Clinical mental health and school counseling master’s degree programs earn CACREP accreditation

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) has granted accreditation to the MSED in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MSED in School Counseling programs at The College of Saint Rose through March 2030.

Saint Rose is the only institution in the greater Capital Region offering CACREP-accredited school counseling and mental health counseling programs, which means graduates have met high academic and professional standards and graduate with the knowledge needed for success in the field.

“For the students, it raises the profile of their degree, and it creates a shared language that they’ve met rigorous standards,” said Claudia Lingertat, a professor of counseling and chair of the Saint Rose Department of Counseling.

Students in the program also benefit in that CACREP accreditation makes the process of getting certified in other states smoother, as states value what the accreditation says about the quality of graduates.

CACREP accreditation also opens doors for MSED in Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduates, who will now be eligible for employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs and to receive payment as independent providers under TRICARE, a health care program in the United States Department of Defense Military Health System that serves beneficiaries and their dependents.

The programs are designed for student needs, offering classes in the evenings because the majority of school and clinical mental health counseling students work full time.

In alignment with the College’s founding values, the programs value social justice and advocacy, cultural competence, and a trauma-informed approach to working with clients and students. They also have a strong reputation for producing outstanding professionals, with 100% of the clinical mental health and school counseling students last year securing jobs within the field.

“The faculty have all worked in the field,” Lingertat said. “We’re always on the cutting edge in our classes, and in the surveys, students felt exceptionally well-prepared.”