CACREP Accredited Online Counseling Programs

Our team of educational experts has thoroughly reviewed CACREP counseling accreditation and other accreditation agencies in order to provide you with detailed information you can use to determine whether or not you are choosing the right program.

Before you dive deep into some of the popular accredited programs, you should consider what type of programs you might be looking for in a degree program. Some students may choose to pursue their degree through traditional means, while others may have a stronger attraction to programs that can be completed entirely online. Accreditation can be found in both traditional and online programs, making this decision an easier one to make for upcoming professionals that may wish to become licensed in the future.

Consider a Featured Online Counseling Program

School and Program Information Online Program? Entry Requirements Course Information
Northwestern University
Online MA in Counseling
CACREP Accredited
 check_circle Online GRE Scores Not Required 24 Courses (standard program for those with counseling experience) or 27 courses (bridge program, for those with no counseling experience)
New York University
Online Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
MPCAC Accredited
 check_circle Online GRE scores are not required for admission. Weekly live classes taught by distinguished NYU Steinhardt faculty.
Vanderbilt University
Online Master's with School Counseling Specialization
SACSCOC Accredited
 check_circle Online Bachelor's Required Live, online classes every week led by Vanderbilt faculty
University of Southern California
Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling
Can be completed in less than 2 years.
 check_circle Online No GRE requirement Classes led by USC Rossier faculty who are experts in school counseling, educational leadership and family therapy.
Master's degrees in Counseling may be some of the most preferred options for upcoming college students interested in providing a needed service to their community.

A Master's in Counseling can provide students with higher knowledge and understanding of the human mind, emotions, and behaviors that can result as a combination of these factors.

In order to provide people with support with emotional and behavioral issues, students must take part in an accredited degree program, become involved in 2-3 years of supervised experience, and complete a national test in counseling before becoming licensed. One of the most common questions about these steps may be concerning the accreditation of degree programs in counseling. Read more in the guide below to learn more about leading accreditation agencies in the U.S. and how they can assist you in getting the job you have always dreamed of.
Programs That May Be Currently Accepting Applicants

Counseling @ Northwestern is a CACREP-accredited online Master of Arts in Counseling Program with accelerated, traditional, and part-time track options. GRE scores are not required, nor is prior counseling experience. You will complete six quarters of supervised clinical field placements, which will prepare you to pursue licensure as a clinical mental health counselor in as few as 18 months.
Click for more admissions info.

Prepare to become a mental health counselor – earn your master of arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness online from NYU Steinhardt. The program is MPCAC-accredited and prepares students to pursue state licensure. Complete in as few as 21 months. GRE not required.
Click for admissions information.

Earn your Master of Education with a specialization in school counseling online from Vanderbilt University’s top-ranked Peabody College. Prepare for licensure and develop the critical-thinking and social-emotional skills to effectively manage K–12 school counseling programs.
Learn more at PeabodyOnline.Vanderbilt.edu

Saint Joseph’s University's flexible and affordable online programs at Bachelor's and Master's degree levels can help you transfer basic principles of behavior analysis into a thriving career. With the rise of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, addictions, and heightened criminal activity, the demand for professionals credentialed in this area escalates steadily.

What About State Counseling Licensure?

One of the biggest concerns for upcoming counseling students may be whether or not their program meets the minimum standards of their state licensure agency. This can be a valid concern for new masters-level students, since there are numerous for-profit educational programs that promote counseling programs that do not current contain the right type of accreditation to support licensure.

What is the CACREP?

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is an accreditation agency that focuses on the need for improvement and innovation in counseling and related fields. This is the leading accreditation organization for educational programs in counseling, so it should be a familiar agency for you if you plan to pursue a degree within this field. Online degree programs that have been accredited by this agency should reflect the CACREP logo on their online program page and also be listed on the CACREP’s approved provider’s list.

Accreditation agencies such as the CACREP may be geared towards consistent reviews of educational programs all over the country. There may be certain qualifications for upcoming programs seeking accreditation, some of which can likely be easily achieved through the creation of a thorough curriculum, qualified instructors, and up-to-date ethical and legal recommendations for upcoming counseling professionals. Take a look at some of the standards that may be reviewed during the accreditation process below.

