Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) is a standardized exit exam designed to review the material of the counseling core concepts. All School and Clinical Mental Health students must pass the CPCE in order to graduate. The exam is intended to review the main core counseling concepts (CPCE). The exam is a computer-based exam that can be taken at the TAMUC Testing Center (CPCE-APB) or a Pearson approved site (CPCE-ABE).

You are eligible to take the exam after you complete COUN 551 and COUN 595.

To create an acount and regsiter to take the exam please review these documents and follow the instructions:

1. Create an account
2a. Registration process for students who require accomodations
2b. Registration process for students the do not require accomodations

After you register, email Dr. Ajitha Kumaran to notify the method you chose to write the exam, for instance CPCE-ABE or CPCE-APB

Refer to these additional documents if you have questions.

Registering with Pearson VUE.ABE (CBT)
Registering with Pearson VUE.ABE (OnVue)
Regsitering with Pearson VUE.APB

 

CPCE-APB (TAMUC Testing Center)

Spring 2024 Exam Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024

Summer 2024 Exam Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024

One academic year (the Fall, Spring, Summer semesters) is all that can be posted at any time since we must coordinate the administration dates with the Testing Center. Once those dates are determined, they will be posted.

TAMUC Testing Center Fees:

The cost is in two portions and both must be paid before you may take the exam:

*One payment is for the CPCE exam—$75

*One payment is for the use of the Testing Center services—$60

We will provide you with both links for payments that must be made for you to be considered registered for the exam. Do not call the Testing Center first since we must be aware of each student who intends to take the exam. If you do not contact us first, important information may be missing for you to be successfully registered.

CPCE-ABE (Pearson Approved Site)

You can take the CPCE-ABE at any time in the semester. There is no set date. 

Person-Approved Site Testing Fees:

*One payment is for the CPCE exam—$150

STUDENT DISABILITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES

NOTE: Please contact the Department of Counseling if you plan to contact the office of Student Disability Resources and Services (SDRS) for test-taking, contact SDRS at 903-886-5835 to discuss services available. Keep in mind that the office of Student Disability Resources and Services is open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

https://www.tamuc.edu/student-disability-services/

FAQ

The following FAQ further clarifies the procedures:

QUESTION: How many questions are on the Masters Comprehensive Examination?
ANSWER: There are 160 multiple-choice questions on the core section (CPCE).

QUESTION: Is the test on the computer or is it paper and pencil?
ANSWER: The CPCE is a computer-based exam.

QUESTION: When do I know my results?
ANSWER: This is information is given by CCE. Outcomes are sent to the department mid-month of the following month after the exam is taken. For eexample, if you take the exam in March, we will know the results on or after April 15th (the next month). 

QUESTION: What do I do with the raw score?
ANSWER:  Please keep a copy for your records

QUESTION: What constitutes a passing score?
ANSWER: The passing score of the core section (CPCE) is calculated after each administration. A student will need to obtain a score that is equal to or greater than a z score of -1.25(1.25 standard deviation units below the national mean score).

QUESTION: How will my student DegreeWorks be updated after taking the exam??
ANSWER:  Your DegreeWorks will be updated by the  department after the 15th of the following month which will show pass or fail.

QUESTION: If I should not pass the first time, how many times may I retake the exam?
ANSWER: If a student fails in their first attempt, they may re-test during the next scheduled administration of the CPCE or the student may be approved to take the exam at another Pearson's site. Should a student fail in their second attempt, their program may be terminated. Under extenuating circumstances, a third attempt may be granted but only upon the recommendation of the Departmental Examination Appeals Committee (DEAC) or head of the department and approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. For the third attempt, an oral exam is offered as a choice.

QUESTION: Is there a preparation guide or book available?
ANSWER: The Department does not have a preparation guide and does not endorse any particular guide. Students are encouraged to match their course syllabi objectives to the CACREP objectives and then to their course notes and textbooks. The TAMUC library has some available resources you can use (see below).

• https://www.tamuc.edu/library/
  • Then click on "database" under the search bar
  • In search databases area type "Mometrix eLibrary"
  • On the Study Guide page click on "Counseling & Social Work"
  • Access CPCE / NCE practice questions and study guide from the list

QUESTION: What are the eight core CACREP areas and what counseling classes relate to those areas?

ANSWER: The eight core CACREP areas include:

CACREP Core	Related Program Classes
Human Growth & Development	COUN 545
Social & Cultural Diversity	COUN-501, 522
Counseling and Helping Relationship	COUN-501, 510, 516, 551, 552
Group Counseling and Group Work	COUN-501, 528
Career Development	COUN-501, 512
Assessment & Testing	COUN-501, 517
Research & Program Evaluation	COUN-501, 595
Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice	COUN-501, 510, 516, 517, 528, 551, 552

For further information:

http://www.cce-global.org/AssessmentsAndExaminations/CPCE

Starting June 1st, candidates will still be allotted a 6-month window, but the exam attempts will be reduced to 2 and they will only be allowed to attempt the exam once every 90 days. This update will apply to all three CPCE formats (APB, ABE, & OnVue).