Substance Abuse
_____ Professional Practice
_____ Outcome Studies
_____ Professional Practice
_____ Career Counseling
_____ Case Development

Test Preparation
_____ I have developed a study plan
_____ I have implemented a study schedule
_____ I have obtained all my study materials
_____ I have prioritized content areas
_____ I have identified my personality type study strengths and weaknesses
_____ I am comfortable with the exam format - Latent Image (Circle Score)

_____ Total Score

A score of 115 = Well prepared (Book could be an addition to your professional library)
A score of 96 = Moderately prepared (Book would be helpful) A score of 58 = Buy Book Now

Study Groups

Check out the Study Group page listed on the left. We always recommend study groups in our workshops and hear from students who say they really helped them focus and stay on schedule with their studies. If you find other study materials that are helpful, let us know by e.mailing Linda@PsychotherapistsTrainingInst.com.

NCMHCE Exam Coaching

Sometimes you know what you need to do to prepare for your license test, and you simply don't do it. Maybe you have sat for the exam and for some reason, not passed, what do you do now? Your PTI Exam Master, or personal coach helps you take the puzzle out of these obstacles and assesses the situation and guides toward success. Here are some more possibilities: _____ You know you need to study but you don't make the time _____ You feel overwhelmed by the amount of materials you need to study and just walk away _____ You feel anxious about the exam and have trouble focusing on what you need to do PTI exam tutoring helps you: Identify: • Specific strategies and techniques for approaching the clinical case simulations • Study areas that need strengthening • Strategies for working with key information Focus and stay on track: • Develop and maintain an effective study schedule • Understand and use your own learning style • Build Confidence For your complimentary informational interview E.Mail PTI at Linda@PsychotherapistsTrainingInst.com today.

Take the Puzzle Out of Passing the NCMHCE Exam

PTI, the Psychotherapists Training Institute LLC, helps counselors pass the NCMHCE licensing exam.

This exam is like no other exam! and Successfully passing it is as is not about how much you have learned during your education and training, it is knowing how to successfully take the exam.

PTI created an exam preparation workbook, The PTI Clinical Mental Health Counselor Handbook and Study Guide, 2nd Edition, and offers a workshop that helps you:

♦ Review the content areas the NCMHCE requires that you are knowledgeable in,
♦ Identify how well you know them,
♦ and ALSO gives specific examples of how the content is used in the exam.

We have found that there is a flat playing field for people taking the exam. Counselors who are fresh out of school do well because they are close to their academic training; and counselors who have been out of school applying their skills also do well because they have had more experience. Conversely, those fresh out of school do not have the experience to help them apply their knowledge, and those with a lot of experience, because of the format of the exam, are not strategic enough in making their answer choices.

The exam is unforgiving in that every answer selection is weighted either with a positive score or a negative score. Every choice is important. We have found that the KISS model is the best approach, Keep It Simple Sweetie. We also find that having a case management approach, outlined in our 11 Steps to Case Management, helps you have a sense of what answers to choose at appropriate times since you can have anywhere from one to seven or eight correct answers for a question. The exam’s clinical, process oriented format measures your ability to gather information and make decisions as the case develops.

In our Test Taking chapter section we have chosen describe a way to use personality preferences to help you identify your best test taking approaches to enhance your exam performance rather than reduce your score. We have found that those who prefer to make decisions quickly often have low scores in decision making because they do not take enough time to select their answers strategically. Knowing your strengths and preferences is critical for this exam.

PTI grew out of the MA Mental Health Counselors Association when our state chose to use NCMHCE exam for licensure over 15 years ago. We at PTI, wanted to help professionals understand the testing process and learn how to navigate this stressful experience.

If you are approaching the exam for your own professional development path, please know that your biggest obstacle is learning how to take the exam and manage your stress. Knowledge is power, and the more stressed you are, the less access you have to your hard earned knowledge.

PTI wants to help take the puzzle out of passing the NCMHCE exam. The more successful counselors there are out there, the better for our profession.

For more information about us/PTI(?) and our Study Guide, visit www.psychotherapiststraininginst.com or call 888-201-1619.