What Is Accreditation?
Major professional organizations have established standards and codes of ethics for the training and practices of members of their professions. Sometimes these standards and codes become the basis for recognition of the professionalism of individuals, educational programs and services. Accreditation by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) is a voluntary evaluative process involving a written self‑study and the adherence to established standards of practice. These Standards are articulated by the IACS

How Long Has IACS been accrediting counseling services?
IACS has been accrediting counseling centers since the late 1940's. First as a Committee of the National Vocational Guidance Association's (now the National Career Development Association-NCDA) With the establishment of the American Personnel and Guidance Association (now known as the American Counseling Association-ACA) in 1952, the responsibilities and duties of the NVGA committee were assumed by the APGA Professional Practices Committee and became the American Board on Counseling Services. APGA accepted the Board's plan for the establishment of an independent affiliate and in March 1971, the organization known as the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) began. In 1993 IACS discontinued its affiliate status with the ACA and became an independent organization.

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Who can apply for IACS accreditation?
Accreditation is open to university and college counseling services with an FTE (Full Time Equivalent) of at least two (2) professional staff members. Return to top

What is meant by the term Professional Staff FTE?
The definition of an FTE Professional staff member adopted by the IACS Board of Directors is one full time clinical/administrative position, excluding clerical and trainee staff. Return to top

What is the value of IACS accreditation?
As demands for accountability increase, professional peer review is vital. IACS Accreditation is intended to advocate for quality counseling services that continue to perform effectively and to show awareness and concern for professional growth. An IACS certificate indicates that a counseling center did not hesitate to open its doors to a team of counseling professionals who reviewed and certified the service as one which meets the highest established standards in the field. Return to top

Who Writes the Standards?
The Association ‘s Board of Accreditation members are directors of IACS accredited counseling centers who volunteer their time to the organization. The Board is responsible for the development and maintenance of standards for the evaluation of counseling services within each of their appropriate counseling settings. In addition, IACS maintains a Board of Directors whose members are also directors of accredited services. This Board directs the affairs of the Association. Return to top

How often are IACS Standards updated?
Standards are reviewed on a continual basis by the accrediting board to make sure they keep abreast with the changing face of counseling centers today. If warranted, an accrediting board can amend the standards at any time; however, the IACS Standards are usually revised every ten years. Return to top

If a counseling center does not meet the IACS Standard regarding the ratio of staff to students, should the service still seek accreditation?
If your Service does not exactly meet the ratio of one FTE staff member for every 1,000 to 1,500 students, this does not mean that it would be automatically excluded from the possibility of attaining accreditation. Certain standards use the word “must” (usually around ethical issues) while others employ the word “should” as is the case with the staff to student ratio. Most Centers approach this ratio to some degree but many accredited Centers do not necessarily meet it. In examining this issue, the Board takes into account how closely a site approximates this ratio, the existence of other campus mental health agencies, budgetary constraints, impact on service, etc. Often IACS will recommend and advocate for additional staffing for a center as part of the evaluation review. Return to top

If we employ student workers at our center, does this prohibit us from obtaining IACS accreditation?
Not necessarily. The Standards state that students “should be assigned tasks limited to their training that do not compromise the confidentiality of clients.” In particular, students must not have access to client files or confidential records and they should not do client scheduling. Return to top

Do the IACS Standards require a specific ratio of professional staff to trainees? While keeping in mind that IACS accredits centers/services and not training programs, the Standards do address a number of issues regarding the role, duties and responsibilities of trainees. IACS is more concerned about the overall role of training in Center operations. The Standards note that “While training and supervision are legitimate functions, they should not supersede the primary service role of the agency.” While no specific ratio of staff to trainees is cited, if trainees deliver the majority of the client contact hours, questions arise as to whether or not this unit is a Training Center rather than a Counseling Center. Return to top

Must the director of a counseling center have a doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology for the center to obtain accreditation?
No. The IACS Standards do not require this specific degree, but a director’s degree must have relevance in terms of the counseling profession. In order for the doctorate to be waived, counseling center directors must hold at least a master's degree in a counseling related field, which included a supervised field placement; have graduate level training in clinical and professional functioning; have a minimum of five years experience in a clinical and/or counseling setting; be able to provide evidence of involvement and commitment to educational and professional development; and a licensed, registered or certified professional must be present in the counseling service who has a doctorate in a counseling related field and is responsible for the clinical services. See the "Equivalency Criteria: Non Doctorate" section of the IACS Standards for more detailed information.
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Will IACS accredit a university or college counseling service that is merged with the campus health center or other student services?
Centers may often be merged with health centers or other entities such as career counseling, academic or disability services, etc. There are special concerns that arise for merged centers and these are detailed in IACS Standards under the section on “Counseling Center Mergers”. These concerns typically involve the independence of the Center, role and functions of the Center, and the autonomy of the Director. Return to top

How does a center apply for IACS Accreditation?
The first step is to purchase an Application Packet. Under “Order Forms” on the IACS Home Page, click on “Accreditation Application Order Form”. Print out the form and mail it to IACS with a check or money order (IACS does not accept credit card orders) for $35.00 (payable in U.S. currency only through a U.S. Banking facility). Return to top

What does the Application Packet include?
The application is a self-study document that closely follows the IACS Standards. In addition to the paper document, each packet includes a computer disk with the Application in MS Word format. The applicant center must complete this report an add any ancillary materials requested, the point of course being to let the IACS Accrediting Board see how closely the service meets the IACS Standards. Centers are directed to organize their application and ancillary materials for submission in a specific manner and the entire packet must be submitted in triplicate to the IACS Office along with a check or money order for the Initial Evaluation Fee.
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How much does it cost to become accredited?
The initial evaluation fee is currently $700.00. This includes the cost of the initial on site visitation.

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Once an application is submitted, what happens next?
When an Application for Accreditation arrives at the IACS office, the materials are reviewed to make sure that all the required documentation is included. The IACS Office will let you know if additional information is needed. Once the application is found to be in order, it is sent to two (2) members of the IACS Board of Accreditation for what we call a First Board Review. The evaluation form used by the Board Members is based on the IACS Standards. When a Board Member completes their review, it is sent to the IACS Senior Consultant who determines if the center is ready for the next phase of the accreditation process which is the on-site or field visit review. Return to top

If the Board feels the counseling service is ready for a field visit, the IACS Executive officer is instructed to send a Memo to the center director which includes instructions on how to proceed and a list of potential visitors. The director of the center must contact the potential field visitors to set up a specific date for the visit and arrange the visit schedule with the senior member of the team. An on-site review must be at least one full day in length. Once the visit takes place, the Field Visitors have one month to submit their report to the Chair of the Accrediting Board. The Board Chair reviews the Report, and then sends a copy to the center director with a request to respond in writing to the Field Visit Report within Thirty (30) days. Once the written response from the director of the applying center is received, the Chair will then approve the center for what is called the Final Board Review. Return to top

The Final Board Reviewers are two Members of the Accrediting Board who have not seen the center's Application materials before, which now include the First Board Reviews, the Field Visit Report and the director's written response to the on-site review. The Board Members send their reviews to the Chair of the Board who makes the final decision regarding the applicant center’s Accreditation Status. Return to top

Does a center have to pay for all of the field visit expenses on top of the Initial Evaluation Fee? No, the cost of the on site visit is included with the Initial Evaluation Fee; However, a center should be prepared to pay the Annual Accreditation Fee once they become accredited. Return to top

Is there more than one type of IACS Accreditation?
According to the IACS By-Laws, Full Accreditation may be granted a university or college counseling service which fully meets the established Standards. Provisional Accreditation may be granted a center which upon initial review is in accord with the ethical standards and broad criteria for acceptable professional practice, but which does not meet fully the IACS Standards. Probationary Status is granted to a previously IACS accredited center that currently is not in satisfactory compliance with the Standards. Return to top

What is the annual cost of being accredited?
The Annual Accreditation Fee is currently $850.00. The IACS fiscal year runs from April 1^st through March 31^st. Centers are sent an invoice for the Annual Fee in March. Return to top

Once accredited, how often will a counseling center be reviewed?
Centers must complete a brief IACS Annual Report Form and every four years, centers are completely re-evaluated which means they again fill out the same application materials that they completed when they were first accredited. A center's first re-evaluation includes a mandatory field visit. After that, field visits are mandatory every eight years. Every 4^th year, only the written application is required. Return to top

What are the costs associated with a center being re-evaluated?
Currently, a Re-Evaluation Fee of $150.00 must be submitted with the center's re-evaluation application. The Field Visit Fee for accredited centers is $1,500.00. Return to top

Does IACS provide professional assistance?
The Association’s Staff, Officers and Accrediting Board Members are all highly qualified professionals who are willing to assist counseling centers that are sincerely striving to assure quality services. Return to top

How can someone become a Field Visitor for the Association?
If you are a professional staff member from an IACS accredited center, please contact the IACS office to obtain a Field Visitor Roster Form and additional information on becoming an on-site visitor for the Association. New field visitors are encouraged to attend a Field Visitor Training Workshop presented periodically by IACS Accrediting Board Members in conjunction with professional conferences and conventions. Return to top

International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. • 101 S. Whiting Street • Suite 211 • Alexandria, VA 22304

703-823-9840 • Fax: 703-823-9843 • iacsinc@earthlink.net • www.iacsinc.org