1
CPCE Exam Preparation 2025/2026 | Practice
Questions and Detailed Solutions
1. The profession of counseling began in early vocational guidance and
counseling activities. A landmark in the early development of the field is...
a. formation of the American Counseling Association
b. establishment of psychology laboratories in Germany
c. publishing of Frank Parson's book, Choosing a Vocation
d. the National Defense Education Act - ANSWER C
2. Conversion therapy which seeks to change a person's sexuality or gender
identity...
a. has been banned by legislation in a number of states
b. does not appear to be influenced by any religious practices
c. is most useful when conducted with older individuals
d. has been approved by the U.S. Supreme Court for use by certain
institutions. - ANSWER A
3. Which of the following statements about counselor use of technology and
social media in counseling is NOT true?
a. because of the difficulties across distances, informed consent is not
necessary
b. separate social media web pages for professional and personal use are
necessary
c. counselors must verify the client's identity at the start and throughout
the counseling process.
d. counselors should make reasonable efforts to determine if clients are
intellectually, emotionally, and physically capable of using the
technology chosen. - ANSWER A
4. There are circumstances when a counselor is not bound by the ethical
principle of confidentiality. One of these is...
a. the client signs an informed consent statement
b. the client's condition indicates a danger to self or others
c. the client is taking medication
d. the client has a clear diagnosable condition. - ANSWER B
, 2
5. State licensure laws are designed to...
a. protect the public receiving counseling services
b. standardize the training of counselors
c. identify and discourage counselors from charging too much for their
services
d. protect the mental health field for psychologists and social workers. -
ANSWER A
6. Frank is a client in your private practice who is unemployed and looking for
work. One day, an employer in the area calls for a recommendation for
Frank who has listed you as a reference on his work application. You
should...
a. tell the employer about all of Frank's positive traits
b. tell the employer nothing until you have a signed release from Frank
c. tell the employer vague generalities which could apply to anyone
d. put the employer on Hold until you can reach Frank and get his
consent. - ANSWER B
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
a. the Tarasoff case had its origin at the California Supreme Court
b. intended victims must be warned even if living out of state
c. the counselor must break confidentiality if necessary to warn an
intended victim
d. all the states have passed legislation affirming the California decision.
- ANSWER D
8. You are conducting a community education class for the mental health
center for which you work. One of the attendees approaches you after the
session and asks about individual counseling with you. Since you also have
a small private practice, you tell the individual to...
a. call your mental health center's intake department to schedule an
appointment
b. call your private office the next day to schedule an appointment
c. make an appointment for the next day to see the individual in your
private practice
d. refer the client to you co worker in your private practice. - ANSWER
A
, 3
9. The national law which requires the protection of client privacy including
the transmission of records and insurance claim information is...
a. FERPA-the Buckely Amendment
b. Title IX
c. Mental Health Parity Act
d. HIPAA - ANSWER D
10.When it becomes obvious that a client's wishes are in direct conflict with
your own value system, as an ethical counselor, you should...
a. not reveal your views to the client
b. explain your difficulty to the client and promise to try not to let it
interfere with the counseling process
c. refuse to even see the client
d. convince the client that your way of thinking is in her or his best
interest - ANSWER B
11.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
a. CORE and CACREP have reached an agreement to merge
b. ACA publishes a state by state guide about licensure requirements
c. a new accrediting body titled Master's in Psychology and Counseling
will be replacing CACREP
d. a formal statement about licensure portability ahs been issued by ACA
- ANSWER C
12.In developing a counseling program, which of the following steps would
mist likely be the best to begin with?
a. implementation
b. develop a plan
c. needs assessment
d. evaluation - ANSWER C
13.A number of principles underlie ethical decision making as practiced by
counselors. Which of the following is NOT one of the principles?
a. competence
b. autonomy
c. nonmaleficence
d. beneficence - ANSWER A
14.Managing and maintaining boundaries presents issues to all counselors.
Which of the following statements is most accurate?
, 4
a. counselors can never knowingly begin a professional counseling
relationship with members of associations or organizations both
belong to
b. if counselors extend the boundaries of their relationships with a
current r former client, they document potential benefits and
consequences
c. counselors may enter nonprofessional in person or electronic
relationships with former clients
d. when counselors change their role with a client, for example, going
form a counseling role to an evaluative role, they should consider
telling the client. - ANSWER B
15.The professional honor society which serves counseling students as well as
professional counselors is known as...
a. Psi Chi
b. Phi Beta Kappa
c. Alpha Omega
d. Chi Sigma Iota - ANSWER D
16.Which of the following statements about licensure is NOT true?
a. All 50 states now have licensure statutes
b. The state of Virginia passed the first general practice counselor
licensure law
c. some state licensure laws are practice control and others are title
control
d. once licensed in one state, you are automatically licensed in another
state you might move to - ANSWER D
17.Self concepts are individuals' perception of who they are, their attributes and
traits. Stabilization of one's self concept
a. typically occurs during the pre school years
b. is completed by early adolescence
c. may be influenced by cultural and fmaily factors
d. seldom stabilizes in one's lifetime - ANSWER C
18.Which of the following is NOT a neurotransmitter which facilitates
messages between neurons?
