GAOCPC Examination Handbook
Official guidance for certification candidates completing the Common Core Examination, assigned specialty examination, review process, examination integrity requirements, results, retakes, and appeals.
Purpose and Examination Structure
GAOCPC certification examinations assess shared professional foundations and designation-specific competence while supporting ethical, accountable, Christ-centered pastoral care.
Eligibility
Examination access is provided through an approved GAOCPC candidate account after application, documentation, payment, and eligibility requirements have been reviewed.
Two-Part Assessment
Candidates complete the shared Common Core Examination and then only the specialty examination assigned to their approved certification designation.
Official Review
Submission is not an official result. GAOCPC records examination outcomes and determines whether the candidate may progress to the next certification stage.
From Application to Certification
Each stage must be completed in the required order.
Application Review
GAOCPC reviews application materials, supporting documents, fees, education, experience, references, and eligibility.
Common Core
Every examination candidate completes the 40-question Common Core assessment covering shared professional foundations.
Common Core Review
GAOCPC records the official result. A passing Common Core status is required before specialty examination access is released.
Assigned Specialty Exam
The candidate completes the 20-question specialty examination assigned to the certification recorded on the candidate account.
Specialty Review
GAOCPC reviews and records the specialty examination result. Passing satisfies the examination requirement.
Final Credential Review
GAOCPC completes final administrative, ethics, competency, documentation, and credential review before certification is issued.
Candidate Responsibilities
Before Beginning
- Use your legal name, registered email, and Candidate Reference Number.
- Use only the GAOCPC candidate account assigned to you.
- Confirm that the examination shown on your dashboard is the examination assigned to you.
- Review the Code of Ethics and examination-integrity requirements.
- Ensure you have adequate uninterrupted time to complete the assessment.
During the Examination
- Complete the assessment independently.
- Answer every required question before submission.
- Do not obtain unauthorized assistance from another person, website, book, artificial-intelligence service, or other prohibited resource.
- Do not copy, reproduce, photograph, record, distribute, or disclose examination content.
- Submit only once unless a retake has been formally authorized.
Results, Retakes and Appeals
| Area | GAOCPC Procedure | Candidate Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Submission | A successful submission records the examination for review. | Do not interpret the submission confirmation as an official pass or fail decision. |
| Common Core Result | The minimum Common Core pass standard is 75%. | Wait until GAOCPC officially records the result before proceeding. |
| Specialty Result | The applicable pass standard is shown for the assigned specialty examination. | Complete only the examination displayed as assigned to your candidate account. |
| Retake | A new attempt requires GAOCPC authorization and may require payment of the published retake fee. | Do not submit an unauthorized second attempt. |
| Appeal | Eligible examination appeals must follow the published appeals procedure. | Submit the official appeal within the applicable published deadline. |
Ready to Continue?
Use your Candidate Dashboard to review your official examination status and access only the assessment currently authorized for your account.