COUN 502 CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
◉ Which focuses specifically on Mental Health Counselors?
Answer: AMHCA (American Mental Health Counselor Association)
◉ Which is involved in accreditation of graduate counseling programs?
Answer: CACREP
◉ What type programs are accredited?
Answer: Career Counseling
School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
NOT counseling psychology
◉ Name some of the common core areas identified by CACREP.
Answer: 1. Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice
2. Social and Cultural Diversity
3. Human Growth and Development
4. Career Development
5. Counseling and Helping Relationships
,6. Group Counseling
7. Assessment and Training
8. Research & Program Eval
◉ Know the following professional groups was not directly involved in
the formation of what is now known as the ACA? National Vocational
Guidance Association, American College Personnel Association,
National Association for Guidance Supervisors
Answer: These Were:
National Vocational Guidance Association,
American College Personnel Association,
National Association for Guidance Supervisors
APA Was Not: American Psychological Association
◉ Psychiatry
Answer: Can prescribe psychoactive medications in all 50 states
- Went to 4 years of medical school
-Did a residency in psych
-Clients are called patients
-Biopsychological focus
◉ clinical psychology
Answer: i. Earn a PhD or EdD of PsyD, all states license psychologists,
but requirements differ.
, ii. Focused on the study, assessment, treatment and prevention of
abnormal behavior.
◉ mental health counselor
Answer: Recognized by ACA, CACREP, minimum of a masters degree
in counseling or related discipline.
◉ counseling psychologist
Answer: Focus on the presenting problems of relatively normal
populations, however this distinction has become less pronounced in
recent years.
-Psychologists have the state right to diagnose and treat mental illness,
they are highly trained in the administration and scoring of psych tests.
◉ Social workers
Answer: -Earn a MSW
-Some administer govt. programs to underprivileged, others do
counseling.-Different from counseling and psych and psychiatry in that
it mandates tonegotiate social systems and advocate for change, to
understand clients' habitats and niches and provide social services
◉ marriage and family therapist
Answer: LMFT
-Private practice and agency settings
-Possess skills in family systems assessment and treatment
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
◉ Which focuses specifically on Mental Health Counselors?
Answer: AMHCA (American Mental Health Counselor Association)
◉ Which is involved in accreditation of graduate counseling programs?
Answer: CACREP
◉ What type programs are accredited?
Answer: Career Counseling
School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
NOT counseling psychology
◉ Name some of the common core areas identified by CACREP.
Answer: 1. Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice
2. Social and Cultural Diversity
3. Human Growth and Development
4. Career Development
5. Counseling and Helping Relationships
,6. Group Counseling
7. Assessment and Training
8. Research & Program Eval
◉ Know the following professional groups was not directly involved in
the formation of what is now known as the ACA? National Vocational
Guidance Association, American College Personnel Association,
National Association for Guidance Supervisors
Answer: These Were:
National Vocational Guidance Association,
American College Personnel Association,
National Association for Guidance Supervisors
APA Was Not: American Psychological Association
◉ Psychiatry
Answer: Can prescribe psychoactive medications in all 50 states
- Went to 4 years of medical school
-Did a residency in psych
-Clients are called patients
-Biopsychological focus
◉ clinical psychology
Answer: i. Earn a PhD or EdD of PsyD, all states license psychologists,
but requirements differ.
, ii. Focused on the study, assessment, treatment and prevention of
abnormal behavior.
◉ mental health counselor
Answer: Recognized by ACA, CACREP, minimum of a masters degree
in counseling or related discipline.
◉ counseling psychologist
Answer: Focus on the presenting problems of relatively normal
populations, however this distinction has become less pronounced in
recent years.
-Psychologists have the state right to diagnose and treat mental illness,
they are highly trained in the administration and scoring of psych tests.
◉ Social workers
Answer: -Earn a MSW
-Some administer govt. programs to underprivileged, others do
counseling.-Different from counseling and psych and psychiatry in that
it mandates tonegotiate social systems and advocate for change, to
understand clients' habitats and niches and provide social services
◉ marriage and family therapist
Answer: LMFT
-Private practice and agency settings
-Possess skills in family systems assessment and treatment
