TheoryFree NCE Practice Test
Take a free NCE practice test for 2026 with questions, answers, explanations, PDF download and timed mock exam links.
NCE Questions
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Q1Which of the following would be considered correct regarding when a person shows unfair, negative, and often aggressive acts toward the members of a particular group?
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✓ Correct answer: Discrimination
The unfair, intolerant or negative attitude toward another person because of their group membership which would include more of an affective component would be considered prejudice.<br/><br/>Discrimination would include unfair, negative, and often aggressive acts toward the members of a particular group, mostly focusing on the behavioral component.
Q2A counselor is providing individual counseling to a nine-year-old client. He tells others that he wants to grow up and be a pilot, just like his father. He often pretends he is flying a plane around the house. Ginzberg's theory of career development focuses on the idea that individuals pass through three stages of career development that correspond with stages of human development. Which stage of career development is this client currently experiencing?
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✓ Correct answer: Crystallization stage
The client is currently in the fantasy stage of career development. The fantasy stage takes place from birth to the age of eleven. During this stage, children participate in pretend games and roleplay. They imitate parents or important adults in their life. Children may say they want to be a pilot, a doctor, or a famous singer but they do not understand the reality of those occupations.
Q3Robert is providing services to Ellen, a 67-year-old Caucasian American female residing in Texas. Ellen would be classified as an individual in:
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✓ Correct answer: Late Adulthood
As per the definition of late adulthood in this lesson, anyone classified as 65 and over would be within the age group. Individuals associated with Pre-Adulthood would be 1-19 years old, Early Adulthood would be 20-39 years old, Mid-Adulthood would be 40-64 years old, and late adulthood would be 65+.
Q4Beatrice shares that when her child gets ready for school without needing significant redirection, they listen to the child's choice of music on the way to school. <br/><br/>What is this an example of?
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✓ Correct answer: Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened based on its consequences. In this scenario, Beatrice is using positive reinforcement by allowing her child to listen to their choice of music when they get ready for school without needing redirection. The desired behavior (getting ready for school without redirection) is being reinforced by a reward (listening to music).<br/><br/>Option A: Modeling is when an individual learns by observing others. In this scenario, Beatrice is not simply modeling behavior for her child to imitate, but rather reinforcing their behavior by allowing them to listen to music.<br/><br/>Option B: Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that naturally produces a response. This scenario does not involve the association of two stimuli to create a response.<br/><br/>Option C: Praise is the expression of approval or admiration towards someone's actions or attributes. While praise can be a form of positive reinforcement, in this scenario, it is not the primary reinforcement mechanism at play.
Q5A counselor is currently assisting a combat veteran who has been recently discharged. Among the symptoms that the veteran may exhibit, which of the following is LEAST likely to be observed?
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✓ Correct answer: Psychosis
Psychosis is a severe mental disorder where a person loses touch with reality, experiencing symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations. While combat veterans may experience a range of mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and anger outbursts, psychosis is less commonly associated with combat-related trauma.<br/><br/>Option A: Nightmares are a common symptom of PTSD and other trauma-related disorders among combat veterans. Nightmares can be distressing and disruptive to sleep patterns, impacting overall mental health and well-being.<br/><br/>Option B: Avoidance of people he or she cares about is a common symptom of PTSD among combat veterans. Social withdrawal and avoidance are often used as coping mechanisms to manage the distressing memories and experiences related to combat.<br/><br/>Option C: Angry outbursts are a common symptom of PTSD, particularly in response to triggers or reminders of the traumatic event. Combat veterans may experience irritability, anger, and aggression as part of their post-traumatic stress response.
Q6Which of the following issues is characterized by parents deliberately inflicting harm on their children?
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✓ Correct answer: Learning Disabilities
Parental abuse occurs when parents deliberately inflict harm on their children. Parental abuse can be emotional, physical, or both.<br/><br/>Bullying, poor social skills, and learning disabilities are also common issues experienced by elementary school students. Bullying is the repeated aggression and intimidation of a peer. Poor social skills occur when a child interacts with their peers in unhealthy ways. Learning disabilities includes processing problems that interfere with learning basic skills such as reading, writing, or math.
Q7Three levels of social groups are:
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✓ Correct answer: Primary, secondary, and tertiary
Charles Cooley was the first to describe social groups. Primary social groups have close, personal, and long-lasting realtionship. Secondary groups are larger than primary groups, and relationships are goal-oriented, impersonal, and sometimes temporary. Tertiary groups, also known as reference groups, are any group that influences one's attitude and behavior.
Q8A psychologist has the right to stop treating a patient for which of the following reasons?
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✓ Correct answer: All of the above
The psychologist could stop treating a patient for the following reasons:<br/>If said patient doesn't pay their bill.<br/>If said patient no longer requires treatment.<br/>If said patient is not being helped by the treatments.<br/>If said patient threatens the psychologist.
Q9Which consideration should be kept in mind when formulating treatment goals for brief solution-based therapy?
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✓ Correct answer: All of these
Brief solution-based therapy treatment goals should be meaningful and important to clients, small and achievable rather than large and difficult, and written down with a copy supplied to both the client and the clinician. Goals should also be practical, attainable and measurable, as well as under the clients' control.
Q10Do licensing and degrees differ from state to state?
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✓ Correct answer: Yes; each state has its own requirements
Just like in any other field, be it teaching, medical, or electrical, states control their own requirements and accept most school program credits and degrees, but there will be exceptions. Licensure is always a state requirement, with the state’s own individual and national board exams.<br/><br/>Although nearby states may have reciprocal exceptions this is not always the case. You can find out what your state requires through the Psychology Licensing Board in your state.
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