(a)

1. (1) The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling will adopt a prepared standardized test covering the specialized knowledge common to each license.

2. (2) The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling may contract with test design specialists to:

   1. (A) Prepare and provide materials for such testing; and
   2. (B) Revise the examination as deemed necessary.
3. (3) Subtests in specialty skill areas may be a part of updating.
4. (4) The pass score determined for each examination is the acceptable score determined by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling to be the pass level.

(b) All applicants for licensure must complete one (1) of the following applicable written examinations:

1. (1) Counselor applicants must satisfactorily complete the National Counselor Examination or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination unless applicant meets criteria as outlined in 17 CAR § 75-901; or
2. (2) Marriage and family therapist applicants must satisfactorily complete the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards examination unless applicant meets criteria as outlined in 17 CAR § 75-901.

(d) Submission of application documentation and fees for national written examinations occurs in two (2) steps:

1. (1)

   1. (A) Test application and associated fees must be made directly to the national examining organizations for admission to sit for the written examinations.
   2. (B) The test applications and fees for written examinations must comply with the test company's deadlines; and
2. (2) The licensure application, unofficial transcripts, core curriculum, and fees must be received by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling office for the applicant to receive approval to take the national exam.

(e) Persons who are enrolled in the final semester of graduate study in counseling or marriage and family therapy and have completed or are currently enrolled in the core curriculum courses may be admitted to the written examination by submitting to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, with their application, a letter stating their projected graduation date from one (1) of the following college or university officials:

1. (1) Graduate coordinator;
2. (2) Department chair;
3. (3) Registrar;
4. (4) Associate dean; or
5. (5) Dean.