Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE CRITERIA THAT ENSURE TO THE PUBLIC THOSE PROGRAMS OR INSTITUTIONS RECEIVING ACCREDITATION MEET ESTABLISHED STANDARDS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE FIELDS OF COUNSELING AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- 30.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 258
- Highest pay
- $321,071, president an
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 30.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $490,737 spent. ACADEMIC REVIEW SPECIALISTS: DOCTORAL-LEVEL FACULTY MEMBERS IN COUNSELOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE TRAINED ON HOW TO COMPLETE AN INITIAL DESK REVIEW OF TARGETED SECTIONS FROM AN APPLICANT PROGRAM'S SELF-STUDY. THE TRAINING FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING THE CACREP STANDARDS AND THE TYPES OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION THAT ARE NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS THAT COMPRISE THE REVIEW. ACADEMIC REVIEW SPECIALISTS THEN BECOME CONTRACTED PEER REVIEWERS WHO COMPLETE DESK REVIEWS FOR CACREP FOR A SMALL STIPEND.
- $313,955 spent. ACCREDITATION DECISION-MAKING/GOVERNANCE: THE COUNCIL IS GOVERNED BY A 13- 15 MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED TO SERVE FOR ONE TERM OF FIVE (5) YEARS AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RENDERING ACCREDITATION DECISIONS ON APPLICANT PROGRAMS. THEY RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICE, EXCEPT FOR RECEIVING REIMBURSEMENTS TO ATTEND THE REQUIRED TWO IN-PERSON MEETINGS PER YEAR. BOARD MEETING EXPENSES ARE PAID FOR BY THE ORGANIZATION.
- $217,063 spent. ACCREDITATION REVIEWS/SITE VISITS: THE SITE VISIT TEAM IS COMPOSED OF THREE (3) OR MORE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, COUNSELOR EDUCATORS, AND/OR STUDENT AFFAIRS PRACTIONERS, WHO ARE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS SENT TO THE INSTITUTION BY CACREP TO VALIDATE THAT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TO CACREP IN THE APPLICANT'S SELF-STUDY DOCUMENT IS ACCURATE, AND TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM THAT CANNOT BE EVALUATED FULLY THROUGH A DESK REVIEW OF THIS DOCUMENT. THE TYPICAL VISITS OCCUR OVER A THREE (3) DAY PERIOD. SITE TEAM MEMBERS ARE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF ALL TRAVEL RELATED TO THE VISIT.
- $256,488 spent. INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY OF COUNSELLOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS (IRCEP) - 164,495 TRAINING - 81,106 RESEARCH - 8,640 SPECIAL PROJECT - 2,247
- INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY OF COUNSELLOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS (IRCEP) - 164,495 TRAINING - 81,106 RESEARCH - 8,640 SPECIAL PROJECT - 2,247
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
Not on the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.