Finally passed CCE after two attempts — what actually worked for me

by Kevin O. 34 views3 replies
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Kevin O.OP
May 27, 2026

So I just got my results back yesterday and I finally passed the CCE. Honestly teared up a little because the first attempt back in February was a disaster. I scored a 68 and needed a 75, which was demoralizing after spending six weeks studying. The second time around I completely changed my approach.

The biggest shift was dropping the textbook-heavy method and actually doing timed practice. I found a solid CCE practice test online and started treating every session like the real thing — 90 minutes, no phone, no pausing. Did at least one full mock exam every three days for the last month. My weak areas were ethics and clinical supervision frameworks, so I made a dedicated study guide just for those two domains and drilled them hard.

For anyone else prepping, don't underestimate the situational judgment questions. They look straightforward but the "best" answer often isn't what you'd do instinctively. Understanding the reasoning behind the NBCC ethics code was the real game changer for me. Happy to answer questions if anyone's in the thick of studying right now.

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David K.
May 28, 2026
The situational judgment piece is so real. I passed on my first attempt last year but I almost didn't because I kept second-guessing myself on those. What helped me was reminding myself the CCE is testing what a credentialed counselor SHOULD do, not what's most practical in a real caseload. Once that clicked, the answer choices started making more sense. Good reminder for anyone who's close to test day.
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Sofia R.
May 28, 2026
Congrats!! I'm scheduled for September and the ethics section is exactly what's freaking me out. Did you use any specific resource for the supervision frameworks or did you piece it together from multiple sources? I've been using Rosenthal's exam prep book but I'm not sure it's enough on its own. Also, how many hours total do you think you put in for round two?
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Nicole F.
May 28, 2026
This is so encouraging to read. I've been putting off rescheduling after my first fail because the anxiety is real. But hearing that a complete change in study method made the difference gives me motivation to actually go for it again. Thanks for sharing — and congrats!

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