There is no documented evidence that licensed counselors who graduated from programs accredited by CACREP are better prepared than their peers who graduated from other programs. Why then, should the majority of licensed counselors who did not graduate from programs accredited by CACREP be required to show 7 more years of experience than their peers who graduated from programs accredited by CACREP?

At present our society is experiencing a significant shortage of mental health counselors.  The ACA Portability Plan is a significantly better option for addressing this national crisis than the existing proposal.

The existing proposal is clearly a result of a strong CACREP lobby, intended to promote their own agenda rather than address the mental health crisis in this nation.  

Case in point, the MHC program at Becker College is only 4 years old.  Hence, it is not eligible for CACREP accreditation simply by virtue of its age.  This program limits enrollment to 15 students in order to ensure close supervision in its on-site training clinic.  Students are involved in supervised (one-way mirror, video and audio) counseling, working as co-therapists with licensed providers with over 25 years experience before they begin practicum.  Practicum is held in a real clinic, with real clients, and live supervision, not via role play.  Students enter internship with well over the required number of supervised practice hours.  Further, the courses in the program align with all CACREP standards and meet all learning objectives.  Students are engaged in meaningful research with the Department of Public Health or UMASS Medical School, contribute psychoeducational articles to local publications, and receive additional practical experience in DBT and social skill training (social thinking).   100% of the graduates of this program have gone on to be successfully licensed in MA, GA, and NH.  

These are not second-class mental health providers, and any patient in VA (or any other state) would be well served by these well-trained professionals.  

CACREP must stop lobbying for self-serving causes that do not serve the needs of students, patients, or counselor educators.  We must unite as mental health providers, not divide.