An Organization with a Mission, Vision, and Values

In 1993, the CACREP Board developed mission and vision statements as part of an on-going and evolving planning process.  In 2002, the CACREP Board reaffirmed both the mission and vision statements.  In addition, the Board adopted a Statement of Core Values representing those principles by which the board operationalizes its purposes and advances its mission.  These statements are presented below.

CACREP’s Vision

The vision of CACREP is to provide leadership and to promote excellence in professional preparation though the accreditation of counseling and related educational programs.  As an accrediting body, CACREP is committed to the development of standards and procedures that reflect the needs of a dynamic, diverse and complex society.  CACREP is dedicated to (1) encouraging and promoting the continuing development and improvement of preparation programs, and (2) preparing counseling and related professionals to provide service consistent with the ideal of optimal human development. 

CACREP’s Mission

The mission of CACREP is to promote the professional competence of counseling and related practitioners through the

                • development of preparation standards

                • encouragement of excellence in program development

                • accreditation of professional preparation programs

CACREP’s  Core Values

We believe in advancing the counseling profession through quality and excellence in counselor education; ensuring a fair, consistent, and ethical decision-making process; serving as a responsible leader in protecting the public; promoting practices that reflect openness to growth, change and collaboration; and creating and strengthening standards that reflect the needs of society, respect the diversity of instructional approaches and strategies, and encourage program improvement and best practices.

A Mini History Lesson

        Did you know that CACREP celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2001?

                •CACREP grew out of the work of CACES, ACES, and ASCA

                •In the late 1970s, APGA sponsored a committee to examine the feasibility of a national accrediting agency

                •It was originally titled the Accreditation Board for Counselor Preparation (ABCP), but chose the name CACREP to include the related educational programs that could minimize duplication of efforts in higher education accreditation

                •Obtained COPA recognition in 1987, the same year that CACREP moved to Alexandria and hired full time staff

                •CACREP has continued to be nationally recognized through its support of COPA’s successor organization, the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

                •CACREP’s core curriculum is used as the basis for the educational requirements of most state licensing regulations

                •CACREP’s eight core curricular areas are the comprehensive foundation of the testing questions used in the National Counselor Exam for Licensure and Certification (NCE)