Greetings,

I wish to add my voice of support for legislation requiring require graduation from a clinically-focused counselor preparation program.However, I am concerned that including into the law an implicit endorsement of a private, professional organizatio or accrediting body may cause issues needing to be dealt with in the future. witht he possibility of another accrediting body emerging or the dissolution of CACREP being a distant but real possibility or moreover, the possibility of the standards of CACREP departing from professional best paractices or the values of the commonwealth of Virginia, using such language may cause the need for future legislation inorder to address such issues.

Although, I support the standard of CACREP and feel that they create an appropriate framework whereon to build a Counseling program, I would like to see legislation which is sustainable and reflects the goals and future of the profession. Further more, I would endorse legislation which requires a minimum of 60 semester credits (90 quarter hour credits) of curricular experiences and a practicum of at least 100 hours and an intership of at least 600 hours.  Allow a grandfathering of programs that meet current requirements for seven years from the effective date of the regulations.

Michael A. Williams, Sr, PhD