CPCE Practice Test Exam | 150 Questions and Correct
Answers Plus Rationale | New Update 2026-2027 |
Graded A+
NBCC Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards
Ethics and Professional Standards
1. The NBCC Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards of the American Counseling
Association (ACA) do not include a statement reflecting the principle that:
A) counselors have a right to protect clients from themselves if the clients give
evidence of being self-injurious.
B) revelation of a counselor's notes on a client should not be made to other
professionals unless the client has provided written permission or the information
has been subpoenaed by a court of law.
C) counselors should receive appropriate fees for services rendered regardless of
the situations or settings in which the services were rendered.
D) improvement of the profession through a variety of professional involvements
is a responsibility of all counselors.
Correct Answer: C) counselors should receive appropriate fees for services
rendered regardless of the situations or settings in which the services were
rendered.
Rationale: The NBCC and ACA Codes of Ethics do not contain a statement
requiring counselors to receive appropriate fees regardless of the situation or
setting. Ethical codes recognize that counselors may provide pro bono services
and that fees may be adjusted based on client circumstances. The other options
reflect principles found in ethical codes: protecting clients from self-harm,
maintaining confidentiality, and contributing to professional development.
2. A client has concluded a series of counseling sessions with another counselor
and has now come to you for counseling. According to the NBCC ethical
standards, you should:
,A) proceed as you would with any other new client.
B) contact the other counselor and find out if it is appropriate for you to counsel
the client.
C) contact the other counselor to ensure that you do not cover the same topic
areas with the client.
D) advise the client to continue with the other counselor.
Correct Answer: A) proceed as you would with any other new client.
Rationale: According to NBCC ethical standards, when a client has concluded
counseling with another counselor and seeks services from a new counselor, the
new counselor should proceed as with any other new client. There is no ethical
requirement to contact the previous counselor unless the client requests
coordination of care or there are specific clinical concerns.
3. Your employer has a policy which necessitates that you report all instances of
child abuse to state authorities. A client alludes (in your judgment) to the
possibility of (the client) being a child abuser. As a counselor you should:
A) contact your lawyer; the policy is a violation of the "fair trade" laws.
B) refer the person elsewhere; receipt of a salary constitutes voluntary agreement
with the employer's policies.
C) inform the client of the policy and let the client decide how to proceed.
D) contact a consultant; then do as the consultant suggests.
Correct Answer: C) inform the client of the policy and let the client decide how
to proceed.
Rationale: Counselors have both ethical and legal obligations regarding child
abuse reporting. The counselor should inform the client of the limits of
confidentiality, including the employer's policy and state laws requiring reporting
of child abuse. The client should be informed of these limits at the outset of
counseling and reminded when such situations arise.
4. A member of the local clergy telephones and asks for your evaluation of the
spiritual values of a person whom the caller knows was one of your clients. The
,caller wants your opinion because the former client is an applicant to a
theological institution for which the caller is the local applicant evaluator. You
should:
A) respond orally but require that no records be made of the conversation and
that no comments be attributed to you.
B) inform the caller that under no circumstances are you ethically permitted to
divulge whether a person is or has been a client or any information about a client
without the client's permission.
C) inform the caller that you need to call the former client and obtain the client's
permission before you can express your opinions.
D) seek the counsel of your supervisor to determine what types of information it
would be permissible to divulge.
Correct Answer: B) inform the caller that under no circumstances are you
ethically permitted to divulge whether a person is or has been a client or any
information about a client without the client's permission.
Rationale: Confidentiality is a fundamental ethical principle. Counselors cannot
even confirm whether a person is or has been a client without the client's
permission. This protects the client's privacy and the therapeutic relationship. The
counselor should not seek supervision to determine what to divulge; the ethical
standard is clear.
5. You have been providing career counseling to a client who is seeking
employment. Concurrent to the counseling, and with your knowledge, the client
has made application for employment with several employers. A potential
employer calls you and asks for your opinion as to your client's suitability for the
employer's job opening. Under which of the following conditions are you free
(i.e., not in violation of professional ethics) to provide the information
requested?
A) when it is clear that the client will not get the job unless the information is
given
B) when you are certain that the information you would provide would assure that
the client would get the job
, C) when in your best judgment you believe the information would enhance the
client's chances for getting the job
D) none of the above
Correct Answer: D) none of the above
Rationale: Counselors cannot release information about clients to potential
employers without the client's written consent, regardless of the potential benefit.
The client must provide written authorization before any information is shared.
None of the given conditions satisfy the ethical requirement for informed consent.
6. According to the NBCC Code of Ethics and the ACA Code of Ethics, when
should a counselor try to persuade the client to report knowledge of a crime to
the appropriate law enforcement authorities?
A) when there is imminent danger to others
B) when there is a crime in progress
C) after the crime
D) never
Correct Answer: A) when there is imminent danger to others
Rationale: Counselors have a duty to warn and protect when there is imminent
danger to identifiable others. In such cases, the counselor should encourage the
client to report and may need to take action to protect potential victims. For past
crimes without ongoing danger, the counselor maintains confidentiality.
7. Ethics always describe:
A) laws.
B) universal principles which apply to all helpers.
C) standards of conduct imposed by ACA and NBCC.
D) all of the above.
Correct Answer: C) standards of conduct imposed by ACA and NBCC.
