Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination

You will need to enroll in the EDUC 699 CPCE course through student planning during the term you wish to take the exam.

If you did not register in the EDUC 699 course but plan to take the CPCE during the current term, please contact your academic advisor for information on how to late register for the course.

After enrolling in the EDUC 699 CPCE course, you will need to decide upon your preferred testing modality and when you plan to take the exam during the semester you registered for EDUC 699. Please note that the CPCE is only offered at the Redlands campus on select dates.

Please review the testing modality options below before selecting your preferred format.

1. In-Person Testing at the University of Redlands (CPCE-APB) – The CPCE will be administered at the University of Redlands (on the main campus) at least once a year. This form of administration costs $75 per attempt. Exam dates will be determined and posted via an announcement. The availability of campus testing is subject to unforeseen circumstances at the university level and/or community level (e.g., lack of available proctors).
2. In-Person Computer-Based Testing at a Pearson Vue Center – Students can arrange an individualized date at one of the Pearson Vue Centers located throughout Southern California. The cost associated with this form of administration is $150.
3. Virtually Using a Personal Desktop or Laptop – Students can arrange to take the exam at their home through Pearson OnVue. This form of administration costs $150. Students will be required to commit to specific environmental regulations to ensure a secure testing site.

Please follow the steps below that correspond with the testing modality you have selected.

It is important to note that the next steps in the CPCE registration process differ depending upon your preferred testing modality and when you plan to take the exam. Once this process is completed, you will be authorized for a six-month testing window.

If you plan to take the CPCE In-Person at the University of Redlands, follow these steps:

Since students are authorized for a six-month testing window once approved to sit for the exam, you will not complete the full process to become authorized for the CPCE until the month prior to the exam (i.e., if the exam is held in May, you will submit to become authorized in April). This is to ensure that you will have additional authorized time to re-test after the in-person exam if needed.

Step 1: As soon as you have decided to take the exam in-person at the Redlands campus, please submit the CPCE Modality Authorization Request Form.

By submitting this form, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will be aware that you plan to take the in-person exam and can plan accordingly. No further action will need to be taken on your end until the month prior to the exam.

Step 2: Please wait for the Office of Licensures and Credentialing to send you an e-mail with further instructions on how to complete the remaining process to become authorized to test. The e-mail will be sent to you on the first day of the month prior to the exam (i.e., April 1st for an exam scheduled in May). 

After that process is complete the month prior to the exam, you will be approved to sit for the exam and the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will send you an additional e-mail containing your next steps to complete the registration process (view the Part 4 accordion).

To take the CPCE Virtually or at a Pearson Vue Center, follow these steps:

At least one month prior to when you plan to take the CPCE virtually or at a Pearson Vue testing center, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Submit the CPCE Modality Authorization Request Form at least one month prior to when you plan to take the exam. You will indicate your preferred testing modality on the form.

Step 2: After submitting the form, create a Credentialing Gateway Account using these instructions: Creating a Credentialing Gateway Account (1st Step for Students without an Existing Credentialing Gateway Account).

If you have an existing Credentialing Gateway Account, it is not necessary to create a new one. You can simply log into your existing account and select the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) from the applications tab.

Step 3: Log in to your newly created or existing Credentialing Gateway Account using these instructions: CPCE Registration Process (2nd Step for Students who DON’T Require Accommodations) to complete the CPCE application through your account. If you require accommodations, please contact the Office of Licensures and Credentialing via e-mail for your next steps.

Upon completion of these steps, you will receive an e-mail that states you will receive your authorization to test e-mail from Pearson Vue containing your candidate ID within 48-72 hours of application submission. Please note that this time starts after you have been approved by the university to sit for the exam and your information has been exported to Pearson Vue by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). This entire process may take up to 10 business days.

Once you've been approved to sit for the exam, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will send you an e-mail containing your next steps to complete the registration process (view the Part 4 accordion).

Once you've been approved to sit for the exam, you will receive an e-mail from the Office of Licensures and Credentialing containing your next steps to create your Pearson Vue account, schedule an appointment (if taking the exam off campus), and pay the exam fee.

