Action | Requirement for CACREP accreditation for educational programs |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 7/14/2017 |
Dear Governor McAuliffe and Board members, I am a current student at George Mason University in the the Community Agency Counseling track. Implementing CACREP only standards will make it harder for students to continue their profession in the state of Virginia and will find employment in another state. I have looked at the requirements in both MD and DC and found that VA has one of the strictest requirements and adding on CACREP standards will only make it harder. Like many others, this profession will be my 2nd career and as a minority, I find pride in trying to help other minorities who are seeking mental health in the state of VA and have no intention of moving out of the state or crossing state line to work. Please reconsider on moving forward with this action. There is no evidence found that CACREP only programs are better and George Mason Univerity has a great counseling program with focus on social justice that no other school provides. This move would only be for monetary reasons and risk enrollment and licensure from minority students and professionals who can further support the mental health needs of the community of ethnic backgrounds. Thank you for your time.