Comprehensive Exit Exam (CPCE)

The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

It is a required exam for all FGCU Counseling Program students and must be passed in order to receive a diploma. The CPCE exam is administered on campus, as arranged by the Department, through the Testing and Assessment Center. Students may seek individual testing at an additional cost, and with department permission, at an off-campus Pearson testing site. All testing is now done using a computer.

  • What is this exam about?

  • How do I prepare?

  • How long will I have to complete the exam?

  • What is a passing score?

  • How will I know about my results?

  • Does this exam cost anything?

CACREP Common-Core Areas

These eight core areas, which constitute the CPCE, serve as the primary theoretical basis for the examination. It is through these areas that the CPCE is associated with accepted professional standards. The CPCE covers the eight Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) common-core areas as defined by their Standards for Preparation:
  • Human Growth and Development- studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.
  • Social and Cultural Foundations- studies that provide an understanding of issues and trends in a multi- cultural and diverse society.
  • Helping Relationships- studies that provide an under- standing of counseling and consultation processes.
  • Group Work- studies that provide an understanding of group development, dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills, and other group work approaches.
  • Career and Lifestyle Development- studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors.
  • Appraisal- studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
  • Research and Program Evaluation- studies that provide an understanding of types of research methods, basic statistics, and ethical and legal considerations in research.
  • Professional Orientation and Ethics- studies that provide an understanding of all aspects of professional functioning including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing.