Dallas Baptist University (DBU) proudly announces that the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling (MAPC) program has been awarded full accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the leading standard of excellence in counseling education. This prestigious accreditation, granted in late July 2025, is valid through October 2033.
The accreditation marks the culmination of more than a decade of vision, preparation, and dedication from DBU faculty, staff, and leadership. The MAPC program now joins an elite group of counseling programs nationwide that meet CACREP’s rigorous academic and professional standards, recognized by employers, licensing boards, and professional organizations across the United States.
“This achievement affirms the quality and integrity of our program,” said Dr. Steve Hunter, Program Director of the MAPC program. “Our students are being equipped biblically from the truths of God’s Word, trained professionally to meet state requirements for licensure, as well as national standards for CACREP, and being sent globally to serve a hurting world.”
The journey toward accreditation began in 2012 and gained momentum in 2015 when Texas raised the academic requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure. DBU restructured its curriculum, renamed the program to the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, and aligned its coursework with CACREP standards. By 2019, the program was producing graduates who met these high expectations.
Under the leadership of Dr. Kristi Tew, DBU submitted a comprehensive Self-Study Report in December 2023, detailing two years of data and demonstrating full compliance with CACREP standards. A successful site visit in February 2025 confirmed the program’s strengths, culminating in this historic accreditation decision.
The benefits of CACREP accreditation are significant for DBU graduates, opening doors to work with the Veterans Administration, state agencies, and other organizations that require or prioritize CACREP credentials. It also enhances licensure portability, allowing graduates to practice in more states across the country.
