FAQ’s Regarding the
Washington, D.C. Campus MA
in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program
Q: What is the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program?
A: The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at The Chicago School’s Washington, DC
campus is a 60 credit master’s degree program geared towards preparing students to become licensed
professional counselor practitioners in the DC-metro area (DC, Virginia, and Maryland).
Q: Why is the DC campus offering the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling?
A: The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the DC Campus is adapted to regional
academic and licensure trends for professional counselors, particularly in Maryland, DC, and Virginia,
which are increasingly looking towards the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related
Educational Programs (CACREP) Core Standards as a model for the educational requirements for
licensure as a professional counselor. For this reason, the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is
aligned with the CACREP Core Standards.
Q: What is CACREP?
A: CACREP stands for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs.
CACREP accredits masters’ and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties. It is the
nationally recognized accrediting body of the counseling profession.
Q: Is the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program accredited by CACREP?
A: No, the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program on the Washington, D.C. Campus is not
accredited by CACREP. However, the program utilizes the CACREP Standards as core learning
outcomes.
Q: Must all professional counseling programs seek CACREP accreditation?
A: No. CACREP program accreditation is a voluntary process, meaning an institution offering a masters’
degree in Counseling chooses whether or not to apply, and when to apply for CACREP accreditation.
Q: What is the difference between CACREP program accreditation and regional accreditation?
A: CACREP is a specialized/professional accreditor, meaning that CACREP accreditation only extends
to specific masters’ graduate programs in clinical mental health counseling. The accredited status of one
specific program does not extend to other programs in the same department or institution.
Regional accreditation covers entire institutions. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
(TCSPP) is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University
Commission (WSCUC), one of six regional accrediting bodies in the United States. Each is authorized to
accredit institutions in specific states, divided by geographic region. CACREP-accredited masters’-level
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graduate programs must be housed in an institution that has regional accreditation; however, an
institution may hold regional accreditation and not have any CACREP-accredited programs.
Q: What programs are eligible for CACREP program accreditation?
A: According to CACREP, master’s degree programs in clinical mental health counseling that have, at
minimum, graduated at least one cohort of students are eligible to apply for CACREP accreditation.
Q: Will the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the DC Campus pursue CACREP
accreditation in the future?
A: TCSPP initiates the path toward accreditation even before its first students enroll in the DC Campus’s
MA in Clinical Mental Health program. After classes are initially enrolled, program administrators begin
collecting and studying necessary data for the preparation of the self-study, including attrition and GPA
trends. It will also set administrative standards, monitor training quality, and engage in a host of other
preparatory work.
Determination of when to make the application to CACREP will be at the sole discretion of TCSPP,
however TCSPP will make a reasonable effort to apply for such accreditation once the Program is eligible
to do so. If TCSPP determines that it will pursue CACREP accreditation, every effort will be made to
continually inform and update students of where the program stands in this process.
Q: How does a professional counseling masters’ program prepare for CACREP accreditation?
A: Each program applies separately by location. The process begins with the collection of data for a
“self-study." A self-study is a process that is prepared by the program faculty and includes comprehensive
information about the program stipulated by CACREP. This process can take many years and covers
information such as:
Training goals, objectives and practices
Student, faculty and financial resources
Program policies and procedures
Competencies students are expected to obtain
Actual outcome data that demonstrates the achievement of these competencies.
Other data required are: incoming student GPAs, current student performance across the entire program,
faculty credentials, student retention, coursework outcomes, practicum and internship placements and
performance, and proper institutional resources to achieve training goals. The self-study process may
also include input and review by consultants knowledgeable about the CACREP self-study and
accreditation process.
Q: How long does the CACREP program accreditation process take upon submission of the selfstudy?
A: According to CACREP's accreditation manual and guidance, a final determination as to whether to
grant accreditation to an academic program can take up to 24 months from the time the self-study is
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submitted. The length of time depends on factors such as whether an addendum is required, how quickly
a site visit can be arranged and the timing of the Board meetings.
