(a) Effective January 1, 2016, a registrant or an applicant for licensure as a professional clinical counselor shall pass the following examinations as prescribed by the board:

1. (1) A California law and ethics examination.
2. (2) A clinical examination administered by the board, or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination if the board finds that this examination meets the prevailing standards for validation and use of the licensing and certification tests in California.

(c) A registrant or an applicant for licensure may take the clinical examination or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination, as established by the board through regulation, only upon meeting all of the following requirements:

1. (1) Completion of all required supervised work experience.
2. (2) Completion of all education requirements.
3. (3) Passage of the California law and ethics examination.