William Paterson Receives CACREP Accreditation for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling Programs

William Paterson University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MEd degree) and School Counseling (MEd degree) programs, housed within the Department of Special Education, Professional Counseling, and Disability Studies in the College of Education, have been granted accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and its prestigious accreditation ensures a high standard of quality for master’s and doctoral programs in counseling and related educational programs.

“I am proud and appreciative of our extraordinary professional counseling faculty who are committed to ensuring high-quality educational and clinical experiences for graduate students in school counseling and mental health counseling,” says Amy Ginsberg, PhD, dean of the College of Education at William Paterson. “As the CACREP accreditation attests, these programs meet professional standards for excellence.”

A new New Jersey law effective January 1, 2022 states that a master’s degree from a CACREP accredited master’s program will be required in order to obtain any certification issued by the National Board of Certified Counselors. These certifications include National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), Master Addictions Counselor (MAC), and National Certified School Counselor (NCSC).

“We are thrilled to receive CACREP re-accreditation for our Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling programs. CACREP is the gold standard in the field of professional counseling and receiving this further validates the strong program that we (professional counseling faculty) have created, along with a commitment to excellence. We are honored to support our students’ journey to becoming professional counselors. To us, there is no greater privilege than to be a counselor educator,” say Meredith Drew, PhD, and Michelle Hinkle, PhD.

Meredith Drew is co-director of William Paterson’s Professional Counseling Program (school), and an associate professor at WP. She is also a certified school counselor and a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey, national certified counselor, and an approved clinical supervisor.

Michelle Hinkle is co-director of William Paterson’s Professional Counseling Program (clinical mental health track) and a professor at WP. She is also a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey and approved clinical supervisor.

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09/21/21