In order to get certified as a counselor, you need to take a Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) 2026. It is a national certification that is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors 2026. This certification is very important to you as it can lead to jobs in your field.
The 160 multiple-choice questions in the CPCE include 20 questions for each of the eight (8) CACREP domains. 14. There will be 20 things total, 17 of which will be scored, and the final three will be unidentified pretest items. As a result, 136 questions on the CPCE were given a score.
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Other Educational Professions (CACREP) has identified specific knowledge and skill requirements for professional counsellors’ training. The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) assesses a student’s mastery of those requirements.
The total number of questions across all eight key areas can be scored gives you a maximum score of 136. The amount of questions you correctly answered determines your test score, which is a “raw” score.
About an hour after the exam, your Pearson VUE account will have access to your CPCE results. For the CPCE, a score of 90 is required, plus or minus the standard error of the mean.
The CPCE is a knowledge-based test with roughly 160 items, 20 of which are assigned to each CACREP topic. The test can be finished in four (4) hours by test-takers. The exam will go through the following eight CPCE core curriculum areas: Human Development and Growth.
Some individuals believe that while the test may appear challenging, passing it is pretty simple. Just try your hardest to study, and you’ll succeed.
The CPCE has a passing score of 70/136.
Prepare for the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) is a knowledge-based exam that tests a student's knowledge of counseling and professional counseling skills. It is a requirement for graduate degree programs in the field of clinical mental health counseling. The results of CPCE have been used by hundreds of universities across the nation. Approximately 160 items are included on the test, which is divided into eight areas of focus.
This examination was developed by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Each year, students are given the chance to take the exam as part of their graduate coursework. A score report will be sent to the student as soon as they complete the exam.
CPCE is administered as a computer-based exam at a testing center. Students have four hours to complete the test. If they are not satisfied with their score, they can take the exam a second time, or they can reschedule their appointment within a 24-hour window.
The best way to prepare for the test is to get a clear understanding of the content areas of the test. You can do this by reading course materials and practicing test questions.