UA Counselor Programs Awarded Unconditional National Accreditation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Counselor programs in the College of Education and Health Professions (COEHP) at the University of Arkansas have been granted accreditation through Dec. 31, 2004.

The accreditation was granted by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the highest level accreditation available for counselor programs.

After achieving initial accreditation three years ago, the counseling programs made the changes necessary to meet all conditions for accreditation.

"The counselor education faculty have done an outstanding job of developing the programs in community counseling, school counseling, and counselor education and supervision to fully meet national standards," said Sharon Hunt, COEHP interim dean. "We are proud of their achievement. Graduates of our counselor programs can be confident that the University of Arkansas has prepared them to compete with professionals nationally."

Arden Gale, assistant professor of counseling education, who chairs the counseling programs’ CACREP accreditation team, was pleased with the 2004 date.

"Accreditation by CACREP is vital to a counselor education program," Gale said. "It is the gold standard for the profession."

Gale said that at both the master’s and doctoral level, students look for schools with CACREP accreditation, and graduates from CACREP accredited programs meet all the academic requirements for counselor licensure in Arkansas. Colleges and universities seeking doctoral degree graduates as faculty typically prefer those who have graduated from a CACREP accredited program.

The department of educational leadership, counseling and foundations in COEHP offers master’s programs in community counseling and school counseling, and the department also offers a doctoral program in counselor education and supervision.

Master’s level graduates of the program are licensed as professional counselors, working in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, various agencies, and private practice. Doctoral level graduates are faculty members at major colleges and universities across the nation.

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