  • Program Faculty and Staff Evaluation
  • Core Curriculum Review
  • Clinical Practice Requirements – Internship, Practicum, Supervisors
  • Student and Program Assessment
  • Specialty Areas

CACREP Accredited Counseling Programs

Finding a degree program that contains the right type of accreditation does not have to be a daunting task. Upcoming students that are seeking reliable degree programs can use different methods for achieving this goal. If you currently have a certain university in mind for your program, you can review the degree program’s page on your school’s website. Most degree programs that contain accreditation may list this information on the main page, or through a section pertaining to specific program accreditation. A quicker alternative for finding accredited programs in your area may be through the CACREP’s search tool on the agency’s website.

Visiting the CACREP’s website can lead you into more information concerning the actual process of accreditation, resources for upcoming professionals in the field, and lists of accredited institutions that may be offering online degree programs. In order to make you journey towards the perfect degree program a little easier, our team of educational experts has reviewed the list of accredited degree programs through this website and provided a few examples for you to review below. Check out some of the most popular programs currently available to choose from.

  • Bellevue University: Online Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Bradley University: Online Masters in School Counseling
  • The College of William and Mary: Online Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Messiah College: Online Masters in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
  • North Carolina Central University: Online Masters in Career Counseling
  • North Carolina State University: Online Masters in Student Affairs and College Counseling
  • Thomas University: Online Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

CACREP Accreditation and Counseling Licensure

The desire to obtain a career in counseling may say a lot about your personality and your drive to help others. In order to meet this goal, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to become licensed to work with clients in the field.

Master’s Degrees in Counseling Are Required

A Masters in Counseling may be the first step towards becoming a licensed counselor. Accreditation comes into play at this stage. Students that are seeking educational programs to take part in should review whether or not their program has received the right type of accreditation and whether or not that program could help you be eligible for licensure after graduation.

Many States Require CACREP-Accredited Degrees

Most states require that students obtain masters-level degrees that have been accredited by the CACREP. When you graduate from a counseling program and have completed your supervised work experience requirement, you may then be responsible for filing your application for licensure.

During this process, you may be required to submit proof of degree acquisition so that your state department can review your achievement in order to deem you eligible for testing. If you want to ensure that your program can help you at this step, you should review your programs page on the school’s website or contact your universities enrollment specialist for more information.

CACREP FAQs

Accreditation can be a complex task that requires effort from both the university seeking accreditation and the accreditation agency. As a student, your concerns with accreditation should be solely in whether or not your chosen degree program has received adequate accreditation and whether or not it can help you in obtaining your licensure. If you might be interested in learning more about what type of information a university must provide in order to become accredited, take a look at some of the frequently asked questions listed beneath this section.

  • How is a program reviewed for accreditation?: The CACREP has a specialized method for determining whether or not a program in counseling should be deemed accredited. Universities that may be seeking accreditation can create a comprehensive report of their degree program, provide evidence as to why their program meets the minimum standard, and submit this information to the CACREP for review. The CACREP then reviews the application, assigns an on-site reviewing to visit the location, and awaits results. After an initial visit and review of curriculum and course work on-campus, a reflective report is then sent back to the CACREP for comparison. Review of these final documents can determine whether or not a program can receive accreditation.
  • How long does accreditation last?: The CACREP currently accredits university’s degree programs for a period of 8 years. Programs that have applied for accreditation but still require additional information to meet the standards of the 8-year approval can receive a temporary accreditation status for 2 years. During that timeframe, universities are required to provide the additional information in order to remain accredited beyond the 2 year cycle.
  • Is accreditation required for licensure?: In the U.S., all states require licensure before providing counseling services to the public. One main requirement for licensure of new counselors is proof of completion of a Masters degree in Counseling that currently holds accreditation with the CACREP. Degree programs that do not have proper accreditation at the time they were acquired may not be accepted during the licensure process.

Still Looking for a Counseling Degree?

Here are some of the most popular online counseling programs. On each page you will find a detailed writeup of the program, specific courses, and schools that offer that program that are currently accepting applicants.