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Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE)
The CPCE is a 160-question multiple-choice comprehensive exit examination used by over 400 U.S. college and university counseling programs to assess master's-level students' knowledge across the eight CACREP common core areas (20 items per area; 17 scored and 3 unscored pretest items per section). Candidates get 4 hours and 15 minutes for the total test session (225 minutes of timed examination plus a tutorial, nondisclosure agreement, and a scheduled 15-minute break). There is no universal passing score — each university sets its own cut score and determines pass/fail. The exam is owned by the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE), an affiliate of NBCC, and is delivered by computer via Pearson VUE in three modalities: on-campus Anywhere Proctored Browser (APB), at Pearson VUE test centers (CBT), and online at home via OnVUE; a Spanish version (CPCE-SP) is published.
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Questions160 multiple-choice questions: 20 items per each of the eight CACREP areas, of which 17 per section are scored and 3 are unidentified pretest items (136 scored, 24 unscored pretest items total)
Testing time4 hours 15 minutes total test session (255 minutes): 225 minutes (3 hours 45 minutes) of timed examination, plus 5 minutes for the nondisclosure agreement, a 10-minute tutorial, and one scheduled 15-minute break after the 80th question; the clock does not stop during unscheduled breaks
ScoringNo universal passing score; the university sets the cut (passing) score and determines a pass/fail result based on the candidate's official score. A total score and eight section scores are reported to the institution, along with program statistics and national comparison data. CCE does not provide score verifications because the pass/fail result is determined by the university
Exam feeUSD 75 per student for the on-campus APB administration; USD 150 per student for the CBT administration at a Pearson VUE test center; USD 150 per student for the OnVUE online administration (fees paid at registration; a USD 50 rescheduling fee applies; appointments canceled at least 24 hours ahead are refunded in 3-5 days; forfeited fees apply for no-shows)
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- CCE
- Category
- Counseling & Addiction
- Current version
- Current specification; no public version label (CPCE content outline aligned with the eight CACREP common core areas; Candidate Handbook revised March 25, 2025; CPCE-CBT and CPCE-OnVue merged into the unified CPCE-ABE dual-modality designation)
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English, Spanish
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE (exam delivery, scheduling, and scoring; APB lockdown browser, test-center network, and OnVUE platform)
- Format
- Computer-based only (pencil-and-paper no longer offered except for approved accommodations), in three modalities: Anywhere Proctored Browser (APB) on campus via a secure lockdown browser, Computer-Based Testing (CBT) at a Pearson VUE test center, and web-based OnVUE delivery at home with a live Pearson VUE proctor
- Availability
- By university arrangement: APB administrations on dates/times the school chooses (order form submitted at least 45 days in advance); CBT appointments during advertised Pearson VUE business hours within the candidate's approved test-authorization window; OnVUE appointments within the university-identified window. Exams are not offered on listed holidays
- Results
- Raw score report available to the candidate in their Pearson VUE account approximately 24 hours after completing the exam; official results are processed by Pearson VUE and uploaded to the university portal by the CPCE coordinator about 45 days after completion — pass/fail is then determined by the university, not by CCE
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
One 160-item multiple-choice exam with eight equal-weight sections (12.5% each) aligned to the CACREP common core areas: Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice; Social and Cultural Diversity; Human Growth and Development; Career Development; Counseling and Helping Relationships; Group Counseling and Group Work; Assessment and Testing; Research and Program Evaluation. Scored and pretest items are interspersed and identical in structure. Institutions may add their own components (e.g., essay questions or specialty-area items), which CCE does not score
Where rules vary
A U.S. national examination used by university counselor-preparation programs across the country ("Over 400 college and university counseling programs across the country use CCE's Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE)"). It is an exit/comprehensive exam administered through universities, not a state licensure exam — it "does not take the place of the NCE or the NCMHCE for certification or state licensure" (NBCC faculty FAQ).
Eligibility
Enrollment in a graduate-level counseling program (CACREP-accredited or administered by an institutionally accredited college or university) with coursework in the eight CACREP requirement areas; the candidate's university must approve eligibility, and the candidate must register with both CCE and Pearson VUE before receiving an Authorization to Test email with a Candidate ID number
Retake policy
Two attempts within the 6-month test-authorization window: a failing candidate gets one additional attempt, at least 30 days after the first attempt for APB/CBT (at least 90 days apart for OnVUE), with a separate registration and fee. Failing the second attempt, or letting the authorization expire, requires the university program coordinator to authorize an extension or new authorization