I respectfully but strongly oppose the CACREP-only proposal. I urge Virginia to continue to allow LPCs to enter the professional counseling field from a variety of relevant disciplines (for example, counseling psychology, art therapy) and with a variety of recognized academic accreditations.

Restricting LPC eligibility to graduates of CACREP-accredited counselor education programs will mean ultimately that fewer Virginians will have access to qualified mental health professionals.

CACREP is not the only route to accreditation. Regional accreditation of a university in which a particular psychology, therapy, or counseling program resides is recognized in many licensing requirements. There are also other program-specific accrediting bodies, such as MPCAC, as its representatives explained in their June 7, 2017 commentary on Virginia’s proposal.