Master’s Comprehensive Examination
Master’s Comprehensive Examination
All Counselor Education students will complete a Comprehensive Examination prior to graduation (i.e. during their last semester of internship) known as the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). School Counseling students are also responsible for passing the Florida Teacher Certification Examination as well as the subject area examination in Guidance and Counseling. For additional information about these School Counseling exams, go to the Florida DOE website.
Purpose
The purpose of the CPCE examination process is to help students synthesize their learning about counseling and to ensure that students have a thorough understanding of professional attitudes, skills, and knowledge related to the eight common-core areas as defined by CACREP’s Standards for Preparation. Evaluation of students’ examinations will provide the faculty an opportunity to appraise students’ academic preparation.
Format and Description
The CPCE is an objective test developed by the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE), an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselor (NBCC). The CPCE is a knowledge-based examination that reflects the eight core curriculum areas approved by CACREP. The exam is a summative evaluation that measures pertinent and professional knowledge acquired by students during their counselor preparation programs.
The CPCE consists of 160 items with 20 items per CACREP area. The exam is administered in whole and not by sections. The 8 core curriculum areas of the CPCE are:
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. Counseling and Helping Relationships – studies that provide an understanding of counseling and consultation processes.
4. Group Counseling and 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 Development - studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors.
6. Assessment and Testing – 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 Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice – studies that provide an understanding of all aspects of professional functioning including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing.
Students should consult with their Advisor regarding their readiness to take the exam. Advisors will provide advice about preparation for the exam. Students with special needs should consult with their Advisors to obtain assistance in arranging individual examination requirements.
Process and Cost of the Exam
The CPCE is administered by computer through the University Testing Center (UTC). Students will begin to receive emails related to the registration process approximately one month after the submission deadline.
In these emails, students will be instructed to complete all of the following steps:
1) Register to test on campus with the UTC and pay their $20 proctoring fee
a. An email with a link to register & pay will come from the UTC and/or a UTC representative
b. The test day location, parameters, and details will also come from the UTC and/or the representative
2) Register with the CCE for permission to test and to receive a Pearson Vue Candidate ID Number
a. An email with a link to register with the CCE will come from Program Assistant
3) Approximately one week after completing Step 2, students will receive an email from Pearson Vue indicating that they have permission to test and provides a Candidate ID Number
a. Follow the directions in the attachment from Program Assistant’s original email (Step 2.a.) to complete the registration process with Pearson Vue and pay the exam’s $75 fee.
As such, the total cost of the exam is $95. Both fees must be paid, and all steps must be followed to be fully registered. It is the student’s responsibility to follow all registration directives accurately and in a timely fashion.
Students unable/unwilling to take the exam on the scheduled date (outside of the parameters listed below under the “Make-Up Exam Policy”) must contact their Advisor well in advance of the test date. The Advisor will send the Program Assistant the name of the student who in turn will be sent information for registering for the exam at an off-campus location (which must be taken the same week as the on-campus exam). The cost to test off-campus is $150.
Criterion for Passing
The minimum passing score for the CPCE is at or above the national mean. This score may be adjusted from time to time in response to national trends.
Remediation Procedures
Students who do not pass the exam the first time will be able to re-take the exam during the current semester. The retake will involve the entire exam and the student is responsible for reapplying and repaying for the exam. In the event a student does not pass the comprehensive examination the second time, the Counselor Education faculty will develop appropriate remediation procedures. These procedures may include such things as: (a) completing an essay exam/case study specific to the area(s) that was/were not passed on the CPCE, (b) writing a comprehensive paper specific to the missed content, (c) waiting until the following semester to re-take the entire exam, and/or (d) retaking the course where the failed content was covered. Students will not be able to complete their Internship (i.e. will receive an “Incomplete”) and therefore will not be able to graduate until after they successfully pass the comprehensive examination.
Administration of Comprehensive Examination
The four (4) hour exam will be administered during the student’s last semester of internship, usually at the mid-semester point. Administration dates and payment deadlines will be distributed via email and the Counselor Education website. Those that do not pass the exam will need to follow through with the remediation plan discussed above.
• The examination will begin promptly at the posted times.
• Food and drinks are not allowed in the examination room.
• Please bring a picture ID for identification purposes.
Make-Up Exam Policy
If due to extenuating circumstance (i.e. a documented medical issue, a family emergency, and/or a documented religious observance) you are unable to take the CPCE exam when it is offered, you must obtain preauthorization through your academic Advisor. You Advisor will need documented evidence from you as to the circumstance that is interfering with your taking the exam. Please note that social plans (e.g., tickets for a vacation) will not be approved for a Make-Up Exam and instead you will need to follow the procedures for taking the exam off campus (as explained above). Once you have acquired your Advisor’s approval in writing, you must obtain an ACCESS CODE from the Counselor Education office in order to take the exam on the make-up date that has been scheduled with UCF Testing Center. Please note that the Testing Center will not approve an alternate date without the Counselor Education Program’s approval and Access Code.
Further Questions
Please address any questions you may have to your Advisor.
Application Form for CPCE Exam
Semester of Exam:
Applicant’s Name:
Student ID #
Phone: (C) E-mail address:
Faculty Advisor:
Payment: The total cost of the CPCE exam is $95, $75 of which goes to the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) and will be paid online through Pearson VUE. The remaining $20 goes to the University Testing Center to cover their fee for proctoring the exam: this fee will also be paid online through a separate email prompt.
Please state below any special accommodations you need to take this examination. Please note that special accommodations must be approved by the Office of Student Accessibility Services.
Attach a copy of your Graduate Plan of Study (i.e. the Graduate Plan of Study [GPS]) verifies the grades you have earned throughout your course of study and is found on your MyUCF page).
Below, write the Semester/Year (e.g., F/2020, SP/2021, SU/2021) that you took the required courses. Write “Current” if you are currently taking the course or “Same Sem” if you are taking the course the same semester that you’ll be taking the exam.
UCF Course Course Name Sem/Year
Number Completed
EDF 6155 Lifespan Human Development
EDF 6481 Fund of Grad Research
MHS 5005 Intro to Counseling Profession
MHS 6220 Individual Psychoed Testing I
MHS 6400 Theories of Individ Counseling
MHS 6401 Techniques of Counseling
MHS 6420 Multicultural Counseling
MHS 6500 Group Procedures in Counseling
MHS 6702 Legal & Ethical Issues (CMHC/MCFT only)
SDS 6347 Career Development
SPS 6815 Legal & Ethical Issues (SCH only)
My signature below signifies that I have read and understand the information and guidelines of this Comprehensive Examination Application and that I agree to abide by the UCF Academic Integrity policy in taking the exam. My Advisor’s signature signifies that s/he has reviewed my Graduate Plan of Study to ensure that the above courses have been completed and/or are in progress.
_________________________________________________________
Student Signature Date
_________________________________________________________
Advisor Signature Date
Students must submit this application and their GPS to the Counselor Ed office (ED 322)
by the following dates:
For those taking the exam in the Fall Semester, your Application Deadline is July 15th
For those taking the exam in the Spring Semester, your Application Deadline is December 1st
For those taking the exam in the Summer Semester, your Application Deadline is April 15th
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