Research Guides: Counseling Licensing & Certification: Overview

Recommended Resources

American Counseling Association
Professional association devoted to the growth and development of the profession.
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
Oversees the Texas state boards for four groups: marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, psychologists, and social workers.
National Board for Certified Counselors
Their Exam Preparation page includes preparation guides from the NBCC as well as materials from other study programs.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)
Offers a common language for clinicians involved in the diagnosis and study of mental disorders and facilitates an objective assessment of symptom presentations across a variety of clinical settings.

The ACA Encyclopedia of Counseling by American Counseling Association
Publication Date: 2015
Ideal for students, educators, supervisors, researchers, and practitioners seeking to quickly update or refresh their knowledge of the most important topics in counseling.
ACA Ethical Standards Casebook by Barbara Herlihy; Gerald Corey
Publication Date: 2014
Provides a comprehensive resource for understanding the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics and applying its principles to daily practice.
Encyclopedia of Counseling by Howard Rosenthal
Publication Date: 2017
New and improved coverage in the fourth edition incorporates a range of vital topics, including social media, group work in career counseling, private practice and nonprofit work, addictions, neurocounseling, research trends, the DSM-5, the new ACA and NBCC codes of ethics, and much more.
Reviewing Our Common Body of Knowledge: MFT License Exam Prep by Jaime D. Goff, Brent Bradley
Publication Date: 2008
An MFT license exam preparation manual designed to the highest of academic standards by seasoned professors and practicing clinicians.
Preparation Guide for the National Counselor Examination for Licensure & Certification (NCE): The Official Guide for the NCE by National Board for Certified Counselors
Publication Date: 2001