University of Redlands
The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) is an exit examination required of all DCHS students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs at the University of Redlands. The exam aims to assess the student’s knowledge of counseling to ensure minimum competence in the field. The CPCE will also provide collective feedback that faculty can use in the DCHS programs in developing/adapting curriculum.
The CPCE is researched, developed, and distributed by both the Research and Assessment Corporation for Counseling (RACC) and the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE), two affiliate corporations of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
You will need to enroll in the EDUC 699 CPCE course through student planning during the term you wish to take the exam.
If you did not register in the EDUC 699 course but plan to take the CPCE during the current term, please contact your academic advisor for information on how to late register for the course.
After enrolling in the EDUC 699 CPCE course, you will need to decide upon your preferred testing modality and when you plan to take the exam during the semester you registered for EDUC 699. Please note that the CPCE is only offered at the Redlands campus on select dates.
Please review the testing modality options below before selecting your preferred format.
Please follow the steps below that correspond with the testing modality you have selected.
It is important to note that the next steps in the CPCE registration process differ depending upon your preferred testing modality and when you plan to take the exam. Once this process is completed, you will be authorized for a six-month testing window.
Since students are authorized for a six-month testing window once approved to sit for the exam, you will not complete the full process to become authorized for the CPCE until the month prior to the exam (i.e., if the exam is held in May, you will submit to become authorized in April). This is to ensure that you will have additional authorized time to re-test after the in-person exam if needed.
Step 1: As soon as you have decided to take the exam in-person at the Redlands campus, please submit the CPCE Modality Authorization Request Form.
By submitting this form, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will be aware that you plan to take the in-person exam and can plan accordingly. No further action will need to be taken on your end until the month prior to the exam.
Step 2: Please wait for the Office of Licensures and Credentialing to send you an e-mail with further instructions on how to complete the remaining process to become authorized to test. The e-mail will be sent to you on the first day of the month prior to the exam (i.e., April 1st for an exam scheduled in May).
After that process is complete the month prior to the exam, you will be approved to sit for the exam and the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will send you an additional e-mail containing your next steps to complete the registration process (view the Part 4 accordion).
At least one month prior to when you plan to take the CPCE virtually or at a Pearson Vue testing center, please follow the steps below.
Step 1: Submit the CPCE Modality Authorization Request Form at least one month prior to when you plan to take the exam. You will indicate your preferred testing modality on the form.
Step 2: After submitting the form, create a Credentialing Gateway Account using these instructions: Creating a Credentialing Gateway Account (1st Step for Students without an Existing Credentialing Gateway Account).
If you have an existing Credentialing Gateway Account, it is not necessary to create a new one. You can simply log into your existing account and select the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) from the applications tab.
Step 3: Log in to your newly created or existing Credentialing Gateway Account using these instructions: CPCE Registration Process (2nd Step for Students who DON’T Require Accommodations) to complete the CPCE application through your account. If you require accommodations, please contact the Office of Licensures and Credentialing via e-mail for your next steps.
Upon completion of these steps, you will receive an e-mail that states you will receive your authorization to test e-mail from Pearson Vue containing your candidate ID within 48-72 hours of application submission. Please note that this time starts after you have been approved by the university to sit for the exam and your information has been exported to Pearson Vue by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). This entire process may take up to 10 business days.
Once you've been approved to sit for the exam, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will send you an e-mail containing your next steps to complete the registration process (view the Part 4 accordion).
Once you've been approved to sit for the exam, you will receive an e-mail from the Office of Licensures and Credentialing containing your next steps to create your Pearson Vue account, schedule an appointment (if taking the exam off campus), and pay the exam fee.
Please note if you are taking the exam in-person at the Redlands campus, you will not complete this part of the process until after you have completed the remaining steps to become authorized to test. You will be informed of how to complete the remaining steps to become authorized to test a month prior to the exam (i.e., in April if your exam is scheduled for May).
Students are required to enroll in EDUC 699 CPCE through student planning during the term they wish to take the exam.
For students that started their program in Fall 2022 or prior: When students pass the exam, they will receive a CR for the course. If students attempt and do not pass the exam, they will receive an incomplete (I) for the course. The incomplete will remain until the student passes the exam until the student’s expected date of program completion. Please see your program handbook for more information related to receiving course credit.
For students that started their program in Fall 2023 and beyond: When students pass the exam, they will receive a CR for the course. If students attempt and do not pass the exam, they will receive an no credit (NC) for the course. When repeating the exam, the student will need re-register in the EDUC 699 course the following semester. The EDUC 699 course can be repeated up to three times.
Given the nature of the examination, it is best to take the CPCE as close to graduation as possible. You are encouraged to take the CPCE when you have accumulated 35 credits or more. This is typically in the 5th term if seeking a master’s degree and in the 2nd term if seeking a PPS credential only.
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:
The CPCE consists of 160 items, with 20 items per CACREP area. Of the 20 items per section, 17 will be scored. The remaining three are pre-test items that are not identified to the student.
The purpose of embedded pre-testing is to generate actual score performance data on items. This allows CCE to select items for future test construction that have the most desirable psychometric attributes. Scores for each section and a total score will be reported for each student. The CCE will provide statistics on the program’s students as well as national data.
A demographic questionnaire will be included on the answer sheet for research purposes. You are allowed four hours to complete the examination.
Please note that all candidates who test between January 2024 and July 2024 will test on an examination form with a mixture of 3-response and 4-response multiple-choice questions.
The exam is administered three ways:
The purpose of test accommodations is to provide students with full access to the test. Pearson VUE provides reasonable and appropriate test accommodations to individuals with documented disabilities who demonstrate a need for test accommodations.
Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Office of Licensures and Credentialing for further questions related to testing accommodations.
Pearson VUE test accommodations may include things such as:
Students entering the School Counseling programs must obtain a minimum score of 72 to be considered passing.
Candidates who do not meet the minimum passing score for the CPCE exam are eligible to re-register after a waiting period. Effective August 1, 2023:
Students can access your scores in your Student Profile found on the Pearson VUE website within 48 hours of taking the exam. Students are responsible to upload exam results to Etrieve. Once passing results are received, a CR (credit grade) can be issued for the EDUC 699 course.
Students who do not pass the exam on their first attempt are encouraged to consult with the Program Coordinator to seek advice and develop a comprehensive plan of action prior to retaking the exam. Candidates who fail a second attempt must contact their Program Coordinator for approval to re-test. Once granted, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will initiate a new authorization via CCE.
Students who fail a third attempt of the CPCE exam should contact their Program Coordinator.
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.
For additional resources, please view this PDF.
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