This article will focus on Cacrep accredited online counseling programs. CACREP is an acronym that stands for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The goal of this program is to ensure that counseling programs across the country provide high-quality education to students who are interested in becoming professional counselors. They do this through a careful, thorough accreditation process that reviews each program individually. They have 8 areas they look at when reviewing a program:
- Program Mission and Goals
- Faculty Qualifications
- Curriculum Design and Implementation
- Student Admission, Retention and Program Completion Policies and Practices
- Supervision of Practica, Internships, Field Placements or Other Applied Experiences for Students
- Assessment Strategies for Evaluating Student Learning Outcomes and Clinical Practice Competencies
- Resources Available to Support Student Achievement of CACREP Standards
Online Counselling Programs
Your decision to pursue an online degree program is the first step in your journey, and there are many programs available. With a little research, you can find one that matches your academic interests and career goals. In addition to the basics of counseling such as individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and case management, you should also consider which specializations interest you and look into programs that offer those options. Specializations may include substance abuse counseling, grief counseling, school counseling or community health workers.
Some people worry about the quality of an online degree program. That’s where accreditation comes in–it is critical that students look for accredited programs to ensure they will receive a high-quality education backed by accepted quality standards. The CACREP accreditation requirements are designed specifically for graduate-level programs in counseling and related mental health disciplines; when choosing a program be sure to select one that is CACREP accredited if you want to qualify for state licensure after graduation!
Read also: Top Schools Offering Online LLM Programs
Choosing a Counselling Program
For many people, deciding to pursue a career in the field of counselling is an important and life-changing move. But before you find yourself with a graduate degree and on your way to helping others, there’s one big question ahead: what program do you choose? If you’re looking at online programs, we think that’s a great option—flexible scheduling can be helpful for those who are working or have family commitments, plus it can help keep your costs down by eliminating the need to commute.
But no matter where you get your degree from, accreditation is something you want to make sure about. You should always check that the school and program are accredited by the CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs). This ensures your education meets all requirements set forth by state licensing boards and other regulatory agencies.
Selecting the Right University
Because of the importance of a degree from an accredited program, you should only consider universities that have earned accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This association is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, which is a leading advocate for accreditation and quality assurance in higher education.
Before choosing a university or college, evaluate if it will be a good fit for you as a student. Consider how much time you wish to spend on your studies each week and whether or not you currently work full-time. If so, your school will need to offer a schedule that works with your current commitments. Also look at the graduation rate among students; if it’s extremely low, this can indicate that students are not being supported in their educational pursuits and may want to select another school.
To ensure that you’re selecting an online counseling program that is right for you, consider these factors:
CACREP accreditation is important for a successful career in counselling.
CACREP stands for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. CACREP accredited programs are those that have earned accreditation from this independent agency, demonstrating a high quality of learning, faculty and facilities.
It is important to earn your degree from a CACREP accredited online master’s in counseling program so that you can be assured that you will receive the best preparation possible. Graduating from one of these top online master’s in counseling programs ensures that you meet all of the core curricular requirements necessary for employment as a counselor in your chosen specialty area. Earning this credential also means that you are eligible to sit for licensure exams in most states. Additionally, employers tend to prefer applicants who have graduated from a CACREP accredited program because they know they will be well-prepared and fully equipped with the skills necessary to provide excellent patient care and advance within their careers.
Cacrep Accredited Online Counselling Programs
The following schools offer the best Cacrep accredited online counseling programs. Do well to contact them and get more information:
Argosy University
Argosy has a master of counseling with an emphasis in mental health counseling that is CACREP accredited.
Argosy has a master of counseling with an emphasis in mental health counseling that is CACREP accredited. Students complete 60 credits, which includes 300 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship experience. They also take courses such as Diagnosis and Treatment Planning, Law and Ethics in Mental Health Counseling, and Group Counseling Theory and Process.
Boston College
BC offers a master of social work program that is CACREP accredited.
- Boston College: BC offers a master of social work program that is CACREP accredited. This degree can be combined with their trauma counseling certificate, which includes coursework in advanced clinical practice with trauma survivors. The program is 63 credits long and costs $1,011 per credit. To apply, you will need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, plus a minimum 3.0 GPA for your last two years of undergraduate study.
