Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational

Academic review specialists: doctoral-level faculty members in counselor education programs complete training on how to complete an initial paper review of targeted sections from an applicant program's self-study. The training focuses on understanding the cacrep standards and the types of information and documentation that are needed to demonstrate compliance with the standards that comprise the review. Academic review specialists then become contracted peer reviewers who complete reviews for cacrep for a small stipend.

Accreditation reviews/on-site visits: the on-site visit team is composed of three (3) or more professional counselors, counselor educators, and/or student affairs practioners, who are trained volunteers sent to the institution by cacrep to validate that the information presented to cacrep in the applicant's self-study document is accurate, and to gain an understanding of the aspects of the program that cannot be evaulated fully through a desk review of this document. The typical visits occur over a three (3) day period. On-site team members are reimbursed for the cost of all travel Related to the visit.

Accreditation decision-making/governance: the Council is governed by a 13- 15 member board of directors. Board members are appointed to serve for one term of five (5) years and are responsible for rendering Accreditation decisions on applicant programs. They receive no compensation for their service, except for receiving reimbursements to attend the required two meetings per year. Board meeting expenses are paid for by the organization. The board is also the oversight governance structure that appoints both the members of the standards revision committee and the ircep advisory Council, and provides the committees' charges.

Trainings: cacrep offers workshops and other training sessions to ensure a consistency in our Accreditation process, and to assist programs in the preparation of their application reviews. Reader consultants, who assist with the initial review of applications, must be approved for training and attend a session that explains their role in conducting desk reviews and the intent of the cacrep standards. Once trained, the reader consultants become contract specialists who complete reviews for cacrep for a small stipend. On-site team member and team chair training occurs each year to ensure that cacrep has a pool of individuals knowledgeable of the standards and process who are willing to volunteer as peer reviewers verifying on- site that the standards are met. Cacrep also offers a "how to write a self-study" workshop 3-5 times per year for programs interested in learning about the process and how to meet the standard. Board development training also occurs on topics, such as legal issues in Accreditation, competency- based learning, and how to conduct final reviews for Accreditation application documents.