Comprehensive Exam Information
The
Counselor
Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) is a multiple choice exam
taken by
students in the MA counseling program who have completed at least 33
semester
hours. A passing grade on the CPCE
is required for program completion and graduation. The exam tests
students’
knowledge of material covered in the counseling curriculum and mirrors
the exam
students must pass to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in
the State
of New Jersey, as well as many other states. Students
who have completed 33 semester hours can choose the
best semester to take the exam. The exam is offered once each fall and
spring
semester—There is no summer administration of the exam.
The CPCE is a standardized exam developed by
the Center for
Credentialing and Education (CCE).
The CCE is the same company that assists
with
credentialing and assessment for the National Board for
Certified
Counselors (NBCC). The multiple choice
exam is currently 160 questions, consisting of 8 subsections. The
subsections include, Human Growth
and Development; Social and Cultural Foundations; Helping
Relationships; Group
Work; Career and Lifestyle Development; Appraisal; Research and Program
Evaluation; and Professional Orientation & Ethics.
All of these areas correspond with your
MSU Counseling Program coursework.
Each section on the exam will be 20 questions long.
In order
to take
the CPCE, there are two applications and a $45 fee that must be
submitted by
the deadline. The Fall 2011
deadline for all applications and fees is September 22, 2011. Any
student who does not submit all
required paperwork and fees prior to the deadline will not be allowed
to take
the exam in the spring. Applications
are available on the Montclair State
University Counseling Website,
http://cehs.montclair.edu/academic/counseling/announcements.shtml, or
in the
Counseling Suite. Furthermore, all
students will receive information on the application deadline, as well
as the
current application sites on the MSU Counseling listserv.
Please see below for
frequently asked questions and
answers regarding the Counseling Program Comprehensive Exam. If
you have further questions or
concerns, please contact your academic advisor.
- What is the Comprehensive Exam?
- How many credits must I have completed to take the exam?
- When is the exam offered?
- How many hours do I have to complete the exam?
- What is the exact format of the exam, including number of questions and sections?
- Which sections on the CPCE directly correspond with my MSU Counseling Program coursework?
- Does the MSU faculty have input in the construction of the CPCE?
- How will the exam be graded?
- What feedback will I receive once my test is scored?
- How many times can I take the Exam?
- What happens if I fail?
- How much does it cost to take the Comprehensive Exam?
- Do I have to sign up to take the exam ahead of time?
- Are there any recommendations for study guides to help prepare?
- Will there be preparation sessions held for the exam?
- Are students in the post-masters or certificate programs required to take the Comprehensive Exam?
- Should I sell my textbooks after I finish a class or will I need them to study from for the CPCE exam?
- What if I have a disability that impacts test-taking?
- What if my religious beliefs do not permit me to attend the Comprehensive Exam on the day/time it is scheduled?
Answers
1. What is the Comprehensive Exam?
1. The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) is a multiple choice exam taken by students in the
MA counseling program who have completed at least 33 semester hours. A passing grade on the CPCE is required
for program completion and graduation. The exam tests a student’s knowledge of material covered in the counseling curriculum and mirrors the exam
students must pass to become licensed in the State of New Jersey, as well as many other states. Students who have
completed 33 semester hours can choose the best semester to take the exam. The exam is offered once each fall and spring semester- there is no summer
administration of the exam.
In order to take the CPCE, there are two applications and a $45 fee that must be
submitted by the deadline. The Fall 2011 deadline for all applications and fees is September 23rd. Any
student who does not submit all required paperwork and fees will not be allowed to take the exam in the
fall. Applications are available on the Montclair State University Counseling Website or in the Counseling Suite.
Furthermore, all students will receive information on the application deadline, as well as the current
application sites on the MSU Counseling listserv.
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2. How many credits must I have completed to take the exam?
2. A student must have completed 33 semester hours in order to register to take the exam.
Semester hours completed does not include classes one
is currently registered in or still in the process of completing. If
you are unsure about the number of credits successfully completed, please speak
to your advisor.
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3. When is the exam offered?
3. The Comprehensive Exam is offered twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring - there is no summer administration of the Comprehensive Exam. The current date for the Fall 2012 exam is Saturday, October 20th. For more information on the exact rooms and times, check the Counseling website announcements at http://cehs.montclair.edu/academic/counseling/announcements.shtml.
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4. How many hours do I have to complete the exam?
4. Students are given four hours to complete the exam.
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5. What is the exact format of the exam, including number of questions and sections?
5. The CPCE is a standardized exam
developed by the Center for Credentialing and Education.
The multiple-choice exam is currently
160 questions, consisting of 8 subsections. The
subsections include, Human Growth and Development;
Social and Cultural Foundations; Helping Relationships; Group Work;
Career and
Lifestyle Development; Appraisal; Research and Program Evaluation; and
Professional Orientation & Ethics. All of these areas correspond
with your MSU Counseling Program coursework.
Back to FAQ
6. Which sections on the CPCE directly correspond with my MSU Counseling Program coursework?
6. Most core classes required in the Masters of Counseling program correspond with the 8 CPCE sections,
although some material from almost all of your courses could fall within these categories as well:
- Human Growth and Development: Counseling Across the Lifespan, Counseling Child and Adolescents, and Developmental Psychology
- Social and Cultural Foundations: Multicultural Counseling
- Helping Relationships: Counseling Theories, Counseling Techniques
- Group Work: Group Counseling: Theories and Practice
- Career and Lifestyle Development: Career Counseling
- Appraisal: Appraisal of the Individual
- Research and Program Evaluation: Methods of Research
- Professional Orientation & Ethics: Introduction to Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling
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7. Does the MSU faculty have input in the construction of the CPCE?
