For Programs
2024 CACREP Standards and Policies
CACREP 2024 Accreditation Policy Document (HTML version)
CACREP 2024 Accreditation Policy Document (PDF version)
2024 CACREP Standards and Glossary (PDF version)
2024 CACREP Standards and Glossary (HTML version)
2024 CACREP Standards Guidance Document (PDF version)
2024 Standards with Required Documentation (Word Version)
2024 CACREP Standards Application for Accreditation (Video Walkthrough)
2024 CACREP Standards FAQs (HTML version)
The above link has FAQs addressing implementation considerations for the CACREP 2024 Standards.
Have you been accredited under the 2016 standards? Click here.
Submitting a Report to CACREP
All SSR submissions on or after 10/1/2025 must use the SSR templates available in the Accreditation Management System (AMS).
- Effective October 1, 2025, programs seeking initial accreditation will need to complete a form to request access to the AMS and submit a fee of $1000. The fee will provide access to the AMS SSR template for a period of 2 years. If the SSR is submitted in the 2-year period, the $1000 fee will be credited toward the program’s application fee. If the SSR is not submitted in the 2-year period, the original fee is forfeited, and a new fee will need to be submitted for continued access to the AMS SSR template.
All report submissions for any of these reports, other than self-study reports which have the earlier AMS usage deadline, after 11/17/2025, must be completed in the AMS:
- 2016 Standards Monitoring/Midcycle Form
- 2016 Standards Institutional Response to the Site Review Team’s Report
- 2016 Standards Follow-up Report – This report is also used for SSR Addendums
- 2016 Standards Progress/Interim Report
- 2016 Standards Team Report (site team access only)
- 2024 Standards Application for Accreditation or Reaffirmation of Accreditation
- 2024 Standards Follow-up Report – This report is also used for SSR Addendums
- 2024 Standards Institutional Response to the Site Review Team’s Report
- 2024 Standards Progress Report
- 2024 Policies and Standards Exceptions Request
- 2024 Self-Study Report (entry-level only)
- 2024 Self-Study Report (entry-level + doctoral)
- Adding Program Self-Study Report (adding entry-level only, adding entry-level + doctoral; adding doctoral only)
- Dashboard Update Form
- Extension Request Form
- People- Confirm or Update Designated Roles Form
- People- Confirm or Update Contact Information Form
- Substantive Change Report
While we will accept non-SSR reports through the Report Submissions Portal until 11/17/2025, we encourage the completion and submission of all reports for which there are available templates via the AMS at this time.
Welcome to the Accreditation Management System (AMS)
An Accreditation Management System (AMS) is a one stop shop for completing and submitting reports/forms, reviewing institution information, and streamlining the review process. Use of the AMS will facilitate information sharing and program support. Through the use of the AMS, programs will be able to view program profiles, view due dates and statuses for required reports, update contact information, and access templates for online report/form development and submission.
Click here to view the Accreditation Management Resource Page.
Click here to go to 2024 Standards Self-Study Report Template information on the Accreditation Management Resource Page.
Change in Addendum Process
Effective June 15, 2025
Programs that receive notification from CACREP on or after June 15, 2025, that they are required to submit an Addendum will have up to 60 days to complete and return the Addendum. Programs can utilize the Follow-up Report template in the AMS to develop the Addendum. Please notify CACREP when submitting that you have submitted a follow-up report and that it is the required Addendum to your SSR, so we can be sure to record the report as such. To notify CACREP of the submission, send an email to Vivian Gray ([email protected]) with the email subject line “Follow-up report submitted as Addendum to SSR.”
Timeline for Accreditation Decision Notifications
At its winter and summer meetings, the CACREP Board reviews a myriad of reports from CACREP-accredited programs and at documents for programs seeking initial accreditation. The volume of reviews at these meetings can be quite high, with as many as 200 letters being developed and sent to programs communicating the actions taken by the Board.
To ensure timeliness of notification and in keeping with the CHEA Standard 2.A, the CACREP Board at its April 2024 meeting adopted the following CACREP Accreditation Policies which went into effect July 1, 2024:
Section A –Accreditation Expectations and Processes
Policy A.3.f Notification of Decisions. All accreditation status-related decisions from a Board meeting will be communicated only via formal written correspondence within 30 calendar days of the conclusion of the Board meeting.
Section C –Accreditation Operations
Policy C.1.a Public Notice of Accreditation Status.
Within 30 calendar days of the conclusion of the Board meeting, accreditation status decisions will be posted on the CACREP website. The publicly available information will include the following: 1) the accreditation status of the degree program, 2) the end date for the most recent accreditation grant made to the degree program, and 3) a summary of the reasons for which the Board made its decision.
Operationally, this means that programs for which there is a change in accreditation status, as a result of Board actions, will be notified in writing within 30 calendar days of the end of the BOD meeting (calendar day count will begin with the Monday after a BOD meeting or first business day following the meeting if there is a holiday). Programs that fall in this category are those to which initial accredited status is awarded or denied; currently accredited programs seeking reaffirmation of accreditation for which there is a change in accredited status due to an action to either deny or revoke accreditation; and currently accredited programs to which a sanction has been imposed. The accreditation status decisions will also be posted on the CACREP website within the same period.
