Students will take a standardized exam focusing on core counseling skills and theories before graduation. This exam will help students prepare for the comprehensive licensure exams. In the spring semester, before graduation, students will be required to take and pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), which assesses the core competencies taught in counseling programs. These core areas of knowledge are directly connected to Section 3 CACREP standards. This is a common assessment used by many counseling programs to benchmark student knowledge growth to SLOs and KPI assignments. Additionally, it helps prepare students for any state test, but it is not required. The CPCE Content Outline breaks down the exam. The program will utilize the following testing modalities: Computer Based Testing (CBT) via a Person VUE Testing Center or Web-Based Administration (OnVUE) an Online Pearson VUE Proctored Test. In the fall semester of their second year, students will need to register for the CPCE to be taken in their final spring semester. Mor information and how to register can be found on the CPCE website.
CPCE Cost
The current cost of the CPCE is $150 per attempt. Students are responsible for registering and paying the fee each time they take the exam. Because this is a nationally administered test, fees are set by the testing provider and may be subject to change. Additional details about testing logistics and proctoring requirements will be provided by the program closer to the exam date.
CPCE Attempts
All students are allowed up to three attempts to successfully pass the CPCE. If a student does not pass the exam within three attempts, they will be provided with an alternative essay-based examination. This exam will be developed by program faculty and will focus on three of the eight CPCE content areas in which the student demonstrated the most difficulty. The alternative exam ensures that students have another opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the CACREP core areas prior to graduation, while also receiving targeted faculty support.
