Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination

Students planning to take the CPCE must enroll in the EDUC 699 CPCE course through Student Planning during the term in which they intend to take the exam.

Because the CPCE is a comprehensive exam, it’s recommended that students take it as close to graduation as possible—typically after completing at least 35 credits, which usually falls in the 5th term of a master’s program.

If you plan to take the CPCE during the current term, but have not yet registered in the EDUC 699 course, contact the Student Success Center for guidance on late registration.

Grading Policy (Effective Fall 2023):

• Students who pass the exam will receive a CR (Credit) for the course.
• Students who do not pass will receive NC (No Credit) and must re-register for EDUC 699 in a future term.
• The course (and exam) may be repeated up to three times.

The CPCE Modality Form will provide the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) with information needed to support students' registration in the CPCE. It will ask students how they intend to complete their examination and whether accommodation will be needed in support of their completion of the exam. Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case-by-case basis. The OLC may clarify any questions related to accommodation.

Ahead of completing the form, consider the modality options:

1. In-Person Testing at the University of Redlands (CPCE-APB) – The CPCE will be administered at the University of Redlands (on the main campus) at least once a year. This form of administration costs $75 per attempt. Exam dates will be determined and posted via an announcement. The availability of campus testing is subject to unforeseen circumstances at the university level and/or community level (e.g., lack of available proctors).
2. In-Person Computer-Based Testing at a Pearson Vue Center – Students can arrange an individualized date at one of the Pearson Vue Centers located throughout Southern California. The cost associated with this form of administration is $150.
3. Virtually Using a Personal Desktop or Laptop – Students can arrange to take the exam at their home through Pearson OnVue. This form of administration costs $150. Students will be required to commit to specific environmental regulations to ensure a secure testing site.

Complete the CPCE Modality Form promptly once you've selected your preferred modality.

After submitting the CPCE Modality Form, create a Credentialing Gateway Account using the instructions in this document: Creating a Credentialing Gateway Account (1st Step for Students without an Existing Credentialing Gateway Account).

If you already have an account, simply log in and select the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) under the "Applications" tab.

Once your Credentialing Gateway Account is active, follow the appropriate set of instructions based on your needs.

Without Accommodations:
CPCE Registration Process (2nd Step for Students who DON’T Require Accommodations)

With Accommodations:
CPCE Registration Process (2nd Step for Students who Require Accommodations)

You will be authorized for a six-month testing window. To maximize this window, the OLC will wait to finalize exam authorization until one month before your intended test date (e.g., for a May exam, authorization is processed in April). This is to ensure access to additional authorized time to re-test after initial exam if needed.

Approximately 48-72 hours after the OLC confirmation, students will receive two emails—one from Pearson Vue containing their candidate ID and one from the Office of Licensures and Credentialing with next steps to finalize scheduling, if necessary, and pay for the exam.

The CPCE consists of 160 items, with 20 items per CACREP area. Of the 20 items in each section, 17 are scored, and 3 are unscored pre-test questions. These pre-test questions are embedded randomly and are not identified to the student.

The purpose of these embedded items is to collect performance data, which the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) uses to develop future exam questions with strong psychometric properties.

Students will receive both individual section scores and a total score. In addition, the CCE provides performance statistics for both the academic program and national examinees.

A demographic questionnaire is included on the answer sheet for research purposes. Students are given four hours to complete the examination.

The CPCE covers the eight Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) common-core areas as defined by their Standards for Preparation:

1. Human growth and development – studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels
2. Social and cultural foundations – studies that provide an understanding of issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society
3. Helping relationships – studies that provide an understanding of counseling and consultation processes
4. Group work – studies that provide an understanding of group development, dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills, and other group work approaches
5. Career and lifestyle development – studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors
6. Appraisal – studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation
7. Research and program evaluation – studies that provide an understanding of types of research methods, basic statistics, and ethical and legal considerations in research
8. Professional orientation and ethics – studies that provide an understanding of all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing

Listed below are resources representative of the study materials available that offer preparation materials. The DCHS does not endorse any one set of preparation materials.

1. The Encyclopedia of Counseling (4th Edition) by Dr. Howard Rosenthal
2. CPCE Secrets Study Guide by CPCE Exam Secrets Test Prep Team
3. CPCE Practice Questions by CPCE Exam Secrets Test Prep Team
4. CPCE Flashcard Study System: Flash Cards Edition by CPCE Exam Secrets Test Prep Team
5. Mastering the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) 3rd Edition by Bradley T. Erford, Danica Hays, Stephanie Crockett
6. Study Guide for the National Counselor Exam and CPCE (9th Edition) by Andrew A Helwig

For additional resources, please view this PDF.

Beginning Fall 2023, students enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program must earn a minimum score of 79 to pass the exam.

Students can access their scores in the Student Profile found on the Pearson VUE website within 48 hours of taking the exam.

Once the passing results are available, students must upload their score report to Etrieve. After verification, a CR (Credit) grade will be issued for the EDUC 699 course.

If a student does not achieve the minimum passing score, they are eligible to retake the exam in accordance with the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) policy. The waiting period to re-register depends on the test format:

• On-Campus or Pearson VUE Center Testing: Eligible to re-register 30 days after the exam date
• Remote Testing via OnVUE (at home): Eligible to re-register 90 days after the exam date
• Switching from OnVUE to an In-Person Format: Eligible to re-register 30 days after the exam date

Students who do not pass on their first attempt are strongly encouraged to meet with their Program Coordinator to discuss their results and create a personalized plan for success before retaking the exam.

If a student does not pass on their second attempt, they must obtain formal approval from their Program Coordinator to sit for the exam again. Upon approval, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) will assist in initiating a new exam authorization with the CCE.