CACREP Accreditation for Online Counseling Programs Explained

As you consider graduate counseling programs, you’ll look beyond courses, schedules, and delivery formats. If you plan to pursue professional licensure, accreditation is another important factor to consider.

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) evaluates counseling programs according to national standards for curriculum, clinical preparation, faculty, and other aspects of counselor education.¹ By choosing to attend a CACREP-accredited program, you may also simplify the process of meeting educational requirements for licensure, depending on the state where you intend to practice.²

This post explains CACREP accreditation, why it matters when you’re considering an online counseling program, and how to verify a program’s accreditation status.

What Is CACREP Accreditation?

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs accredits master’s and doctoral programs in counseling and related fields. CACREP evaluates programs to determine whether they meet established standards designed to promote consistency and quality in counselor education.¹

These common standards do not mean that every CACREP-accredited program offers the same educational experience. Programs can differ in their curricula, areas of emphasis, faculty expertise, and approaches to counselor preparation while still meeting the standards required for accreditation.¹ As you compare programs, CACREP accreditation can provide a common benchmark while you consider the characteristics that distinguish one program from another.

CACREP standards address eight foundational areas of counselor preparation:¹

1. Professional counseling orientation and ethical practice
2. Social and cultural identities and experiences
3. Lifespan development
4. Career development
5. Counseling practice and relationships
6. Group counseling and group work
7. Assessment and diagnostic processes
8. Research and program evaluation

In addition, CACREP evaluates supervised field experiences and curriculum specific to different counseling practice areas. Accreditation, therefore, considers both what students study and how programs prepare them to apply counseling knowledge and skills in professional settings.¹

Accreditation is not permanent. CACREP continues to monitor accredited programs and conducts a comprehensive review on an eight-year cycle. This ongoing process is intended to support quality in counselor education, professional credentialing, and the protection of students and the public.¹

The Importance of CACREP Accreditation for Students

Accreditation matters because counselor licensure requirements vary by state. In some states, graduation from a CACREP-accredited program is required for licensure. In others, a CACREP-accredited degree may simplify the review of your educational qualifications because the licensing board can more readily determine that your program met established standards, without having to evaluate each of your courses individually.²

CACREP accreditation addresses the educational preparation required for professional counseling, but earning an accredited degree is only one part of the licensure process. Depending on the state, you may also need to complete additional supervised clinical experience, pass one or more examinations, and meet other licensing requirements.² Before choosing a program, review the full requirements in the state where you plan to practice so you understand both what your graduate education will satisfy and what steps will remain after graduation.

CACREP accreditation also gives you a way to evaluate the educational standards behind a counseling program. Rather than relying solely on a university’s description of its program, you have an independent accreditation process confirming that the program has met particular standards.

How to Identify CACREP-Accredited Online Counseling Programs

Online study can make graduate education more accessible when you’re balancing school with your career, family, and other responsibilities. Delivery format, however, does not determine whether a counseling program holds CACREP accreditation. When comparing online options, verify the accreditation status of the specific program you’re considering.

Use the Official Program Directory

CACREP maintains an online directory of accredited counseling programs.³ You can search the directory by institution, program area, and other criteria to confirm whether a specific program currently holds accreditation.

The CACREP directory is more reliable than information from other sources. You can ask an admissions representative or program director about the program’s status, but CACREP’s directory provides the official record.

Understand Institutional vs. Programmatic Accreditation

Institutional accreditation applies to a college or university as a whole. CACREP accreditation is programmatic: It evaluates specific counseling and related educational programs rather than an entire university.⁴

That distinction matters when you research graduate programs. A university may hold institutional accreditation without every program at the institution holding specialized accreditation from a profession-specific accreditor. If CACREP accreditation is important to your licensure or career plans, verify the status of the individual counseling program that interests you.

Check for In-Process or Expired Accreditation

Pay attention to how a program describes its accreditation status. A program that is seeking CACREP accreditation has not yet earned it. Before enrolling, confirm the program’s current status through the CACREP directory.³ This can help you distinguish an accredited program from one that is pursuing accreditation or whose status has changed.

Build Your Counseling Career on Rigorous Preparation

The counseling program you choose shapes the education and clinical preparation you bring to professional practice. CACREP accreditation provides an independent measure for evaluating whether a program meets established standards for counselor education.

Marquette University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP-accredited. The 60-credit program combines online coursework with supervised clinical experiences and offers both a general track and a Child and Adolescent Counseling specialization. Its curriculum reflects Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit commitment to service, social justice, and respect for human dignity.

As you compare graduate counseling programs, consider how accreditation, curriculum, clinical preparation, and program format align with your professional goals and the licensure requirements in the state where you intend to practice.

Explore Marquette’s online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and curriculum to learn more about your options. To discuss the program, application process, and your goals, contact us directly or schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor.