Why CACREP Accreditation Is Important
This blog post was written by Counseling@Northwestern Program Director Dr. Francesca Giordano.
The Counseling@Northwestern program has received a full eight-year accreditation. This means that the program is fully CACREP accredited. It is rare for a program seeking accreditation for the first time to receive a full eight-year accreditation. This is a testament to the program’s training model and the strength of the faculty and staff. This accreditation is a clear endorsement of the quality of Counseling@Northwestern.
Clearly CACREP accreditation is a big deal, but what is it exactly?
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Programs that are accredited by CACREP have to pass a rigorous evaluation process. This process guarantees that the program has met national standards for what is taught in each class, how practicum and internship experiences are created, what qualifies supervisors and faculty, as well as what resources the university must make available to students. In a nutshell, CACREP accreditation tells you that the counseling program meets the highest academic and training standards.
There are a variety of reasons to attend a CACREP-accredited program. The benefits include:
- A guarantee that you are being taught a nationally agreed upon counseling curriculum.
- An assurance that you will be well prepared to enter the counseling field.
- An advantage when applying to doctoral degree programs.
- A streamlined state counseling licensing application process.
- An increased likelihood of passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE).
So what makes Counseling@Northwestern different from other CACREP-accredited programs?
In addition to being CACREP accredited, Counseling@Northwestern has a unique mission to train master’s-level students in a clinically focused and psychodynamically oriented self-reflective model. The accredited program being offered by Northwestern University represents the highest levels of academic rigor.
Are the on-campus and online programs both accredited?
Both the on-campus and Counseling@Northwestern programs are fully accredited. The programs employ the same training model and offer the same excellence in curricular standards and clinical practice.
If you have any questions about CACREP accreditation or the Counseling@Northwestern program, please email admissions@counseling.northwestern.edu.