APA vs. CACREP Accreditation
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Attending an accredited college or university is crucial if you want to become a counselor or psychologist.
You’ll soon learn, however, that there isn’t just a singular accreditor for these programs. There are two primary accrediting agencies that provide the stamp of approval for counseling and psychology programs:
- The American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation
- The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
“Accreditation is important for a few reasons,” Rayelle Davis, a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), tells BestColleges. “The primary reason is that accreditation helps to protect students against ‘diploma mill’ programs that take students’ money but leave them unprepared and unqualified to work.”
CACREP Accreditation Overview
CACREP accreditation includes both master’s and doctoral programs.
This agency is primarily concerned with counseling programs and related specialties within the counseling profession. Some examples of graduate-level programs CACREP may accredit include:
- Clinical mental health counseling
- School counseling
- Addiction counseling
- Marriage and family counseling
- Rehabilitation counseling
As of April 2025, CACREP accredits 962 graduate programs.
CACREP is recognized by both the Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Many states require students to have earned a master’s degree from an accredited program in order to become a licensed mental health counselor.
State licensing boards often name CACREP as the preferred accrediting agency, but also stipulate that non-CACREP-accredited programs can meet this requirement. In many cases, however, these other programs must still align with CACREP’s standards.
Ohio, Kentucky, and North Carolina only accept degrees from programs accredited by CACREP.
APA Accreditation Overview
APA accreditation is centered on doctoral programs.
According to APA, just 0.23% of the programs it accredits are master’s programs. The majority are focused on programs for students pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or a combination of these fields.
| Type of program | Number of programs accredited |
|---|---|
| Master’s programs | 3 |
| Doctoral programs | 423 |
| Doctoral internship programs | 685 |
| Postdoctoral residency programs | 176 |
APA is recognized by both ED and CHEA.
Counseling and psychology programs at many prestigious universities, including Ivy League universities, are accredited by APA:
- Yale University
- Harvard University
- Columbia University
- University of Pennsylvania
APA also recognizes a number of doctoral programs at public flagship universities.
APA vs. CACREP Accreditation Comparison
APA and CACREP are both programmatic accreditors. This means that they don’t analyze the entirety of a college or university; just a specific program within the institution.
Careers in counseling and psychology often share many similarities, including working with clients and patients to improve their mental health. Psychology can be broader in scope than counseling, but both fields abide by similar central tenets.
APA accreditation is largely centered on psychology programs, while CACREP focuses on counseling.
Both accrediting agencies, however, help open the door to professional licensure. In most states, you must earn a graduate degree from a program accredited by an ED-recognized accreditation agency. Both APA and CACREP are recognized by the ED.
| Comparison | APA | CACREP |
|---|---|---|
| Primary field focus | Psychology | Counseling |
| Primary degree level | Doctoral | Master’s, doctoral |
| Number of programs accredited | 1,287 | 962 |
| Recognized by | Department of Education, CHEA | Department of Education, CHEA |
| Accreditor type | Programmatic | Programmatic |
Frequently Asked Questions About APA and CACREP Accreditation
APA accreditation is important if you intend to become a licensed psychologist.
State licensing boards require professionals to hold a graduate-level degree from an accredited program. Because APA is recognized by both the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, a program accredited by APA will meet this requirement.
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