CACREP Accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling Related and Educational Programs (CACREP) is an independent accreditation agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The vision of CACREP is to provide leadership and to promote excellence in professional preparation through the accreditation of counseling and related educational programs. CACREP is committed to the development of standards and procedures that reflect the needs of a dynamic, diverse, and complex society.
CACREP Accredited Programs
As of January 2024, all 5 CACREP-accredited programs received 8-year reaffirmation to March 31, 2032. This includes the following programs:
- M.Ed. in School Counseling (Online)
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Residential)
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online)
- M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling program (Residential only)
- Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision (Online)
Comprehensive Assessment Plans: Annual Reports and Vital Statistics
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling
Liberty University’s Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies’ residential M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and residential M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling programs are accredited by CACREP. To meet CACREP standard I.AA.6, the annual outcomes report from the comprehensive program assessment plan are documented in the below Annual Reports for review by interested persons.
2023 Residential CMHC Annual Report (pdf)
2023 Residential MFC Annual Report (pdf)
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program (previously named Professional Counseling) received CACREP accreditation as of Jan. 17, 2019. To meet CACREP standard 4.D, the outcomes from the comprehensive program assessment are documented in the M.A. in Professional Counseling Annual Report for review by interested persons.
2023 Online CMHC Annual Report (pdf)
M.Ed. in School Counseling
Liberty University’s Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies’ Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling Program is accredited by CACREP through October 31, 2023. Outcomes from the comprehensive program assessment are documented in the below Annual Report for review by interested persons.
2023 School Counseling Annual Report (pdf)
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Liberty University’s Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies’ Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision is accredited by CACREP. To meet CACREP standard 4.D, the annual outcomes report from the comprehensive program assessment plan are documented in the below Annual Report for review by interested persons.
CACREP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
2013-14 DCP & Later
All current students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (previously called Professional Counseling) program who started their program on the 2013-14 DCP or later will have their degree CACREP accredited. For students who started their program prior to 2013-14, broke enrollment and re-enrolled in the program on a 2015-2016 or later DCP, their CACREP accreditation status will be determined based on when they took the COUN 501 course (must be fall 2013 or newer), the number of courses taken prior to fall 2013 (maximum of five), and that all of their coursework was completed within 7 years of their anticipated conferral date.
2013-14 DCP & Earlier
Current students’ accreditation status who are on Professional Counseling DCP’s earlier than 2013-14 will be determined by the age of their COUN 501 course (fall 2013 or newer), completion of COUN 698 or COUN 598, and the number of courses taken prior to fall 2013 (only 5 are allowed). Additionally, all coursework must be completed within 7 years of the anticipated conferral date.
Retroactive CACREP Accreditation
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program may have their degree retroactively CACREP accredited if the conferral date of their degree is between July 19, 2017, and January 18, 2019. These students were recently sent information regarding the status of their degrees. If your conferral date falls in this date range and you have not been contacted, please email the department at macoun@liberty.edu.