Programs for which there is no change in accreditation status, as a result of Board actions, will be notified in writing within 60 calendar days of the end of the BOD meeting (calendar day count will begin with the Monday after a BOD meeting or first business day following the meeting if there is a holiday). Programs that fall in this category are those for which continued accreditation is reaffirmed, and approval of the following has occurred: Progress Reports, Interim Reports, Substantive Change reports, monitoring reports, extension requests, and teach-out plans. However, if any of these decision results in a revocation of accreditation then it would move to the 30-day notification timeline.
Guiding Statements
The Board has adopted Guiding Statements on topics and issues related to CACREP Standards or policies. These Guiding Statements represent the position of CACREP and should be used as a reference for seeking and/or maintaining accreditation.
Guiding Statements on Variation in Accredited Programs
Guiding Statement on Best Practices for Bachelor to Master Bridge Programs
Guiding Statement on Certification and Licensure Only Programs
Guiding Statement on Best Practices for Transfer of Credit
Guiding Statements Specific to 2024 Standards:
February 2026 Revised Guiding-Statement on Policy A.2.e – Program Training Requirement
Position Statements:
Accreditation and DEI Position Statement
Categories of Decisions for Accreditation Review and Monitoring Reports
Teach Out Plans
For institutions that will be closing a part of their CACREP-accredited offerings, CACREP has established a new procedure for notification and reporting. This will cover all closures from a campus site to an institutional closure.
The first step is submission of a Program Closure Substantive Change Notification, which alerts the CACREP office and provides basic information. Once this form has been received and reviewed, CACREP staff will contact the CACREP Program Liaison to discuss specific reporting, based on the procedures in the Teach Out Plan Document. Once a Teach Out Plan has been created and submitted, it will be reviewed by the Board. The Board can take one of the following actions:
- Approve the Teach-Out Plan as presented and identify accreditation end date.
- Ask for additional information (addendum or follow-up), including making suggestions about how questioned issues should be addressed.
- Deny plan as presented, and end the accreditation sooner based on when the program would appear to be out of compliance with standards.
CACREP Accreditation Fees
Please note all payments made by credit card will incur a 3% service fee.PRE-APPLICANT AMS ACCESS FEE-NOTE: Programs interested in seeking initial accreditation through CACREP for one or more counseling specialized practice areas and/or a doctoral program must complete the CACREP Pre Applicant AMS Access Request Form and submit a fee of $1000. The fee will provide access to the AMS SSR template for a period of 2 years. If the SSR is submitted in the 2-year period, the $1000 fee will be credited toward the program’s accreditation application fee. If the SSR is not submitted in the 2-year period, a new fee will need to be submitted for continued access to the AMS. Only one access fee may be credited towards the program’s application fee when the SSR submitted. Click here for the form to access the AMS.
APPLICATION FEE –$3750 for Self-Study Reports when submitted.The Application Fee is the same for initial, reaffirmation, adding Specialized Practice Areas or adding a doctoral degree.(Due at the Time of Self-Study Submission) NOTE: If you are submitting an Application for Accreditation you will not automatically be invoiced for Application Fees. If you need an invoice, please contact our office at [email protected] and we will provide one. If no Self-Study Report (SSR) is submitted within six months of payment, a new Application Fee will need to be paid at the time of SSR submission. |
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SITE VISIT FEE – $6,000 for a three-person visit, additional charges for additional visitors(Invoiced when Visit is Approved) |
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ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FEE(Covers July 1 Through June 30) |
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FY 2027 (INVOICED APRIL 15, 2026 AND DUE SEPTEMBER 15, 2026) – $4150NOTE: Newly accredited programs will receive a prorated invoice following receipt of their accreditation decision. FEES FOR APPEALS:Appeal Fee $1,500.00 Appeal Panel Hearing deposit – $5,000.00 (if hearing requested) FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS:
1. Mailed checks – New address CACREP will now use a lockbox to where payments by check will need to be mailed to a secure post office box. Do not mail checks to the CACREP office. Payments received through the lockbox will be processed and recorded daily. Any checks sent to the CACREP office will be held and sent to the lockbox once a week, which means that record of payment received will be delayed. Payments should now be mailed to: CACREP P.O. Box 23426 New York, NY 10087
2. Credit card payments – Authorize.net portal CACREP will now use the Authorize.net electronic payment gateway. Payment through Authorize.net will be processed immediately and recorded daily. Please note that going forward all invoices will have a payment link that will allow a program and its business office to make payments directly through the Authorize.net payment link. A 3% service charge will be added to the fee amount at the time of payment.
3. ACH payments – through your institution’s vendor system. Programs may initiate the process to pay fees by ACH. To do so, please contact Jenny Gunderman at [email protected] Please note that only a transfer of funds via ACH is acceptable, a P-card or debit card is not acceptable when using this payment option. Please be sure to clearly identify your institution’s name and include your invoice number on the ACH payment to ensure timely recording of payment received.
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Board Responses to Issues in Counselor Education
Information for CACREP Program Liaisons
CACREP Program Liaison Position Description and Responsibilities
The CACREP Program Liaison serves as the primary point of contact between CACREP and the institution’s accredited program(s). The CACREP Program Liaison is the person to whom CACREP will send important notifications and news updates.
CACREP Program Liaison Position Description and Responsibilities