KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The counselor education program at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville has received new national accreditation that will make its graduates more employable, program director Dr. Charles Thompson said Friday.
The program, part of the educational and counseling psychology department in the College of Education, is the only one in the state accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
Thompson said the changes the program had to make to meet new accreditation standards were ”quality control” items, such as meeting higher admission and instructional standards and establishing practicums and internships at approved sites with approved supervisors.
In addition, the program’s faculty had to meet changes in requirements on research, publications, teaching, licensing and training, Thompson said.
”What the new accreditation means for students is that it will be easier for them to get licensing no matter what state they want to work in. It will also make it easier internationally, if they want to work in another country. They will be more employable,” he said.
CACREP is the top accrediting agency in the counselor education field, Thompson said.
The counselor education program offers a master’s degree for elementary and high school counselors and community counselors, and a doctorate for counselor educators.
UT Chancellor John Quinn will officially present accreditation to the program at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the Claxton Education Building.