Ohio University counseling programs earn continued CACREP accreditation through 2032

Ohio University's Patton College of Education has received reaffirmation of accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for all its counselor education programs. The reaffirmation covers the Master of Education programs in School Counseling, including the fully online school counseling program offered through OHIO Online, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, as well as the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. All programs are now accredited through Oct. 31, 2032.

CACREP is the specialized accrediting body for counseling programs, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Reaffirmation follows an in-depth review of a program's curriculum, faculty, clinical training and student outcomes against national standards.

The programs are offered through the Department of Counseling and Higher Education in the Patton College of Education. Ohio University Counselor Education programs have maintained continuous CACREP accreditation since the 1980s, and the department has continued to grow, adding the fully online delivery of school counseling in 2024.

“We are thrilled to achieve reaccreditation as it highlights our continued dedication to the quality of our programs. It was a team effort and I am thankful for all the support we received from current students, alumni, administration, faculty, and site supervisors”, said Dr. Tamarine Foreman , associate professor of counselor education and CACREP liaison. 

Programs included in the reaffirmation

Master’s Programs:

• School Counseling (M.Ed.): Offered on the Athens campus and fully online. Graduates are eligible for the Ohio Pupil Services License in school counseling after passing the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) exam.
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.Ed.): Prepares counselors to work with clients in mental health settings. Graduates are eligible to become Ohio Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) after passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE).
• Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (M.Ed.): Prepares counselors to support clients with disabilities. Graduates are eligible for Ohio LPC licensure after passing the NCE and may also pursue the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential.

Doctoral Program: 

• Counselor Education and Supervision (Ph.D.): Prepares experienced counselors for faculty, clinical supervision and leadership roles in the counseling profession.

Newest program spotlight: Online school counseling

The reaffirmation is the first since the department launched its fully online M.Ed. in School Counseling in January 2024. It was the first CACREP-accredited online school counseling program offered by a public university in Ohio, and its first cohort graduated in May 2026. Graduating students had a 100% pass rate on the OAE, and most are employed as school counselors.

The online program was created to open the path to school counseling for people who can't step away from full-time work, including teachers looking to move into counseling roles. Students complete 60 credit hours entirely online, and most finish in seven semesters, starting in spring or summer each year.  

“Addressing workforce needs in school counseling was one of the primary reasons that we began this program,” said Dr. Christine Suniti Bhat, professor of counselor education and former president of the American Counseling Association (2024-2025). Faculty are skilled, experienced, and licensed counselors and educators, and are regularly recognized with awards by professional counseling associations.

The online and on-campus programs are held to the same CACREP standards. Online students complete a 100-hour practicum, with at least 40 hours of direct work with students, followed by a 600-hour internship across two semesters in a school setting. The program has also begun drawing students from beyond Ohio, including Colorado, North Carolina and Florida.

Why accreditation matters

For students, CACREP accreditation signals that a program meets the profession's highest standards for training. Many state licensing boards and employers look for it when licensing and hiring counselors, and graduating from an accredited program can streamline the path to licensure.

Learn more

To learn more about Ohio University's counseling programs, visit ohio.edu/education/counseling-higher-education. To learn more about the online Master of Education in School Counseling, visit ohio.edu/online/programs/graduate/school-counseling.