What Is CACREP Accreditation and Why Does It Matter for Counseling Students?
October 19, 2026 2026-10-19 11:37What Is CACREP Accreditation and Why Does It Matter for Counseling Students?
Choosing a master’s program in counseling involves more than comparing courses, tuition, and learning formats. If you plan to pursue a career in counseling, you may also need to consider how a program’s curriculum, clinical training, and accreditation align with your professional goals.
- Catherine Kerley
One accreditation you may encounter while researching counseling programs is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). OU Online’s Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP accredited, providing students with a program that meets established standards for counselor education.
CACREP accreditation is a significant distinction in counselor education, signaling that a program meets established standards for curriculum, faculty, clinical training, and professional preparation. For students and graduates, earning a degree from a CACREP-accredited program may be relevant to state licensure requirements and professional opportunities, including positions where CACREP accreditation is considered.
What Is CACREP?
CACREP is an independent accrediting body for master’s and doctoral programs in counseling and related educational fields.
CACREP accreditation evaluates whether a specific counseling program meets established standards for counselor education. Those standards address areas such as curriculum, academic quality, faculty, and professional practice experiences.
One important distinction: CACREP accreditation applies to specific programs, not automatically to an entire university. When you choose OU Online’s Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you are choosing a CACREP-accredited program that meets established standards for counselor education and professional preparation.
When researching graduate programs, prospective students should confirm the accreditation status of the specific degree they are considering.
What Does CACREP Accreditation Mean?
CACREP accreditation means that a counseling program has completed an accreditation process and demonstrated that it meets CACREP’s established standards.
For students, accreditation can provide another way to evaluate a program’s approach to counselor education and professional preparation. CACREP standards address foundational counseling knowledge, specialized practice preparation, and supervised professional experiences such as practicum and internship.
Accreditation does not mean every CACREP-accredited program is identical. Programs can differ in their curriculum, learning format, faculty, and clinical experiences. Students should still research the individual program to determine whether it supports their educational and career goals.
Why Does CACREP Accreditation Matter for Counseling Students?
The value of CACREP accreditation can depend on your professional goals and where you plan to pursue licensure.
It can help you evaluate counselor education and preparation
CACREP-accredited programs are evaluated against recognized standards for counselor education.
For prospective students, that can provide an additional point of comparison when evaluating curriculum, professional preparation, and clinical training. Accreditation can help you look beyond a program’s degree title and consider how it prepares you to develop counseling knowledge and skills.
It may be relevant to state licensure requirements
Professional counseling licensure is regulated at the state level, and requirements vary by state.
Some states may consider CACREP accreditation when reviewing an applicant’s education. Other requirements, including examinations, supervised experience, and additional state requirements, may still apply.
For students interested in professional certification, CACREP accreditation may also be relevant to the educational requirements or review process for certain national counselor certification credentials.
Before enrolling in a counseling program, review the requirements in the state where you intend to pursue licensure and the requirements for any professional credentials you plan to seek.
It can be one factor in long-term professional planning
Your professional plans may change over time. You may eventually relocate, pursue additional credentials, or explore opportunities in different counseling settings.
Because counseling licensure requirements vary by state, students who anticipate practicing in another state should research the requirements that may apply to them. Graduating from a program that follows recognized standards for counselor education may be one factor to consider when planning your professional path, but CACREP accreditation does not automatically guarantee licensure portability.
Does Your Counseling Program Need to Be CACREP Accredited?
CACREP accreditation can be an important consideration when choosing a counseling program, but it is not required for every student or professional pathway. If your program is not CACREP accredited, whether that affects your path to licensure or professional credentials depends on your career goals, the state where you plan to pursue licensure, and any requirements for professional credentials you intend to seek.
What CACREP Accreditation Does Not Guarantee
CACREP accreditation can be an important part of evaluating a counseling program, but it does not automatically guarantee the following:
- Professional licensure
- Licensure in every state
- Licensure portability between states
- National certification
- Employment
- Eligibility for every counseling credential
Graduates must still meet the requirements established by the applicable licensing board, credentialing organization, employer, or other governing body.
The best approach is to think of accreditation as one important part of your professional preparation, along with your curriculum, clinical experiences, and the specific requirements that apply to your career goals.
How to Choose a Counseling Program That Supports Your Goals
When comparing counseling programs, consider more than accreditation alone.
Before enrolling, take time to:
- Confirm the accreditation status of the specific program
- Review licensure requirements in the state where you plan to practice
- Compare curriculum and clinical training requirements
- Understand how practicum and internship experiences are structured
- Consider your long-term professional and geographic goals
- Ask questions about any additional requirements you may need to complete after graduation
Doing this research before you enroll can help you make a more informed decision about which program best supports your path toward a counseling career.
Earn Your Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from OU Online
For students considering CACREP accreditation as part of their program search, OU Online’s Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP accredited.
Accreditation applies specifically to the Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, with accredited status beginning July 16, 2026. Graduates of the program are considered graduates of a CACREP-accredited program beginning with the May 2025 graduating class.
The program combines online coursework with clinical training, including a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship.
The program prepares students to meet the educational requirements for becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oklahoma.
This degree is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure and meets the educational requirements of becoming an LPC in Oklahoma. Licensure requirements vary by state, and students outside of Oklahoma should review the state licensure board requirements for their state.
Accreditation is one part of choosing a counseling program. Your career goals, intended state of licensure, curriculum, and clinical training opportunities should also play an important role in your decision.
Ready to learn more? Explore OU Online’s Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program to learn about the curriculum, clinical training, admissions process, and how the program can support your path toward a career in counseling.
