Graduate degree in professional counseling earns CACREP accreditation

Liberty University has received accreditation for its Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a national accreditation agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Offered by the School of Behavioral Sciences, the online program meets the highest standards of counselor preparation in the mental health community and equips candidates with the knowledge and skills needed to gain state licensure. Candidates enhance their understanding of human psychology through field-tested techniques and learn best practices for promoting the mental health and holistic wellness of clients in diverse communities. The program also provides professional mentorship through the degree’s two-semester internship, which allows students to earn the necessary state-reported hours for licensure. Students attend two on-campus intensives where they connect directly with professors and classmates.

“CACREP has long been recognized as the accreditation ‘gold standard’ in the counseling field,” said Dr. Kenyon Knapp, dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences. “The fact that during our review, we met every single standard and were awarded a full eight-year accreditation was very affirming and encouraging to our faculty and students. I am very proud of our faculty for all the hard work they put into achieving this accreditation.”

“Having this accreditation validates the quality of the M.A. in Professional Counseling,” added Associate Dean Dr. Kevin Van Wynsberg. “This accreditation demonstrates that quality to potential employers as well as licensing boards, which translates to a more streamlined licensure process in some states.”

The M.A. in Professional Counseling is the fifth Liberty program to receive CACREP accreditation. The M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the M.A. in Marriage & Family Counseling, and the M.Ed. in School Counseling earned accreditation in 2015. The  Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision received its accreditation last year.