Counseling Comprehensive Exam Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) HGST

Counseling Comprehensive Exam (Comp Exam) Required for all MAC students • Graduation requirement: Students must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) prior to graduation. This exit exam is prepared, scored, and measured against national statistical data provided by The Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc.

About the CPCE The CPCE is utilized by over 340 universities and colleges; the CPCE is designed to assess counseling students’ knowledge of counseling information viewed as important by counselor preparation programs. Additionally, the CPCE: Allows Master’s program comprehensive exams to better meet psychometric standards. Gives programs an objective view of the knowledge level of their students. Allows programs to examine student functioning in various curricular areas. Promotes longitudinal self-study. Compares a program’s results to national data. Stimulates student integration of knowledge learned in separate courses. Gives students comparative strength / weakness feedback. The CPCE is not intended or designed as an alternate credentialing examination. Student eligibility to participate in the CPCE and its use is determined solely by the institutions that have contracted to use the CPCE. http://www.cce-global.org/Org/CPCE

Prerequisites HSGT students must meet the following criteriabefore they can apply to take the CPCE: Successfully complete the following courses: COU 500, 522, 530, 540, 600, 611, 665, 674, 690, 710 Hold a 3.0 GPA Be in good standing in the program

CPCE – 8 Core Content Areas Human Growth & Development Social and Cultural Foundations Helping Relationships Group Work Career & Lifestyle Development Appraisal Research and Program Evaluation Professional Orientation & Ethics 160 Multiple-Choice Questions 136 Questions are Graded 17 Questions per Content Area 24 picked out at random by CCE

Testing Time Limit 4 Hours – CPCE 160 questions

Passing Scores Passing Scores CPCE passing scores change depending on version Version 100113: 73/136

Retaking the Comp Exam If you did not receive a passing score, you may retake the part(s) that you failed. Register again and retake only the part(s) you did not pass. Exam can only be taken twice per semester

Maximum Number of Attempts HGST students will be given two opportunities, at the student’s discretion, to pass the exam. A third opportunity will be given following a minimum 4-month break during which time focused preparation will be expected. An overall passing score must satisfy all three of the following conditions: The total score must be greater than or equal to one standard deviation below the national mean for total scores; At least seven of the eight individual category scores must be greater than or equal to one standard deviation below the national mean for that category; All category scores must be greater than or equal to two standard deviations below the national mean for that category.

Test Fee $60 charge for HGST students, each time you register.

CPCE Study Tips No official study guide Any study materials developed for the NCE (National Counselor Exam) http://www.nbcc.org/Exams/Study#NCE

CPCE Additional Study Guides Rosenthal, H. (2013). Encyclopedia of Counseling (3rd Edition). New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge. Mastering the National Counselor Exam and the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (Merrill Counseling) by Bradley T. Erford, Danica G. Hays, Stephanie Crockett and Emily M. Miller (Jun 19, 2010). Preparation Guide for the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (Copyright 2001 by NBCC; revised 2003) There is a copy on reserve in HGST library.

Exam Results You will be notified via email in 2-4 weeks

CPCE Exams Dates and Registration Deadlines 2014 CPCE Exam Dates and Times (arrive 12:45) January 15, 2014, 1-5 pm (register by Dec.11, 2014) March 26, 2014, 1-5 pm (register by Feb. 12, 2014) June 18, 2014, 1-5 pm (register by May 14, 2014)

Registering for the Exam Use the form (found at http://www.hgst.edu/offices/registrar/cpce-registration/ ) to register for the Counseling Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE). In order to guarantee an exam booklet, students must register by the registration deadline. The fee for the CPCE is $60 for HGST students. Students from other universities should bring a $70 money order made out to CCE on the day of the exam, and should pay a $15 proctoring fee to HGST when they register for the exam. All fees paid to HGST can be processed online at www.hgst.edu/online-payments.

Questions? Contact: Ria E. Baker, PhD, LPC-S 713-942-9505, ext. 217 rbaker@hgst.edu