Please note if you are taking the exam in-person at the Redlands campus, you will not complete this part of the process until after you have completed the remaining steps to become authorized to test. You will be informed of how to complete the remaining steps to become authorized to test a month prior to the exam (i.e., in April if your exam is scheduled for May).

Given the nature of the examination, it is best to take the CPCE as close to graduation as possible. You are encouraged to take the CPCE when you have accumulated 35 credits or more. This is typically in the 5th term when seeking a master’s degree.

Students are required to enroll in EDUC 699 CPCE through student planning during the term they wish to take the exam.

For students that started their program in Fall 2022 or prior: This course is offered as a Credit (CR)/No Credit (NC) course. When students pass the exam, they will receive a CR for the course. If students attempt and do not pass the exam, they will receive an incomplete (I) for the course. The incomplete will remain until the student passes the exam until the student’s expected date of program completion. Please see your program handbook for more information related to receiving course credit.

For students that started their program in Fall 2023 and beyond: When students pass the exam, they will receive a CR for the course. If students attempt and do not pass the exam, they will receive an no credit (NC) for the course. When repeating the exam, the student will need re-register in the EDUC 699 course the following semester. The EDUC 699 course can be repeated up to three times.

The CPCE covers the eight Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) common-core areas as defined by their Standards for Preparation:

1. Human growth and development – studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.
2. Social and cultural foundations – studies that provide an understanding of issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society.
3. Helping relationships – studies that provide an understanding of counseling and consultation processes.
4. Group work – studies that provide an understanding of group development, dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills, and other group work approaches.
5. Career and lifestyle development – studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors.
6. Appraisal – studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
7. Research and program evaluation – studies that provide an understanding of types of research methods, basic statistics, and ethical and legal considerations in research.
8. Professional orientation and ethics – studies that provide an understanding of all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing.

The exam is administered three ways:

1. In-Person Testing at the University of Redlands (CPCE-APB) – The CPCE will be administered at the University of Redlands (on the main campus) once a year. Proposed testing dates can be found at the top of this page. This form of administration costs $75 per attempt. Exam dates will be determined and posted via an announcement. The availability of campus testing is subject to unforeseen circumstances at the university level and/or community level (e.g., lack of available proctors).
2. In-Person Computer-Based Testing at a Pearson Vue Center – Students can arrange an individualized date at one of the Pearson Vue Centers located throughout Southern California. The cost associated with this form of administration is $150.
3. Virtually Using a Personal Desktop or Laptop – Students can arrange to take the exam at their home through Pearson OnVue. This form of administration costs $150. Students will be required to commit to specific environmental regulations to ensure a secure testing site.

The purpose of test accommodations is to provide students with full access to the test. Pearson VUE provides reasonable and appropriate test accommodations to individuals with documented disabilities who demonstrate a need for test accommodations. 

Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact your advisor for further questions related to testing accommodations.

Pearson VUE test accommodations may include things such as:

• A separate testing room
• Extra testing time
• A reader or recorder

Students enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program must earn a minimum score of 84 to pass the exam.

Per Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) policy, candidates who do not meet the minimum passing score for the CPCE exam are eligible to re-register after a waiting period.

• Candidates who test on campus or at a Pearson Vue Center are eligible to re-register after 30 days of taking an exam.
• Candidates who test via OnVue (at home) are eligible to re-register for the OnVUE format after 90 days of taking an exam.
• Candidates who tested via OnVue (at home) and wish to switch to an alternate format (on campus or Pearson Vue Center) are eligible to re-register after 30 days.

Students who do not pass the exam on their first attempt are encouraged to consult with the Program Coordinator to seek advice and develop a comprehensive plan of action prior to retaking the exam. Candidates who fail a second attempt must contact their Program Coordinator for approval to re-test. Once granted, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) will assist with initiating a new authorization via CCE.

Students who fail a third attempt of the CPCE exam should contact their Program Coordinator. 

Students can access your scores in your Student Profile found on the Pearson VUE website within 48 hours of taking the exam. Students are responsible to upload exam results to Etrieve. Once passing results are received, a CR (credit grade) can be issued for the EDUC 699 course.