1. Master Training and State Level Advocacy
Arpana G. Inman, Lehigh University
Michael Mobley, Salem State University
Martin Heesacker, University of Florida
Arnold Spokane, Lehigh University
Johanna Nilsson, University of Missouri, Kansas City
Peggy Brady-Amoon, Seton Hall University
Presented at the Mid-year Conference of the Council for Counseling Psychology Training Programs
February 19-22, 2015
San Diego, CA

2. CACREP and Master’s Training: A Historical Context
Founded in 1981 through ACA but later an independent entity
32% counseling programs accredited by CACREP; 11% are Mental Health Counseling Programs (2010)
Estimate current proportion of CACREP to non- CACREP (unaffiliated) master’s programs is 1/3 to ½
Challenge: defining counseling program and counselor identity
2002: NBCC focused on a much narrow definition of the profession

3. CACREP and NBCC
2005: ACA and AASCB launched the 20/20 – A vision for the Future of Counseling.
Goal: to promote national license portability
Meeting between 31 delegates including CACREP and NBCC
Agreed upon (90%)
Principles for Unifying and Strengthening the Profession
Definition, title (“Licensed Professional Counselor”) and scope of practice
Not agreed upon
Educational standards despite CACREP’s push to make its accreditation the standard

4. Institute of Medicine Study (IOM)
2008 Department of Defense requested the IOM study concerning independent practice for Licensed Mental Health Counselors
Despite lack of evidence re: difference in treatment outcome by type or amount of training, report in (National Academy of Science)
Graduation from CACREP- accredited programs in mental health or clinical mental health
State licensure at highest level offered at state level
Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)
Well-defined scope of practice

5. CACREP Standards
2009: Effective 2013, CACREP Standards restrict core faculty to individuals who hold a doctorate in counselor education and supervision or those who have had at least one year experience as a full time faculty member in a counselor preparation program prior to 2013 are grandfathered in.
TRICARE decision
Final rulings in 2014 amended to allow non- CACREP grads to be eligible for payment under TRICARE if under supervision

6. 2014
ACES Board approved policy: state licensure boards adopt graduation from CACREP-accredited program as national standard
NBCC supports CACREP-only standard:
pays for 2 members from each state licensing board to go to an annual NBCC sponsored 2-day meeting every August. Carol Bobby has presented regularly at these meetings.
giving grants of up to $9,000 to 15 schools per year over the next several years to support programs applying for CACREP accreditation. As of January 2015, 59 schools have applied for grants.
starting in Jan 2022,the National Counselor Certification (NCC) would be open ONLY to graduates of CACREP programs (The NCC is not a requirement in any state).

7. Other Supports AMHCA- supporting a CACREP-only agenda since 2012.
CORE- As of 2014, Council on Rehabilitation Education entered into an affiliation agreement with CACREP to provide joint accreditation to rehab counseling programs, seen as a victory for advocating for CACREP-only educational standards for state licensing boards.

8. Current State Licensure Issues
No state currently restricts licensure to CACREP graduates
State Licensure in three states enacted CACREP-only restrictions
OH law restricts counselor licensure in OH to graduates of OH CACREP accredited programs, effective Not apply to applicants from out of state programs.
KY regulatory change restricts counselor licensure in KY to graduates of CACREP-accredited programs, effective 2017
LA regulatory changes restricts school counselor certification in LA to graduates of CACREP-accredited programs.

9. States under threat
VA – proposal passed by board, at the Governor’s level
NH – proposal passed by board, rejected by the joint legislative commission, returned to board.
Threats/rumors in other states ….so we all have to be vigilant!
Positive News:
In NJ, a grass-roots coalition successfully reversed the first attempt at CACREP-only regulations! We can do it too!
2016 CACREP standards: by 2020, all programs should be 60 credits; core faculty identify with counseling profession (membership, publications)

10. CCPTP and Division 17 Collaborations
Summit 1
Taskforces to address advocacy at different levels
Summit 2
Initiatives
Alliance for Professional Counselors
Council for Master’s Counseling Training Programs (CMCTP)
Alternative Examination
Fundraising

11. American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB)
Who They Are
Why They Matter
What Their Views are on CACREP-Only
Other Groups Affiliated with AASCB—Their Views and Their Influence on AASCB
CACREP
NBCC
AMHCA, and AASCB relationship
CCPTP

12. American Association of State Counseling Boards (continued)
Next Steps with AASCB
Portability Committee
Key Organizations Must Affiliate with AASCB
Connect with Your State Board President and Chief Executive Officer
Run for State Board

13. New Board Certification and Examination
Alternative to NBCC and NCE---validated and defensible---exceeds NCE.
Will not exclude applicants based upon program accreditation
Based upon MPCAC Competencies
Fully online Examination---if pass objective then move to scenarios and essays---If pass move to asynchronous structured interview.
Sophisticated Psychometric techniques

14. Developed Following Fouad et al, 20xx
MPCAC Competencies
Developed Following Fouad et al, 20xx
Job/Task Analysis
Reviewed by Panel of 13 Counseling Experts
Importance Frequency Ratings
Rated by CCPTP/CCMTP/ABCC
Task criticality Calculation
Frequency and importance ratings used to calculate criticality
Test Blueprint
Roadmap of how test will be constructed ---reviewed by expert panel
Item Generation
Panel of practitioners and Educators
Beta Test and Angoff Scoring Algorithm
Completed by Board Certified Counselors
Before and after Beta test

15. What You will Respond To On The Survey
Frequency and Importance of Job Tasks

16. Fundraising The need for funds Alliance for Professional Counselors
Legal advice
Lobbying at the state and federal level

17. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has Margaret Mead

18. State Level Advocacy What we can do Prevention Early intervention
Crisis intervention

19. At all stages: Identify potential organizational/individual allies
Build community/coalitions
Marshal University resources
Government relations officers
Monitor your State licensing board/and Department of Education
Who, what, when, how
Invest your power!

20. Intervention Marshal University & other resources
Government relations officers
Hire a lobbyist/attorney
Write letters/Show up/Testify!
Use your powers of persuasion
Engage/encourage others
Change your State licensing board/and Department of Education
Who, what, when, how

21. Success in NJ: Lessons learned
Stay vigilant
You can fight “city hall.”
Creating community & dialogues

22. Breakout Groups Have members seated at table by region
Questions for each group to reflect on:
What are the issues pertaining to your states?
What do you currently need to address these issues
Next steps for advocacy
Local: at their institutions (accredited – CACREP/MCAC/ unaffiliated)
State Level: licensing boards, governors
Are you willing to make a commitment/pledge to a role as regional/national liaison?
North East: PA, DE, NJ, NY
New England: CT, MA, VT, NH
South East: FL, Atlanta, ???
Midwest: -- NEED YOUR HELP HERE
West coast: