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.