Johns Hopkins University
- Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a world-renown institution. It’s ranked #10 in the U.S. for psychology and psychiatry by US News & World Report and boasts an excellent faculty with accomplished backgrounds.
- Johns Hopkins University offers a 60-credit master of arts in counseling program that is CACREP accredited. The program offers specializations in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or school counseling.
- The program culminates in practicums that are completed over two semesters where students practice what they have learned online or at the Greater Baltimore School of Mental Health Counseling site in Baltimore, Maryland.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill offers both an online Master of Social Work program and a School Counseling Program that are CACREP accredited. Because the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill has such a strong reputation, these programs will open up many doors for prospective students in the future. The online Master of Social Work program at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill is perfect for working professionals who want to advance their careers in the field, or for those who have other commitments and obligations that would prevent them from attending classes on campus.
The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s CACREP accredited school counseling program also offers many exciting opportunities for students who have already completed their undergraduate degrees. Students can choose from a wide variety of electives and focus on specific areas that interest them, such as college counseling or career development.
They can also choose electives outside the field altogether, allowing them to broaden their horizons even further by adding other skills to their resumes if necessary. In addition to this flexibility with elective courses, there are many practicum placements available across all 50 states! This means that students will be able to gain real-world experience while they complete their studies without having any limitations imposed upon them by geographic location within one country alone (although international opportunities are also present).
Boston University
Boston University
Class of 2020: $1,111
Boston University offers a hybrid Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at its Metropolitan College. The 60-credit program is accredited by the CACREP, and graduates will be eligible to sit for the national clinical mental health counselor licensure exam in their state. This is a daytime program that requires students to come to campus once per week for classes and/or practicum hours. Students also participate in one full-time, 15 hours per week practicum experience during their first year and two full-time internships of 600 hours each during their second year—all under the supervision of BU faculty members.
Boston University’s CMHC curriculum includes both core counseling courses as well as specialized classes designed to help students gain skills related directly to career goals such as community mental health counseling or school counseling. The program also allows students interested in serving Spanish-speaking communities to earn an additional certificate in bicultural counseling upon graduation.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0; paid or volunteer experience working with children or adults is recommended but not required for admission consideration. Official transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose essay and GRE scores are required as part of the application process; GRE scores are waived if applicants have already earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution.
Texas Tech University, Lubbock
- Texas Tech University
- Lubbock, Texas
- Texas Tech University offers the following CACREP accredited programs:
- Counseling and Development, School Counseling
- Counseling and Development, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Counseling and Development, College Counseling and Student Affairs
Michigan State University, East Lansing
- MSU offers a master of social work program that is CACREP accredited.
- The program is designed for students who want to practice as clinical social workers in a variety of settings.
- Graduates of this program are prepared to help clients through the processes of diagnosis and treatment, working with clients from individual and family perspectives, applying crisis intervention techniques, and providing supportive services in their communities.
- A large portion of the curriculum is dedicated to learning how to help children with mental illnesses and how to address trauma within families and groups.
Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Kent State University is located in Kent, Ohio, and was founded in 1910. Their CACREP-accredited online counseling program focuses on clinical mental health, and it is designed for working professionals. The program prepares students to be able to take the National Counseling Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) after graduation. By completing coursework requirements, students can graduate with a Master of Education degree in School Counseling or a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling after just two years.
North Carolina State University, Raleigh
You can earn a master’s degree in counseling from NC State University, Raleigh. This program is designed to prepare its students for licensure as professional counselors; it is not intended for those who wish to be licensed clinical mental health counselors or school counselors.
The total number of credit hours required for this degree is 60. In addition to completing core courses, you will also choose a specialization: either addictions and substance abuse or college student development and counseling.
This program is offered online with some courses being on-campus only. Your online courses will be taught by the same faculty as the on-campus courses, so you’ll receive the same quality of education regardless of whether your coursework takes place on campus or off.
Here at NC State University, Raleigh, we want our graduate students to feel fully supported in their studies; that’s why each student receives an academic advisor who works one-on-one with them throughout the program to ensure they’re meeting all their requirements and are getting the most out of their education here at NC State University, Raleigh. It should come as no surprise then that around 95% of our graduates eventually go on to pass their national exam after graduation!