Rationale: Ethics in counseling are standards of conduct established by
professional organizations such as ACA and NBCC. They are not laws (which are
Answers Plus Rationale | New Update 2026-2027 |
Graded A+
NBCC Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards
Ethics and Professional Standards
1. The NBCC Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards of the American Counseling
Association (ACA) do not include a statement reflecting the principle that:
A) counselors have a right to protect clients from themselves if the clients give
evidence of being self-injurious.
B) revelation of a counselor's notes on a client should not be made to other
professionals unless the client has provided written permission or the information
has been subpoenaed by a court of law.
C) counselors should receive appropriate fees for services rendered regardless of
the situations or settings in which the services were rendered.
D) improvement of the profession through a variety of professional involvements
is a responsibility of all counselors.
Correct Answer: C) counselors should receive appropriate fees for services
rendered regardless of the situations or settings in which the services were
rendered.
Rationale: The NBCC and ACA Codes of Ethics do not contain a statement
requiring counselors to receive appropriate fees regardless of the situation or
setting. Ethical codes recognize that counselors may provide pro bono services
and that fees may be adjusted based on client circumstances. The other options
reflect principles found in ethical codes: protecting clients from self-harm,
maintaining confidentiality, and contributing to professional development.
2. A client has concluded a series of counseling sessions with another counselor
and has now come to you for counseling. According to the NBCC ethical
standards, you should:
,A) proceed as you would with any other new client.
B) contact the other counselor and find out if it is appropriate for you to counsel
the client.
C) contact the other counselor to ensure that you do not cover the same topic
areas with the client.
D) advise the client to continue with the other counselor.
Correct Answer: A) proceed as you would with any other new client.
Rationale: According to NBCC ethical standards, when a client has concluded
counseling with another counselor and seeks services from a new counselor, the
new counselor should proceed as with any other new client. There is no ethical
requirement to contact the previous counselor unless the client requests
coordination of care or there are specific clinical concerns.
3. Your employer has a policy which necessitates that you report all instances of
child abuse to state authorities. A client alludes (in your judgment) to the
possibility of (the client) being a child abuser. As a counselor you should:
A) contact your lawyer; the policy is a violation of the "fair trade" laws.
B) refer the person elsewhere; receipt of a salary constitutes voluntary agreement
with the employer's policies.
C) inform the client of the policy and let the client decide how to proceed.
D) contact a consultant; then do as the consultant suggests.
Correct Answer: C) inform the client of the policy and let the client decide how
to proceed.
Rationale: Counselors have both ethical and legal obligations regarding child
abuse reporting. The counselor should inform the client of the limits of
confidentiality, including the employer's policy and state laws requiring reporting
of child abuse. The client should be informed of these limits at the outset of
counseling and reminded when such situations arise.
4. A member of the local clergy telephones and asks for your evaluation of the
spiritual values of a person whom the caller knows was one of your clients. The
,caller wants your opinion because the former client is an applicant to a
theological institution for which the caller is the local applicant evaluator. You
should:
A) respond orally but require that no records be made of the conversation and
that no comments be attributed to you.
B) inform the caller that under no circumstances are you ethically permitted to
divulge whether a person is or has been a client or any information about a client
without the client's permission.
C) inform the caller that you need to call the former client and obtain the client's
permission before you can express your opinions.
D) seek the counsel of your supervisor to determine what types of information it
would be permissible to divulge.
Correct Answer: B) inform the caller that under no circumstances are you
ethically permitted to divulge whether a person is or has been a client or any
information about a client without the client's permission.
Rationale: Confidentiality is a fundamental ethical principle. Counselors cannot
even confirm whether a person is or has been a client without the client's
permission. This protects the client's privacy and the therapeutic relationship. The
counselor should not seek supervision to determine what to divulge; the ethical
standard is clear.
5. You have been providing career counseling to a client who is seeking
employment. Concurrent to the counseling, and with your knowledge, the client
has made application for employment with several employers. A potential
employer calls you and asks for your opinion as to your client's suitability for the
employer's job opening. Under which of the following conditions are you free
(i.e., not in violation of professional ethics) to provide the information
requested?
A) when it is clear that the client will not get the job unless the information is
given
B) when you are certain that the information you would provide would assure that
the client would get the job
, C) when in your best judgment you believe the information would enhance the
client's chances for getting the job
D) none of the above
Correct Answer: D) none of the above
Rationale: Counselors cannot release information about clients to potential
employers without the client's written consent, regardless of the potential benefit.
The client must provide written authorization before any information is shared.
None of the given conditions satisfy the ethical requirement for informed consent.
6. According to the NBCC Code of Ethics and the ACA Code of Ethics, when
should a counselor try to persuade the client to report knowledge of a crime to
the appropriate law enforcement authorities?
A) when there is imminent danger to others
B) when there is a crime in progress
C) after the crime
D) never
Correct Answer: A) when there is imminent danger to others
Rationale: Counselors have a duty to warn and protect when there is imminent
danger to identifiable others. In such cases, the counselor should encourage the
client to report and may need to take action to protect potential victims. For past
crimes without ongoing danger, the counselor maintains confidentiality.
7. Ethics always describe:
A) laws.
B) universal principles which apply to all helpers.
C) standards of conduct imposed by ACA and NBCC.
D) all of the above.
Correct Answer: C) standards of conduct imposed by ACA and NBCC.
Rationale: Ethics in counseling are standards of conduct established by
professional organizations such as ACA and NBCC. They are not laws (which are