7. No! The exam is a nationally standardized exam created by the
Center for Credentialing and Education. The Center for Credentialing and Education is the same company that
assists with credentialing and assessment for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
The CPCE (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination) mirrors the exam students must pass to
become licensed in the State of New Jersey, as well as many other states.
Back to FAQ
8. How will the exam be graded?
8. Once students complete the exam, MSU faculty sends the exams away for individual scoring. Each
exam score will consist of a score for each section, as well as a total score. The results
of each exam will then be reported to the program faculty. There is no predetermined passing or
failing grade for the exam. The Counseling Program faculty will determine the appropriate passing score
for each version of the exam. To determine an appropriate passing score, the faculty compares the scores
to national norms as well as previous MSU results. Only students’ total score will be considered to determine a
passing or failing grade.
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9. What feedback will I receive once my test is scored?
9. The graduate school will notify you of your passing or failing score through a letter sent
directly to your home. The letter will not display exact score information.
To find out more about your general performance on the various sections of the exam or for other specific information regarding your exam,
contact your advisor. You and your advisor will be able to discuss your results in more detail; however, you will NOT
be provided an exact numerical result.
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10. How many times can I take the Exam?
10. According to University Policy, a student is allowed three tries to pass the CPCE. If
a student has three failed attempts, the student will be removed from the counseling program.
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11. What happens if I fail?
11. If you fail the Comprehensive Examination, you must contact your advisor to go over the results of your exam. Together you and your advisor can identify needed areas of improvement and work toward preparing for your next exam attempt. Failing the Comprehensive Examination may result in a student not being able to begin Internship or continue onto Internship II. If a student fails the Comprehensive Examination during their final semester of classes, then she/he cannot graduate and must retake the Comprehensive Examination on the next available date after speaking with their advisor. Students may take the Comprehensive Examination three (3) times. If a student fails the Comprehensive Examination three times, they will be dismissed from the Counseling Program.
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12. How much does the Comprehensive Exam cost?
12. The current cost of the exam is $45. This fee is charged by the Center for Credentialing and Education, which is the company that
produces and scores the exam. The associated exam fee must be paid by check or money order. The check should be made
out to “CCE.” Checks will not be cashed/deposited until after the administration of the exam. Student ID numbers (not
social security numbers) must be included on comprehensive exam application.
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13. Do I have to sign up to take the exam ahead of time?
13. Yes! You must remember to sign up to take the exam before the announced deadline. To take the exam in Fall 2011, registration will be open on the first day of classes and will end on September 23rd. This is a firm deadline and students who do not hand in all required paperwork and fees will not be allowed to take the comprehensive exam
in the fall. There are two application forms that must be submitted to our Department Administrator, Lucille Gesualdi,
University Hall, Counseling Suite, Room 3165 by the deadline. All students will receive information on
the application deadline, as well as the current application sites on the MSU Counseling listserv. The
application also can be found in the counseling suite or at these sites:
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14. Are there any recommendations for study guides to help prepare?
14. There is no official study guide for the CPCE. However, the CPCE is modeled after the National Counseling Exam
(NCE). Therefore, you can use any NCE study guide as a good resource.
The counseling department does own three study guidebooks that students can borrow and review from the
department secretary during secretary hours. In addition, you should review your textbooks and notes from the
coursework at MSU. Students are encouraged to form study groups with their peers.
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15. Will there be preparation sessions held for the exam?
15. Yes. There will be two review sessions prior to each scheduled exam date. It is recommended that
students attend one of the two sessions, however attendance is not mandatory. Also, please note that
any student can attend the preparation session, not just those planning to take the exam that same semester.
Students should consider attending a prep session early in their program of study to get a better understand
of what information will be tested. The session will go into more depth about important information regarding the exam.
Please check your MSU email daily for announcements on the dates, times, and locations of the sessions.
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16. Are students in the post-masters or certificate programs required to take the Comprehensive Exam?
16. Only students enrolled in the Masters of Arts in Counseling Program are required to take the Comprehensive Exam in order to complete and graduate from the
counseling program. Students enrolled in the Advanced Counseling Certificate
program do not have to take the exam. Students who are only enrolled in the Certified Alcohol
and Drug Counselor Certificate program do not have to take the exam. Students only enrolled in the Post-master's
Certificate in School Counseling program do not have to take the exam. Students only enrolled in the Substance
Awareness Coordinator Certification program do not have to take the exam.
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17. Should I sell my textbooks after I finish a class or will I need
them to study from for the CPCE exam?
17. Your textbooks from your courses, especially your core
courses, will help you study for the CPCE. Therefore, you should keep
all of your textbooks to review before the exam.
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18. What if I have a disability that impacts test-taking?
There is a question on the Comps registration form asking if students require an ADA accommodation.
If you check yes, you are required to attach a verification statement from the MSU Disabilities Resource
Center specifying the required accommodation(s). We will work with the MSU Disabilities Resource Center
to make the necessary and appropriate accommodations and scheduling.
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19. What if my religious beliefs do not permit me to attend the Comprehensive Exam on the day/time it is scheduled?
Students whose religious beliefs preclude them from taking Comps on the day/time it is offered should contact the
Comprehensive Exam Coordinator and the Program Coordinator to request accommodations. Situations are reviewed on a
case-by-case basis.
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