a. dopamine
b. serotonin
CPCE Exam Preparation 2025/2026 | Practice
Questions and Detailed Solutions
1. The profession of counseling began in early vocational guidance and
counseling activities. A landmark in the early development of the field is...
a. formation of the American Counseling Association
b. establishment of psychology laboratories in Germany
c. publishing of Frank Parson's book, Choosing a Vocation
d. the National Defense Education Act - ANSWER C
2. Conversion therapy which seeks to change a person's sexuality or gender
identity...
a. has been banned by legislation in a number of states
b. does not appear to be influenced by any religious practices
c. is most useful when conducted with older individuals
d. has been approved by the U.S. Supreme Court for use by certain
institutions. - ANSWER A
3. Which of the following statements about counselor use of technology and
social media in counseling is NOT true?
a. because of the difficulties across distances, informed consent is not
necessary
b. separate social media web pages for professional and personal use are
necessary
c. counselors must verify the client's identity at the start and throughout
the counseling process.
d. counselors should make reasonable efforts to determine if clients are
intellectually, emotionally, and physically capable of using the
technology chosen. - ANSWER A
4. There are circumstances when a counselor is not bound by the ethical
principle of confidentiality. One of these is...
a. the client signs an informed consent statement
b. the client's condition indicates a danger to self or others
c. the client is taking medication
d. the client has a clear diagnosable condition. - ANSWER B
, 2
5. State licensure laws are designed to...
a. protect the public receiving counseling services
b. standardize the training of counselors
c. identify and discourage counselors from charging too much for their
services
d. protect the mental health field for psychologists and social workers. -
ANSWER A
6. Frank is a client in your private practice who is unemployed and looking for
work. One day, an employer in the area calls for a recommendation for
Frank who has listed you as a reference on his work application. You
should...
a. tell the employer about all of Frank's positive traits
b. tell the employer nothing until you have a signed release from Frank
c. tell the employer vague generalities which could apply to anyone
d. put the employer on Hold until you can reach Frank and get his
consent. - ANSWER B
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
a. the Tarasoff case had its origin at the California Supreme Court
b. intended victims must be warned even if living out of state
c. the counselor must break confidentiality if necessary to warn an
intended victim
d. all the states have passed legislation affirming the California decision.
- ANSWER D
8. You are conducting a community education class for the mental health
center for which you work. One of the attendees approaches you after the
session and asks about individual counseling with you. Since you also have
a small private practice, you tell the individual to...
a. call your mental health center's intake department to schedule an
appointment
b. call your private office the next day to schedule an appointment
c. make an appointment for the next day to see the individual in your
private practice
d. refer the client to you co worker in your private practice. - ANSWER
A
, 3
9. The national law which requires the protection of client privacy including
the transmission of records and insurance claim information is...
a. FERPA-the Buckely Amendment
b. Title IX
c. Mental Health Parity Act
d. HIPAA - ANSWER D
10.When it becomes obvious that a client's wishes are in direct conflict with
your own value system, as an ethical counselor, you should...
a. not reveal your views to the client
b. explain your difficulty to the client and promise to try not to let it
interfere with the counseling process
c. refuse to even see the client
d. convince the client that your way of thinking is in her or his best
interest - ANSWER B
11.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
a. CORE and CACREP have reached an agreement to merge
b. ACA publishes a state by state guide about licensure requirements
c. a new accrediting body titled Master's in Psychology and Counseling
will be replacing CACREP
d. a formal statement about licensure portability ahs been issued by ACA
- ANSWER C
12.In developing a counseling program, which of the following steps would
mist likely be the best to begin with?
a. implementation
b. develop a plan
c. needs assessment
d. evaluation - ANSWER C
13.A number of principles underlie ethical decision making as practiced by
counselors. Which of the following is NOT one of the principles?
a. competence
b. autonomy
c. nonmaleficence
d. beneficence - ANSWER A
14.Managing and maintaining boundaries presents issues to all counselors.
Which of the following statements is most accurate?
, 4
a. counselors can never knowingly begin a professional counseling
relationship with members of associations or organizations both
belong to
b. if counselors extend the boundaries of their relationships with a
current r former client, they document potential benefits and
consequences
c. counselors may enter nonprofessional in person or electronic
relationships with former clients
d. when counselors change their role with a client, for example, going
form a counseling role to an evaluative role, they should consider
telling the client. - ANSWER B
15.The professional honor society which serves counseling students as well as
professional counselors is known as...
a. Psi Chi
b. Phi Beta Kappa
c. Alpha Omega
d. Chi Sigma Iota - ANSWER D
16.Which of the following statements about licensure is NOT true?
a. All 50 states now have licensure statutes
b. The state of Virginia passed the first general practice counselor
licensure law
c. some state licensure laws are practice control and others are title
control
d. once licensed in one state, you are automatically licensed in another
state you might move to - ANSWER D
17.Self concepts are individuals' perception of who they are, their attributes and
traits. Stabilization of one's self concept
a. typically occurs during the pre school years
b. is completed by early adolescence
c. may be influenced by cultural and fmaily factors
d. seldom stabilizes in one's lifetime - ANSWER C
18.Which of the following is NOT a neurotransmitter which facilitates
messages between neurons?
a. dopamine
b. serotonin