The earliest that a program can submit its self-study to CACREP is after graduating its first cohort of
students. Once the self-study is submitted, it undergoes an initial review from CACREP to ensure internal
consistency and that all sections of the self-study are completed appropriately. The document is then
forwarded to a committee for a full review and determination as to whether a site visit to the campus
where the program is held will be granted. The committee may also ask questions for the program to
answer prior to scheduling the program site visit.
If a site visit is granted, at the end of the visit there is an Exit Presentation where the team will summarize
their findings. Within three weeks of the visit, the program will receive a copy of the Team Report. Upon
receipt of the Team Report, the CACREP staff will send a transmittal letter and copy of the report to the
institution’s president/CEO, along with copies of these documents to the Dean, Department Chair, and
Program Liaison. The institution is allowed 30 days in which to respond to the relative accuracy of the
team’s report. In rendering a final accreditation decision, the CACREP Board of Directors uses the
following data: the application, Self-Study document, any addenda to the original Self-Study document,
pertinent correspondence between the institution and the CACREP office, the Team Report, and the
Institutional Response to the Team Report.
Q: Can CACREP program accreditation be denied?
A: Yes, the CACREP Board of Directors denies accreditation when there is consensus among Board
members that the program is not in substantial compliance with the standards.
Q: Is CACREP program accreditation guaranteed?
A: No. Accreditation of a graduate professional counseling program can never be guaranteed and there
are no shortcuts. As outlined above, there is a rigorous accreditation process that must be followed.
Q: Is CACREP accreditation retroactive?
A: CACREP policy states that students in a program seeking accreditation shall be considered
graduates of a CACREP-accredited program if they receive their degree within one (1) academic year
prior to when accreditation is conferred, and if the program can verify that the student completed the
CACREP program requirements.
Q: If the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at one of TCSPP’s other campuses
obtains CACREP accreditation, will that accreditation extend to the program at the DC Campus?
A: No, Accreditation by CACREP is not awarded to a school or campus, but rather a program. Each
program presents its own self-study and is reviewed separately.
Licensure and Certification
Q: Does my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional
Psychology in Washington, DC meet the degree and coursework requirements for me to be eligible
to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Washington, DC and Virginia and Licensed
Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland?
A. Yes. The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional
Psychology in Washington, DC meets the degree and coursework requirements to be eligible for licensure
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as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Washington, DC and Virginia. It also meets the degree
and coursework requirements to be eligible for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
(LCPC) in Maryland.
Q. Is there anything else I need to do after I graduate in order to obtain my license as an LPC in
Washington, DC or Virginia or an LCPC in Maryland?
A. Yes. Each state requires the passage of the following exams:
Washington, DC: National Counselor’s Exam (NCE)
Virginia: National Clinical Mental Health Counselor’s Exam (NCMHCE)
Maryland: NCE + Maryland Law Test
Additional post-master’s supervised experience is required in order to be eligible for licensure in each of
the above states. All candidates are also required to complete the application process, which may include
fees and/or a background check.
Q. I have more questions about the LPC licenses in Washington DC and Virginia and the LCPC
license in Maryland. Where can I get more information?
A. Additional information about licensure as an LPC (Washington, DC and Virginia) or LCPC
(Maryland) can be found at the following web addresses:
Washington, DC Department of Health website: http://doh.dc.gov/node/160252
Virginia Bd. of Counseling website: http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/
Maryland Bd. of Professional Counselors: http://dhmh.maryland.gov/bopc/SitePages/Home.aspx
Q. What if I want to obtain a license as a counselor in a state outside of Washington, DC, Virginia,
or Maryland?
A: Licensure laws and regulations vary across states. As discussed above, the MA in Clinical Mental
Health Counseling program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington, DC is
aligned with the degree and coursework requirements for licensure as an LPC in Washington, DC and
Virginia, and as an LCPC in Maryland. Students who wish to obtain licensure in other jurisdictions should
consult their local licensing board’s requirements.
For information about licensure requirements in other states and licensing board contact information,
visit the American Counseling Association’s State Professional Counselor Licensure Boards webpage:
http://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements/state-professional-counselorlicensure-boards
The information provided here is for information purposes only. It is highly recommended that you
contact your state licensing board directly to ensure you have the most up to date information.
For further information regarding the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, please contact Dr.
Catherine Roland, Department Chair, at [email protected].
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