PORTLAND, Ore., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Western States (UWS), a leader in whole-person health education, has received national accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for its Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs. The 100 percent online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling can be taken independently or as a specialization within the Doctor of Education in Sport and Performance Psychology. Both the standalone program and the specialization are accredited.
"The demand for trained counselors and psychologists continues to rise across the U.S., and our programs are designed to meet that demand with both compassion and clinical rigor," said Nathan Long, Ed.D., president of UWS. "This accreditation underscores the quality of our counseling curriculum and the strength of our university's commitment to whole-person care."
The MPCAC accreditation affirms that UWS counseling programs meet rigorous national training standards, preparing students to pursue licensure and make an immediate impact in mental health care settings. As the country faces a critical shortage of mental health providers, this recognition signals to prospective students and employers that UWS graduates are equipped to meet today's most pressing mental health needs.
UWS offers two online counseling pathways that combine flexibility with clinical depth—one at the master's level and one integrated into a doctoral program focused on performance psychology. Both prepare students for licensure and provide real-world clinical experience through supervised fieldwork and applied learning opportunities.
According to Mental Health America's 2024 Annual Report, more than 122 million people live in federally designated mental health workforce shortage areas, and only 27 percent of need is currently being met. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis predicts these shortages will continue to grow over the next 15 years—particularly for licensed counselors, psychologists, and addiction specialists. UWS programs are structured to respond to this urgent gap by expanding access to high-quality training and offering clear, workforce-aligned pathways into clinical practice.
To learn more about accredited counseling programs at University of Western States, visit UWS.edu.
About University of Western States
For more than 120 years, University of Western States (UWS) has been at the forefront of whole person health, educating professionals in the areas of chiropractic medicine, naturopathic medicine, clinical nutrition, sports medicine, sport and performance psychology, clinical mental health counseling, and occupational therapy. The university prepares graduates to help shape the future of health care by providing an education grounded in scientific rigor and empathetic understanding. Located in Portland, Oregon, UWS is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. University of Western States is part of The Community Solution Education System, a nonprofit system of colleges and universities working together to advance student success and community impact. To learn more, visit UWS.edu.
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SOURCE University of Western States
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