NBCC Awards CACREP Grants to Eight Counseling Programs

In 2014, NBCC made the commitment to support programs in obtaining initial CACREP accreditation by providing grants to assist with the associated costs. Since its inception in July 2014, the NBCC and Affiliates Grant for Initial CACREP Accreditation has assisted 58 graduate Counselor Education programs by providing funds throughout the accreditation process. Funds are awarded in three phases: $2,500 for the preapplication phase; $2,500 for the application phase; and $4,000 for the site visit phase.

Of those 58 programs, 40 have obtained CACREP accreditation, and several others have submitted applications or have planned site visits.

For the 2025–2026 grant year, awards were made to the following Counseling programs:

• Albizu University’s CMHC program (Miami, FL)
• Belhaven University’s CMHC program (Jackson, MS)
• Bethune-Cookman’s CMHC program (Daytona Beach, FL)
• Coppin State University’s Addictions program (Baltimore, MD)
• Methodist University’s CMHC program (Fayetteville, NC)
• Morehead State University’s CMHC program (Morehead, KY)
• The College of New Jersey Online’s CMHC program (Ewing, NJ)
• Virginia State University’s CMHC and SC programs (Petersburg, VA)

Dr. Katrina Miller, Professor and Program Accreditation Manager for Albizu University, is excited about her school’s grant and the opportunities it will create for students.

“Our university serves post-traditional students who are dedicated to turning their passion into a meaningful profession. To best support them, our program remains committed to ongoing refinement that aligns with accrediting body standards and ensures our students are well-prepared for their future roles,” she said. “The NBCC Grant Award has provided us with invaluable resources that allowed us to move forward with the accreditation process, particularly as we navigate financial challenges along the way. On behalf of our program and our students, thank you, NBCC, for your continued investment in the Counseling Profession and its future.”

Coppin State University’s Coordinator of the Addictions Counseling Program, Dr. David Graham, remarked that “Being awarded the 2025–2026 CACREP Assistance Grant played a pivotal role in advancing our Addictions Counseling Program toward national accreditation—progress that simply would not have been possible without the support of NBCC. Accreditation will strengthen the pipeline of highly trained Counselors, whose representation is critically needed in behavioral health settings. Increasing the number of culturally responsive addiction professionals directly improves access, trust, and quality of care for African American communities disproportionately affected by substance use, trauma, and systemic inequities.”

Dr. Lisa Cardello, Assistant Professor in the Department of Online Counselor Education at The College of New Jersey, shared that “Receiving this grant meaningfully supports our efforts to submit a strong CACREP application and positions us to expand our program to train more Counselors at a time when the need for well-prepared mental health professionals has never been greater.”

NBCC’s CACREP Assistance Grant continues to provide important resources for Counselor Education programs across the nation. The new grant cycle will begin on March 1, 2026, and applications will be accepted through June 30, 2026. The 2026–2027 grant awards will be announced in November 2026.

Information on the application process can be found on the NBCC website.