Protected Certification Assessment

GAOCPC Candidate Examination Centre

Approved candidates complete the shared Common Core Examination and then the specialty examination assigned to their certification record.

Before You Begin

Candidate Examination Instructions

Use only your authorized GAOCPC candidate account and complete each assessment in the order shown on your dashboard.

Candidate Identification

  • Use your full legal name.
  • Use the email connected to your GAOCPC application.
  • Enter your Candidate Reference Number accurately.
  • Do not use another person's candidate account.

Examination Integrity

  • Complete all examinations independently.
  • Do not use unauthorized outside assistance.
  • Do not share examination questions or answers.
  • Submit each examination only once unless a retake is authorized.
Important: Your Candidate Dashboard controls specialty examination access. Do not attempt to enter another candidate's examination or an assessment that has not been assigned to your record.
Your Examination Pathway

Access Is Released in Stages

The specialty examination does not open merely because the Common Core has been submitted.

1

Application Approved

Your certification and Candidate Reference Number are recorded.

2

Complete Common Core

Complete all 40 required Common Core questions.

3

Await Official Review

Your specialty assessment remains locked while the Common Core result is reviewed and recorded.

4

Specialty Unlocks

After an official Common Core pass, the assigned 20-question specialty examination becomes available.

5

Specialty Review

Your submitted specialty assessment is reviewed and its official result recorded.

6

Final Credential Review

Successful examination completion moves the record to final certification review.

Examination Access

Use Your Candidate Dashboard

The dashboard is the authoritative location for your assigned certification and examination status.

40

Common Core Examination

Required for every GAOCPC examination candidate. If your account shows Common Core as not started, open it from the Candidate Dashboard.

Go to Candidate Dashboard

20

Assigned Specialty Examination

Specialty examination access appears only after Common Core has been officially marked as passed. The examination must match your assigned certification.

There is no public specialty-exam selection menu.

Assessment Standards

What the Common Core Covers

Biblical Foundations

Christian worldview, Scripture, spiritual care, dignity, compassion and responsible pastoral ministry.

Ethics & Accountability

Consent, confidentiality, boundaries, safeguarding, referrals, truthful representation and professional oversight.

Responsible Care

Listening, grief, trauma awareness, crisis response, cultural respect, documentation and scope of practice.

Approved Candidate?

Sign in and use the Candidate Dashboard to see the examination currently available to your account.