Have you ever encountered the acronym "CACREP" in your search for a master's in counseling program? This abbreviation refers to the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, which evaluates master's-level counseling degrees.
Discover details about CACREP accreditation in this guide, including the benefits of accreditation, its function in earning licensure, and how programs can achieve this status.
What Is CACREP?
Established in 1981, CACREP accredits master's and doctoral counseling programs at institutions nationwide. Accredited programs receive regular reviews to determine whether they meet or exceed the minimum national standards. These evaluations consider elements like academic content, faculty qualifications, practicum experiences, student advising, and other criteria.
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Why Does CACREP Accreditation Matter?
CACREP accreditation shows that the program curriculum meets national standards and prepares students to become licensed professional counselors. Many state licensing boards prefer or require applicants to earn counseling degrees from CACREP-accredited programs.
What Are the Benefits of CACREP Accreditation?
Counseling graduate programs with CACREP accreditation demonstrate their legitimacy in effectively preparing counselors for professional practice. These programs align their curricular and training requirements with state licensure boards and meet or exceed national standards for academic quality. The following list explores additional benefits of CACREP accreditation:
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Ensures Program Quality
CACREP continually updates its standards for evaluating master's and doctoral counseling programs. These updated standards ensure that the program content keeps pace with changes within the profession. Students who attend CACREP-accredited programs are assured that they hold degrees from valid programs rather than "diploma mills."
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Qualifies You For Counseling Roles
Earning your graduate degree from a CACREP-accredited program offers assurance that you'll receive effective education and training that prepares you for a professional counseling career. State licensing boards and employers recognize that CACREP-accredited programs teach agreed-upon counseling standards that align with state licensing and national certification exams. Many employers, including federal government agencies like the Veterans' Administration, only hire graduates from CACREP-accredited programs.
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Prepares You For Licensure
Studies have found that graduates of CACREP-accredited programs perform better on the National Counselor Examination (NCE), which is required for licensure. Several states incorporate CACREP's standards into their licensing requirements. Currently, 11 states require a master's or doctoral degree from a CACREP-accredited or equivalent program to become a licensed professional counselor. Ohio, North Carolina, and Kentucky stipulate CACREP accreditation without exception. The other states allow graduates to submit the syllabi for their classes to see if their program meets the same key standards. Licensure applications with degrees without CACREP accreditation will receive more scrutiny. An additional 20 states prefer candidates with degrees from CACREP-accredited programs.
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Allows You to Transfer Credits
Master's and doctoral counseling degree programs usually only accept transfer credits from CACREP-accredited programs. This policy is a key consideration if you plan to move to a different master's program or pursue a doctorate.
Where Is CACREP Accreditation Required for Counseling Licensure?
These 11 states require CACREP accreditation or equivalent for licensure: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
North Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio require CACREP accreditation without exception.
Other state licensing boards prefer degrees from CACREP-accredited programs but may also accept applicants who graduated from programs with equivalent accreditation, curricula, and training.
How Do Programs Earn CACREP Accreditation?
CACREP's accreditation policy details its expectations and processes for approving counseling graduate programs. The policy includes procedures for requesting reconsideration and appeals.
CACREP Accreditation Standards
CACREP divides its 2024 Accreditation Standards into the following six sections, which the organization uses to evaluate counseling programs:
- The Learning Environment: This section includes institutional accreditation, program admission criteria, costs and financial aid, course delivery options, faculty credentials, and CACREP-specialized practice options.
- Academic Quality: CACREP considers factors such as the program's mission and objectives, individual student assessment, and program effectiveness.
- Foundation Counseling Curriculum: This section evaluates ethical practice, social and cultural identities and experiences, lifespan development, group counseling, and assessment and diagnosis.
- Professional Practice: CACREP lists the supervised practicum and internship requirements.
- CACREP-Specialized Practice Areas: The organization also considers the following specializations:
- Addiction counseling
- Career counseling
- Clinical mental health counseling
- Clinical rehabilitation counseling
- College counseling and student affairs
- Marriage, couple, and family counseling
- Rehabilitation counseling
- School counseling
- Doctoral Standards for Counselor Education and Supervision: This section applies specifically to doctoral-level counseling programs.
The requirements for accreditation vary by counseling specialization, but the following steps offer an outline of the process.
Steps to Apply for Accreditation
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1
Initial Eligibility
CACREP determines initial eligibility based on a program's application and self-study report submission via its accreditation management system (AMS). Applicants contact CACREP to gain access to the AMS.
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2
Self-Study
Programs submit self-study reports through an AMS template. The report is reviewed against the CACREP standards to ensure students receive quality educational experiences.
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3
Site Visit
CACREP schedules school site visits with program faculty members to verify the accuracy of the program's self-study report and to confirm that it meets CACREP standards.
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4
Accreditation Decision
Following CACREP's Board of Directors' review and decision, programs receive written notification of their accreditation status within 30 days of the Board meeting's conclusion.
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5
Accreditation Renewal
Counseling programs can receive two-year or eight-year accreditation. Eight-year accreditation is conferred when all standards are met. Two-year accreditation allows programs that don't meet all the standards to comply within this period. When programs apply for reaffirmation, CACREP schedules site visits to determine reaccreditation decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions about CACREP Accreditation
What does CACREP stand for?
CACREP stands for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. This organization accredits counseling programs at the master's and doctoral levels.
Which states require CACREP Accreditation?
Eleven state counselor licensing boards require CACREP accreditation or equivalent: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah. The rest of the state boards may prefer CACREP accreditation or include it among the approved accreditation options for graduate degrees for licensed professional counselor candidates.
Is APA accredited the same as CACREP?
No -- the American Psychological Association is a professional and scientific association that supports and represents psychologists. APA's Commission on Accreditation accredits psychology doctoral programs. CACREP is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, which accredits counseling programs at the master's and doctoral levels.
What is the best accreditation for counseling?
The best counseling degree program accreditation is CACREP, which accredits master's and doctoral programs in counseling. CACREP-accredited master's degrees qualify you for licensure no matter your state and ensure you've earned a valid degree.