CPCE PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
The0NBCC0Code0of0Ethics0and0Ethical0Standards0of0the0American0Counseling0Associ
ation0(ACA)0do0not0include0a0statement0reflecting0the0principle0that0
A)0counselors0have0a0right0to0protect0clients0from0themselves0if0the0clients0give0eviden
ce0of0being0self-0injurious.0
B)0revelation0of0a0counselor's0notes0on0a0client0should0not0be0made0to0other0professio
nal0unless0the0client0has0provided0written0permission0to0do0so0or0the0information0has0
been0subpoenaed0by0a0court0of0law.0
C)0counselors0should0receive0appropriate0fees0for0services0rendered0regardless0of0the
0situations0or0settings0in0which0the0services0were0rendered.0
D)0improvement0of0the0profession0through0a0variety0of0professional0involvements0is0a0
responsibility0of0all0counselors.0-
0CORRECT0ANSWER:0C)0counselors0should0receive0appropriate0fees0for0services0ren
dered0regardless0of0the0situations0or0settings0in0which0the0services0were0rendered.
The0state0in0which0you0reside0does0not0yet0have0counselor0licensure,0so0a0local0civic0
club0has0asked0you0to0address0their0members0by0presenting0an0overview0of0counselo
r0licensure0and0its0benefits0to0the0public.0In0your0presentation0to0the0group0you0note0t
hat0
0
A)0licensure0automatically0entitles0counselors0to0receive0third-
0party0payments0from0insurance0companies.0
0
B)0some0professional0groups0(e.g.,0psychologists)0have0opposed0counselor0licensure0
although0the0need0for0mental0health0services0for0the0public0has0increased0steadily.0
0
C)0state-
level0counselor0licensure0laws0have0existed0for0over0400years0although0it0is0only0recen
tly0that0a0majority0of0the0states0have0counselor0licensure0laws.0
0
D)0one0of0the0ways0that0counselor0licensure0laws0protect0the0public's0general0welfare0i
s0through0restriction0of0the0use0of0the0term0"counselor"0to0those0persons0who0have0gr
aduated0from0counselor0education0programs.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
,B)0some0professional0groups0(e.g.,0psychologists)0have0opposed0counselor0licensure0
although0the0need0for0mental0health0services0for0the0public0has0increased0steadily.
A0client0has0concluded0a0series0of0counseling0sessions0with0another0counselor0and0h
as0now0come0to0you0for0counseling.0According0to0the0NBCC0ethical0standards,0you0sh
ould0
0
A)0proceed0as0you0would0with0any0other0new0client.0
0
B)0contact0the0other0counselor0and0find0out0if0it0is0appropriate0for0you0to0counsel0the0c
lient.0
0
C)0contact0the0other0counselor0to0ensure0that0you0do0not0cover0the0same0topic0areas0
with0the0client.0
D)0advise0the0client0to0continue0with0the0other0counselor.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
A)0proceed0as0you0would0with0any0other0new0client.
Your0employer0has0a0policy0which0necessitates0that0you0report0all0instances0of0child0a
buse0to0state0authorities.0A0client0alludes0(in0your0judgment)0to0the0possibility0of0(the0c
lient)0being0a0child0abuser.0As0a0counselor0you0should0
A)0contact0your0lawyer;0the0policy0is0a0violation0of0the0"fair0trade"0laws.0
B)0refer0the0person0elsewhere;0receipt0of0a0salary0constitutes0voluntary0agreement0wit
h0the0employer's0policies.0
0
C)0inform0the0client0of0the0policy0and0let0the0client0decide0how0to0proceed.0
0
D)0contact0a0consultant;0then0do0as0the0consultant0suggests.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
C)0inform0the0client0of0the0policy0and0let0the0client0decide0how0to0proceed.
A0married0couple0comes0to0you,0as0a0counselor0in0private0practice0and0tells0you0that0t
hey0are0having0marital0difficulties0and0have0sought0counseling0for0resolution0of0them.0I
n0the0course0of0an0initial0session0with0them,0one0of0the0spouses0reports0being0a0new0
and0active0member0of0the0local0Alcoholics0Anonymous0(AA~)0group.0You0should0
A)0investigate0the0nature0of0the0local0AA's0activities0and0continue0counseling0if0those0
activities0do0not0include0accepted0definitions0of0counseling.0
0
B)0terminate0counseling0with0the0one0spouse0but0continue0to0work0with0the0spouse0w
ho0is0not0an0AA0participant.0
0
C)0offer0to0co-counsel0with0the0staff0of0the0local0AA.0
0
D)0refer0both0spouses0to0the0local0AA.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
A)0investigate0the0nature0of0the0local0AA's0activities0and0continue0counseling0if0those0
activities0do0not0include0accepted0definitions0of0counseling.
,A0member0of0the0local0clergy0telephones0and0asks0for0your0evaluation0of0the0spiritual0
values0of0a0person0whom0the0caller0knows0was0one0of0your0clients.0The0caller0wants0
your0opinion0because0the0former0client0is0an0applicant0to0a0theological0institution0for0w
hich0the0caller0is0the0local0applicant0evaluator.0You0should0
0a.0respond0orally0but0require0that0no0records0be0made0of0the0conversation0and0that0n
o0comments0be0attributed0to0you.
0b.0inform0the0caller0that0under0no0circumstances0are0you0ethically0permitted0to0divulg
e0whether0a0person0is0or0has0been0a0client0or0any0information0about0a0client0without0t
he0client's0permission.0
0c.0inform0the0caller0that0you0need0to0call0the0former0client0and0obtain0the0client's0per
mission0before0you0can0express0your0opinions.0
0d.0seek0the0counsel0of0your0supervisor0to0determine0what0types0of0information0it0woul
d0be0permissible0to0divulge.0-
0b.0inform0the0caller0that0under0no0circumstances0are0you0ethically0permitted0to0divulg
e0whether0a0person0is0or0has0been0a0client0or0any0information0about0a0client0without0t
he0client's0permission.
You0have0been0providing0career0counseling0to0a0client0who0is0seeking0employment.0C
oncurrent0to0the0counseling,0and0with0your0knowledge,0the0client0has0made0applicatio
n0for0employment0with0several0employers.0A0potential0employer0calls0you0and0asks0for
0your0opinion0as0to0your0client's0suitability0for0the0employer's0job0opening.0Under0whic
h0of0the0following0conditions0are0you0free0(i.e.,0not0in0violation0of0professional0ethics)0t
o0provide0the0information0requested?0
0a.0when0it0is0clear0that0the0client0will0not0get0the0job0unless0the0information0is0given0
0b.0when0you0are0certain0that0the0information0you0would0provide0would0assure0that0th
e0client0would0get0the0job0
0c.0when0in0your0best0judgment0you0believe0the0information0would0enhance0the0client'
s0chances0for0getting0the0job0
0d.0none0of0the0above0-0d.0none0of0the0above
As0applied0to0professional0licensure0of0counselors.0the0term0"reciprocity"0means0that0
0a.0one0licensing0agency0agrees0to0accept0the0licensing0standards0of0another0as0suffic
ient0for0its0own.0
0b.0a0licensed0counselor0may0legally0perform0the0functions0of0a0licensed0psychologist.
0
0c.0certification0is0synonymous0with0licensure.0
0d.0graduation0from0a0fully0accredited0counselor0education0program0automatically0cons
titutes0eligibility0for0licensure0-
0a.0one0licensing0agency0agrees0to0accept0the0licensing0standards0of0another0as0suffic
ient0for0its0own.
The0publication0that0is0likely0to0average0the0largest0number0of0current0research0article
s0on0the0counseling0process0is0the0
0a.0Journal0of0Counseling0Psychology.0
0b.0Review0of0Educational0Research.0
0c.0Journal0of0Consulting0and0Abnormal0Psychology.0
0d.0Journal0of0Nervous0and0Mental0Diseases.0-0a.0Journal0of0Counseling0Psychology.
, According0to0the0NBCC0Code0of0Ethics0and0the0ACA0Code0of0Ethics.0when0should0a0
counselor0try0to0persuade0the0client0to0report0knowledge0of0a0crime0to0the0appropriate
0law0enforcement0authorities?0
0a.0when0there0is0imminent0danger0to0others0
0b.0when0there0is0a0crime0in0progress0
0c.0after0the0crime0
0d.0never0-0a.0when0there0is0imminent0danger0to0others
Third0party0reimbursement0is0a0term0pertinent0to0
0a.0transactional0analysis.0
0b.0behavioral0therapy.0
0c.0insurance0practices.0
0d.0veterans'0educational0programs.0-0c.0insurance0practices.
In0the0late01970s,0AACD0(0known0as0ACA0since01992)0began0to0focus0very0heavily0on
0professional0credentialing.0This0led0to0the0formation0of0the
0a.0CCMHC.
0b.0NBCC.
0c.0CACREP,0formed0in01981.
0d.0APGA,0formed0in01952.0-0b.0NBCC.
By0passing0the0NCE,0a0counselor0can0attain_______0given0via0NBCC.
0a.0NCC,0a0generic0certification0for0counselors.
0b.0NCC,0a0specialty0mental0health0certification0for0counselors
0c.0NCC,0national0certification0for0school0counselors.
0d.0MAC,0master0addictions0counselor.0-
0a.0NCC,0a0generic0certification0for0counselors.
Which0choice0would0most0likely0violate0the0counseling0ethic0or0law0termed0"scope0of0p
ractice"?
0a.0A0counselor0who0is0using0good0accurate0empathy0with0a0client,0but0fails0to0confron
t0about0her0excessive0drinking.
0b.0A0licensed0counselor0who0gives0the0client0a0DSM0diagnostic0code0for0insurance.
0c.0A0counselor0who0is0too0active-directive0with0a0client.
0d.0A0counselor0who0is0conducting0a0strict0Freudian0psychoanalysis0with0the0client.0-
0d.0A0counselor0who0is0conducting0a0strict0Freudian0psychoanalysis0with0the0client.
Ethical0guidelines0were0first0created0for0the0helping0professions0in019530when0the0Am
erican0Psychological0Association0(APA)0published0their0first0code0of0ethics.0The0Natio
nal0Association0of0Social0Workers0(NASW)0created0their0code0in019600,and0in0196l,0th
e0organization0that0is0now0ACA0adopted0ethics0for0counselors.0Ethics0always0describe
0a.0laws.
0b.0universal0principles0which0apply0to0all0helpers.
0c.0standards-of0conduct0imposed0by0ACA0and0NBCC.
0d.0all0of0the0above.0-0c.0standards-of0conduct0imposed0by0ACA0and0NBCC.
AND ANSWERS
The0NBCC0Code0of0Ethics0and0Ethical0Standards0of0the0American0Counseling0Associ
ation0(ACA)0do0not0include0a0statement0reflecting0the0principle0that0
A)0counselors0have0a0right0to0protect0clients0from0themselves0if0the0clients0give0eviden
ce0of0being0self-0injurious.0
B)0revelation0of0a0counselor's0notes0on0a0client0should0not0be0made0to0other0professio
nal0unless0the0client0has0provided0written0permission0to0do0so0or0the0information0has0
been0subpoenaed0by0a0court0of0law.0
C)0counselors0should0receive0appropriate0fees0for0services0rendered0regardless0of0the
0situations0or0settings0in0which0the0services0were0rendered.0
D)0improvement0of0the0profession0through0a0variety0of0professional0involvements0is0a0
responsibility0of0all0counselors.0-
0CORRECT0ANSWER:0C)0counselors0should0receive0appropriate0fees0for0services0ren
dered0regardless0of0the0situations0or0settings0in0which0the0services0were0rendered.
The0state0in0which0you0reside0does0not0yet0have0counselor0licensure,0so0a0local0civic0
club0has0asked0you0to0address0their0members0by0presenting0an0overview0of0counselo
r0licensure0and0its0benefits0to0the0public.0In0your0presentation0to0the0group0you0note0t
hat0
0
A)0licensure0automatically0entitles0counselors0to0receive0third-
0party0payments0from0insurance0companies.0
0
B)0some0professional0groups0(e.g.,0psychologists)0have0opposed0counselor0licensure0
although0the0need0for0mental0health0services0for0the0public0has0increased0steadily.0
0
C)0state-
level0counselor0licensure0laws0have0existed0for0over0400years0although0it0is0only0recen
tly0that0a0majority0of0the0states0have0counselor0licensure0laws.0
0
D)0one0of0the0ways0that0counselor0licensure0laws0protect0the0public's0general0welfare0i
s0through0restriction0of0the0use0of0the0term0"counselor"0to0those0persons0who0have0gr
aduated0from0counselor0education0programs.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
,B)0some0professional0groups0(e.g.,0psychologists)0have0opposed0counselor0licensure0
although0the0need0for0mental0health0services0for0the0public0has0increased0steadily.
