Accreditation, Licensure and Certification

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Programs

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has fully accredited the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.Ed.), Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (M.Ed.), School Counseling (M.Ed.), and Counselor Education and Supervision (Ph.D.) programs at Ohio University through October 31, 2025.

All Patton College of Education programs, including Counselor Education, are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). As a result, graduates are able to fulfill the requirements for state licensure and national certifications in a shorter time following graduation. To learn more about the Patton College of Education's other accrediting bodies, visit the Office of Assessment & Academic Improvement.

Counseling Programs and Student Outcomes

The 2022-2023 academic year saw a return to in-person courses after two years of interruption from COVID-19. Graduates of our accredited programs obtained positions as clinical mental health counselors, counselor educators, school counselors, and administrative professional positions. Our graduates achieved nearly 100% job placement and are working in the field to support others and the counseling profession.

Clinical Mental Health Counselors achieved 100% job placement upon graduation. Seventeen counseling students graduated with 94.4% passing the National Counselor Exam (NCE).

The completion rate (98%) was impacted by students withdrawing due to changing professions or changing to clinical rehabilitation or school counseling specialties.

School Counselors achieved 100% job placement with three students graduating in 2023 (100% completion rate). School counseling graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the ODE’s Ohio Assessment for Educators exam.

Clinical Mental Health and Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors achieved 100% job placement upon graduation as counselors. Nine students graduated. The completion rate was 98%; again, impacted by students withdrawing due to changing professions. In Ohio, students who complete a Clinical MH and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program are eligible to take the NCE and become licensed as professional counselors. 94.4% of students who completed the NCE passed.

Five Counselor Education and Supervision PhD students graduated in 2022/2023. All obtained jobs upon graduation. The overall completion rate of our doctoral program is 86.7%; with 26 actively working toward their doctoral degree, 3 on hold due to life circumstances; and 1 student withdrew from the program. 

Licensure

Graduates specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Mental Health/Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling are eligible to become Ohio Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) upon successful completion of the required state examination, the National Counselor Examination (NCE). For further information, refer to the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.

Graduates specializing in School Counseling are eligible to earn the Ohio Pupil Services license in school counseling upon successful completion of the required state examination, the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE). For further information, refer to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). Students who have completed both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling specialty areas are also eligible for Ohio LPC licensure upon successful completion of the NCE. For further information, refer to the Ohio CSWMFT Board.

Certification

Graduates of all specialty areas in counselor education are eligible to become Nationally Certified Counselors (NCC) after successful completion of the NCE. Students are encouraged to review the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) website information regarding counselor certification. Graduates can also apply for a specialty certification through NBCC as a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and/or a Certified School Counselor as appropriate.

Graduates specializing in Clinical Mental Health/Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling are eligible to become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC) upon successful completion of the required CRC Exam. For further information, refer to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

For more information, contact:

Tamarine Foreman
CACREP Liaison
Patton Hall 432G
740.593.4395