Master of Arts in Counseling

Accreditation and Licensure

Consumer Disclosure:  The Counseling program curriculum is designed to align with the standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). New programs are not eligible for CACREP accreditation prior to launch. At the earliest, a program may be approved after the first cohort of students has graduated.  Truman will submit its application for accreditation at the earliest possible date, in 2022.  If accredited, graduates of this program will be deemed to have graduated from a CACREP-accredited program, even if they have already graduated, provided they graduated within 18 months of initial accreditation.  Truman aims to meet the deadlines for CACREP Board action in January 2024. The Counseling program is not CACREP-accredited until it is approved by the CACREP Board of Directors.  States vary as to the importance placed on CACREP accreditation for licensure, and some variance exists based on whether you are enrolled for a degree in clinical mental health or school counseling.  For more information on your state licensure rules, visit our State Authorization website.

Certification and licensure are determined on a state-by-state basis. Graduates seeking Licensed Professional Counselor status typically must complete a series of post-master’s internship hours under the supervision of a qualified counseling professional before full licensure is granted. In some states, graduates seeking Licensed/Certified School Counselor status have similar requirements. Students should consult the state licensing board in their state of residence to verify any additional requirements for their state. Information on individual state licensing boards can be located on Truman’s State Authorization website.

Students are expected to update their permanent address each semester to help ensure they can be properly informed about changes in licensure rules in their home state.

Dismissal

The department may dismiss students who do not meet the program’s standards for academic performance or for concerns related to the ethical, professional, or dispositional standards described in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics or CACREP accreditation standards.