This proposal falsely suggests that licensed counselors who graduated from programs accredited by CACREP (who would need 3 years post-licensure experience) are more qualified than those who graduated from other programs (who would need 10 years post-licensure experience). There is no evidence that CACREP program graduates are better trained than the graduates of other programs. Also, licensed counselors who graduated from MPCAC accredited programs would be treated as second-class citizens as a result, which is inappropriate as both CACREP and MPCAC are accredited by CHEA and thus programs accredited by CACREP and MPCAC are meeting similar standards, and their graduates should be held to the same kinds of licensure rules.

This proposal should be rescinded due to the above problem and, instead, the State of Virginia should pursue the Counseling Compact.