Welcome to the fifth post in my free NCE study series. Each post focuses on one major topic area you’ll see on the exam and includes short, guided practice. Start by watching the videos in order—pause after each question to think through your answer, then hit play to check your reasoning. Once you’ve finished all videos, test yourself with the interactive multiple-choice quiz to expand on what you learned.
This post focuses on intake, assessment, and diagnosis and the theories that guide them—domains that show up frequently on the NCE.
View the other free NCE 2025-2026 study guides in this series and take the 175-question practice exam:
Part 1: Research Design & Professional Ethics
Part 2: Areas of Clinical Focus
Part 3: Counseling Theory & Treatment Planning
Part 4: Counseling Skills & Interventions
Part 6: Core Counseling Attributes
NCE 2025-2026 Practice Exam