Counselor Education Programs Reaccredited

by Hannah Chakan (September 2011)

University Park, Pa.—Penn State’s Counselor Education M.Ed. program in School Counseling and the Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision were recently reaccredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The Penn State Ph.D. program was first accredited by the national agency in 2003, and its accreditation will now be extended another eight years. It is one of only two counselor education Ph.D. programs in Pennsylvania that are CACREP-accredited, and one of only four in the northeastern United States. Nationwide, 59 doctoral programs and more than 300 master's programs are accredited.

CACREP is the only independent agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit advanced degree programs in counselor education. Accreditation is a statement of the program’s commitment to providing an excellent learning environment as well as being in the upper level of counselor education programs throughout the country.

"This accreditation is very important for several reasons,” noted Richard Hazler, professor-in-charge of the program. “First, it assures applicants and students that they are receiving the best-quality curriculum, experiential training, and faculty available anywhere. The standards included in this accreditation also meet the certification and licensure training criteria required to practice counseling in virtually all states.”

Hazler continued, “The process for applying for and maintaining this accreditation is extensive, but the effort assures that our programs continue to be recognized as among the very best."