COUN 502 CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS WITH
ACCURATE ANSWERS
◉ The ACA was formed through the alliance of the following
professional groups:
Answer: National Vocational Guidance Association
National Association of Guidance Supervisors
American College Personnel Association
Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education
◉ American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA)
Answer: the professional organization that represents the interests and
needs of clinical mental health counselors
◉ Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational
Programs (CACREP)
Answer: - Established in 1981 by ACA
- An independent accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher
Education Accreditation
- The largest specialized accreditation body for master's and doctoral
programs in professional counseling
◉ What are three general components of the curricular model?
,Answer: Common Core Curriculum
Standards for Specialization
Professional Practice Experience
◉ What type programs are accredited?
Answer: Addiction Counseling
Career Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
College Counseling and Student Affairs
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
School Counseling
Rehabilitation Counseling
◉ CACREP has identified eight common core areas of study that are
required of all students in graduate counseling programs:
Answer: Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
Social and Cultural Diversity
Human Growth and Development
Career Development
Counseling and Helping Relationships
Group Work
Assessment
,Research and Program Evaluation
◉ Psychiatry/Psychiatrist
Answer: ‒ Earn a medical degree (MD) and complete a residency in
psychiatry.
‒ Schooled in the biomedical model, "which focuses on the physical
processes thought to underlay mental and emotional disorders".
‒ They are physicians who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and
preventing mental illness.
‒ They can prescribe medications.
‒ Their clients are called patients.
◉ Psychologists
Answer: ‒ Earn a doctoral degree in psychology (Ph.D), philosophy
(Psy.D), or education (Ed.D).
‒ They assess, diagnose, and treat mental illness and emotional distress.
‒ That have the statutory right to diagnose and are highly trained in
psychological testing.
‒ School work may be concentrated in clinical, counseling, or school-
related areas.
◉ Clinical Psychology/Psychologists
Answer: ‒ is the subdiscipline that is primarily focused on the study,
assessment, treatment, and prevention of abnormal behavior.
, ‒ Earn one of the following advanced degrees in psychology: a doctor of
philosophy (PhD), a doctor of education (EdD), or a doctor of
psychology (PsyD).
‒ Focus on a variety of serious mental illnesses, including bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorders, among others.
‒ Often employed in more clinical settings such as hospitals and medical
schools, though many also work in private practice.
◉ Counseling Psychologists
Answer: ‒ Stronger focus on healthy individuals, who have fewer
pathological mental problems.
‒ Their work focuses more on emotional, social and physical issues that
arise from typical life stresses or more serious issues associated with
school, work or family settings. Thus, their work is more client-centric,
focusing on wellness and prevention rather than pathology.
‒ Might see patients for relationship issues, substance abuse counseling,
career advice, difficulty adapting to life changes and other such issues.
‒ Counseling psychology programs tend to follow APA standards so
they have an emphasis on research, psychopathology, and assessment.
‒ They often use what is referred to as the scientist or practitioner
model.
‒ Counseling psychology programs emphasis is on the medical model.
◉ Mental Health Counselors
Answer: ‒ Earn either a master's or a doctorate in counseling from a
counselor education program and complete internships in specialty areas
such as school counseling; rehabilitation counseling; mental health
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS WITH
ACCURATE ANSWERS
◉ The ACA was formed through the alliance of the following
professional groups:
Answer: National Vocational Guidance Association
National Association of Guidance Supervisors
American College Personnel Association
Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education
◉ American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA)
Answer: the professional organization that represents the interests and
needs of clinical mental health counselors
◉ Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational
Programs (CACREP)
Answer: - Established in 1981 by ACA
- An independent accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher
Education Accreditation
- The largest specialized accreditation body for master's and doctoral
programs in professional counseling
◉ What are three general components of the curricular model?
,Answer: Common Core Curriculum
Standards for Specialization
Professional Practice Experience
◉ What type programs are accredited?
Answer: Addiction Counseling
Career Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
College Counseling and Student Affairs
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
School Counseling
Rehabilitation Counseling
◉ CACREP has identified eight common core areas of study that are
required of all students in graduate counseling programs:
Answer: Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
Social and Cultural Diversity
Human Growth and Development
Career Development
Counseling and Helping Relationships
Group Work
Assessment
,Research and Program Evaluation
◉ Psychiatry/Psychiatrist
Answer: ‒ Earn a medical degree (MD) and complete a residency in
psychiatry.
‒ Schooled in the biomedical model, "which focuses on the physical
processes thought to underlay mental and emotional disorders".
‒ They are physicians who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and
preventing mental illness.
‒ They can prescribe medications.
‒ Their clients are called patients.
◉ Psychologists
Answer: ‒ Earn a doctoral degree in psychology (Ph.D), philosophy
(Psy.D), or education (Ed.D).
‒ They assess, diagnose, and treat mental illness and emotional distress.
‒ That have the statutory right to diagnose and are highly trained in
psychological testing.
‒ School work may be concentrated in clinical, counseling, or school-
related areas.
◉ Clinical Psychology/Psychologists
Answer: ‒ is the subdiscipline that is primarily focused on the study,
assessment, treatment, and prevention of abnormal behavior.
, ‒ Earn one of the following advanced degrees in psychology: a doctor of
philosophy (PhD), a doctor of education (EdD), or a doctor of
psychology (PsyD).
‒ Focus on a variety of serious mental illnesses, including bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorders, among others.
‒ Often employed in more clinical settings such as hospitals and medical
schools, though many also work in private practice.
◉ Counseling Psychologists
Answer: ‒ Stronger focus on healthy individuals, who have fewer
pathological mental problems.
‒ Their work focuses more on emotional, social and physical issues that
arise from typical life stresses or more serious issues associated with
school, work or family settings. Thus, their work is more client-centric,
focusing on wellness and prevention rather than pathology.
‒ Might see patients for relationship issues, substance abuse counseling,
career advice, difficulty adapting to life changes and other such issues.
‒ Counseling psychology programs tend to follow APA standards so
they have an emphasis on research, psychopathology, and assessment.
‒ They often use what is referred to as the scientist or practitioner
model.
‒ Counseling psychology programs emphasis is on the medical model.
◉ Mental Health Counselors
Answer: ‒ Earn either a master's or a doctorate in counseling from a
counselor education program and complete internships in specialty areas
such as school counseling; rehabilitation counseling; mental health