A0client0has0concluded0a0series0of0counseling0sessions0with0another0counselor0and0h
as0now0come0to0you0for0counseling.0According0to0the0NBCC0ethical0standards,0you0sh
ould0
0
A)0proceed0as0you0would0with0any0other0new0client.0
0
B)0contact0the0other0counselor0and0find0out0if0it0is0appropriate0for0you0to0counsel0the0c
lient.0
0
C)0contact0the0other0counselor0to0ensure0that0you0do0not0cover0the0same0topic0areas0
with0the0client.0
D)0advise0the0client0to0continue0with0the0other0counselor.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
A)0proceed0as0you0would0with0any0other0new0client.
Your0employer0has0a0policy0which0necessitates0that0you0report0all0instances0of0child0a
buse0to0state0authorities.0A0client0alludes0(in0your0judgment)0to0the0possibility0of0(the0c
lient)0being0a0child0abuser.0As0a0counselor0you0should0
A)0contact0your0lawyer;0the0policy0is0a0violation0of0the0"fair0trade"0laws.0
B)0refer0the0person0elsewhere;0receipt0of0a0salary0constitutes0voluntary0agreement0wit
h0the0employer's0policies.0
0
C)0inform0the0client0of0the0policy0and0let0the0client0decide0how0to0proceed.0
0
D)0contact0a0consultant;0then0do0as0the0consultant0suggests.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
C)0inform0the0client0of0the0policy0and0let0the0client0decide0how0to0proceed.
A0married0couple0comes0to0you,0as0a0counselor0in0private0practice0and0tells0you0that0t
hey0are0having0marital0difficulties0and0have0sought0counseling0for0resolution0of0them.0I
n0the0course0of0an0initial0session0with0them,0one0of0the0spouses0reports0being0a0new0
and0active0member0of0the0local0Alcoholics0Anonymous0(AA~)0group.0You0should0
A)0investigate0the0nature0of0the0local0AA's0activities0and0continue0counseling0if0those0
activities0do0not0include0accepted0definitions0of0counseling.0
0
B)0terminate0counseling0with0the0one0spouse0but0continue0to0work0with0the0spouse0w
ho0is0not0an0AA0participant.0
0
C)0offer0to0co-counsel0with0the0staff0of0the0local0AA.0
0
D)0refer0both0spouses0to0the0local0AA.0-0CORRECT0ANSWER:
A)0investigate0the0nature0of0the0local0AA's0activities0and0continue0counseling0if0those0
activities0do0not0include0accepted0definitions0of0counseling.
,A0member0of0the0local0clergy0telephones0and0asks0for0your0evaluation0of0the0spiritual0
values0of0a0person0whom0the0caller0knows0was0one0of0your0clients.0The0caller0wants0
your0opinion0because0the0former0client0is0an0applicant0to0a0theological0institution0for0w
hich0the0caller0is0the0local0applicant0evaluator.0You0should0
0a.0respond0orally0but0require0that0no0records0be0made0of0the0conversation0and0that0n
o0comments0be0attributed0to0you.
0b.0inform0the0caller0that0under0no0circumstances0are0you0ethically0permitted0to0divulg
e0whether0a0person0is0or0has0been0a0client0or0any0information0about0a0client0without0t
he0client's0permission.0
0c.0inform0the0caller0that0you0need0to0call0the0former0client0and0obtain0the0client's0per
mission0before0you0can0express0your0opinions.0
0d.0seek0the0counsel0of0your0supervisor0to0determine0what0types0of0information0it0woul
d0be0permissible0to0divulge.0-
0b.0inform0the0caller0that0under0no0circumstances0are0you0ethically0permitted0to0divulg
e0whether0a0person0is0or0has0been0a0client0or0any0information0about0a0client0without0t
he0client's0permission.
