Very Supportive of Peer Review (CACREP/CORE Accreditation)

I have been a VA certified LPC. I am not a CACREP graduate but I am alarmed by the proliferation of programs, students and graduates claiming to be “as good or better than CACREP” – my response to them is, who says so besides your faculty and the institution collecting your fees?

Other specialty programs get institutional funding to support peer review/accreditation, why not counselor education (i.e., review by counseling practitioners, educators and supervisors using what are developed by the profession itself as its “minimum preparation standards”)? 

CACREP was established by ACA for this very purpose 34 years ago. CACREP is the only nationally and federally recognized accrediting body for the profession. It is time that we act responsibly as a profession, not just as a “field or occupation.”  Seven years implementation and safeguards such as liberal grand-parenting and related provisions are buffers for those not in such programs currently. 

The charge by the VA legislature to the Counseling Board is to protect the public. Those who are opposed to this change have no such mandate or duty to protect those citizens whom others serve under the title “counselor.” The Board will retain its authority while partnering with the profession to meets its mandate just as do boards in other professions.

For the sake of their students and their graduates paying the same or more fees for their education, all VA counselor education programs should be peer reviewed and nationally accredited by CACREP/CORE, no exceptions.

For those students and faculty in psychology programs, might you approach APA about establishing credentialing and program review for your programs and graduates?