The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination, or CPCE, was designed to measure a student’s mastery of the knowledge and skills required, as identified by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and other Educational Professions (CACREP), for the preparation of professional counselors.
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Contact CCE by email. This step must be completed at least 7 business days prior to testing. DO NOT complete the CCE registration more than one time.
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You should receive an “Authorization to Test” email from Pearson VUE within 7 business days containing your Candidate ID. Do not create an account with Pearson VUE until you have your Candidate ID number.
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After you receive the email from Pearson VUE, go to their website to create an account. If you don't receive an email from Pearson VUE after waiting 7 business days, contact CCE.
If you will be receiving an exam accommodation, you should call the Pearson VUE Accommodations team at 800-466-0450 to register and pay for the exam via credit card or voucher number, if applicable. DO NOT PAY for your exam online if you will be receiving accommodations.
The cost of an Anywhere Proctored Browser (APB) CPCE exam is $110. It is divided into two different fees.
- $75 for an the exam.
- $30 (plus first time fee of $5) for a testing appointment you can create using Registerblast.
We recommend arriving at least fifteen minutes before your appointment time.
Students must provide an one acceptable and not-expired form of government-issued photo identification with signature, webcam photo, and e-signature verification before beginning an assessment. Read our Rules and Procedures.
Bring your Pearson VUE username and password.
You will need them in order to access your online exam.
Additional Information
The test items measure a student's knowledge of the eight core curriculum standards:
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Diversity
- Counseling and Helping Relationships
- Group Counseling and Group Work
- Career Development
- Assessment and Testing
- Research and Program Evaluation
- Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
The eight core areas serve as the primary theoretical basis for guiding education to prepare students to become competent professional counselors.
You can view more information regarding the examination on the Center for Credentialing & Education’s webpage.
You may also download their brochure.
Center for Credentialing & Education
3 Terrace Way
Greensboro, NC 27403
(336) 482-2856
cce@cce-global.org
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
Benefits that the CPCE offers to counseling programs
- Provides a master’s program comprehensive exam that meets high psychometric standards.
- Gives programs an objective view of the knowledge level of their students.
- Allows programs to examine student functioning in various curricular areas.
- Promotes longitudinal self-study.
- Compares a program’s results to national data.
- Stimulates student integration of knowledge learned in separate courses.
- Gives students comparative strength and weakness feedback.
CPCE Study Materials
While CCE does not offer an official study guide for the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), they do provide a list of textbook resources frequently used in CACREP-accredited counselor preparation programs.
The list of resources can be found at CPCE Textbook Guide.