You0have0been0providing0career0counseling0to0a0client0who0is0seeking0employment.0C
oncurrent0to0the0counseling,0and0with0your0knowledge,0the0client0has0made0applicatio
n0for0employment0with0several0employers.0A0potential0employer0calls0you0and0asks0for
0your0opinion0as0to0your0client's0suitability0for0the0employer's0job0opening.0Under0whic
h0of0the0following0conditions0are0you0free0(i.e.,0not0in0violation0of0professional0ethics)0t
o0provide0the0information0requested?0
0a.0when0it0is0clear0that0the0client0will0not0get0the0job0unless0the0information0is0given0
0b.0when0you0are0certain0that0the0information0you0would0provide0would0assure0that0th
e0client0would0get0the0job0
0c.0when0in0your0best0judgment0you0believe0the0information0would0enhance0the0client'
s0chances0for0getting0the0job0
0d.0none0of0the0above0-0d.0none0of0the0above
As0applied0to0professional0licensure0of0counselors.0the0term0"reciprocity"0means0that0
0a.0one0licensing0agency0agrees0to0accept0the0licensing0standards0of0another0as0suffic
ient0for0its0own.0
0b.0a0licensed0counselor0may0legally0perform0the0functions0of0a0licensed0psychologist.
0
0c.0certification0is0synonymous0with0licensure.0
0d.0graduation0from0a0fully0accredited0counselor0education0program0automatically0cons
titutes0eligibility0for0licensure0-
0a.0one0licensing0agency0agrees0to0accept0the0licensing0standards0of0another0as0suffic
ient0for0its0own.
The0publication0that0is0likely0to0average0the0largest0number0of0current0research0article
s0on0the0counseling0process0is0the0
0a.0Journal0of0Counseling0Psychology.0
0b.0Review0of0Educational0Research.0
0c.0Journal0of0Consulting0and0Abnormal0Psychology.0
0d.0Journal0of0Nervous0and0Mental0Diseases.0-0a.0Journal0of0Counseling0Psychology.
, According0to0the0NBCC0Code0of0Ethics0and0the0ACA0Code0of0Ethics.0when0should0a0
counselor0try0to0persuade0the0client0to0report0knowledge0of0a0crime0to0the0appropriate
0law0enforcement0authorities?0
0a.0when0there0is0imminent0danger0to0others0
0b.0when0there0is0a0crime0in0progress0
0c.0after0the0crime0
0d.0never0-0a.0when0there0is0imminent0danger0to0others
Third0party0reimbursement0is0a0term0pertinent0to0
0a.0transactional0analysis.0
0b.0behavioral0therapy.0
0c.0insurance0practices.0
0d.0veterans'0educational0programs.0-0c.0insurance0practices.
In0the0late01970s,0AACD0(0known0as0ACA0since01992)0began0to0focus0very0heavily0on
0professional0credentialing.0This0led0to0the0formation0of0the
0a.0CCMHC.
0b.0NBCC.
0c.0CACREP,0formed0in01981.
0d.0APGA,0formed0in01952.0-0b.0NBCC.
By0passing0the0NCE,0a0counselor0can0attain_______0given0via0NBCC.
0a.0NCC,0a0generic0certification0for0counselors.
0b.0NCC,0a0specialty0mental0health0certification0for0counselors
0c.0NCC,0national0certification0for0school0counselors.
0d.0MAC,0master0addictions0counselor.0-
0a.0NCC,0a0generic0certification0for0counselors.
Which0choice0would0most0likely0violate0the0counseling0ethic0or0law0termed0"scope0of0p
ractice"?
0a.0A0counselor0who0is0using0good0accurate0empathy0with0a0client,0but0fails0to0confron
t0about0her0excessive0drinking.
0b.0A0licensed0counselor0who0gives0the0client0a0DSM0diagnostic0code0for0insurance.
0c.0A0counselor0who0is0too0active-directive0with0a0client.
0d.0A0counselor0who0is0conducting0a0strict0Freudian0psychoanalysis0with0the0client.0-
0d.0A0counselor0who0is0conducting0a0strict0Freudian0psychoanalysis0with0the0client.
Ethical0guidelines0were0first0created0for0the0helping0professions0in019530when0the0Am
erican0Psychological0Association0(APA)0published0their0first0code0of0ethics.0The0Natio
nal0Association0of0Social0Workers0(NASW)0created0their0code0in019600,and0in0196l,0th
e0organization0that0is0now0ACA0adopted0ethics0for0counselors.0Ethics0always0describe
0a.0laws.
0b.0universal0principles0which0apply0to0all0helpers.
0c.0standards-of0conduct0imposed0by0ACA0and0NBCC.
0d.0all0of0the0above.0-0c.0standards-of0conduct0imposed0by0ACA0and0NBCC.
