Finding an online counseling master’s is fairly easy. Finding one that is CACREP-accredited, available to California students, and aligned with the state’s licensing requirements takes more work.
CACREP accreditation is program-specific. A university can be institutionally accredited while only certain counseling degrees hold CACREP accreditation. Delivery format matters too: some programs are fully online academically, while others require residencies or periodic in-person training.
For California students planning to become Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs), there is another layer. CACREP accreditation does not replace California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements. The degree still needs to satisfy California’s education and practicum rules.
The programs below stand out because they combine online or low-residency study with current CACREP accreditation and a plausible California counseling pathway.
CACREP-Accredited Online Counseling Programs in California at a Glance
| Rank | School | Degree | Delivery | CACREP Status | California Counseling Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto University | M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Live online + 2 residencies | Accredited through 2033 | LPCC |
| 2 | Alliant International University | M.A. Clinical Counseling | Online | Accredited through 2030 | LPCC |
| 3 | Concordia University Irvine | M.A. Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Online + residency | Accredited; reaffirmation in process | LPCC |
| 4 | Saybrook University | M.A. Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Online + residential learning experiences | Accredited; reaffirmation in process | LPCC |
| 5 | The Chicago School | M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Online | Accredited | Potential California LPCC pathway; verify current curriculum |
CACREP’s current directory lists California-based accredited counseling programs at Palo Alto University, Alliant, Concordia University Irvine, Saybrook University, and The Chicago School’s online campus. Accreditation periods and review statuses can change, so applicants should confirm current status directly in the CACREP program directory before enrolling.
1. Palo Alto University — Online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Palo Alto University offers one of the clearest combinations of online delivery, CACREP accreditation, and California LPCC preparation.
Its M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling can be completed in nine quarters. Online classes are delivered live rather than asynchronously, which creates more structure and faculty interaction than a self-paced program.
CACREP lists both Palo Alto University’s campus and online delivery formats under the accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The current accreditation period runs through October 31, 2033.
What “online” means at Palo Alto
Students complete regular coursework remotely, but there are two required in-person residencies in the Bay Area.
Those residencies focus on experiential counseling and interviewing skills and serve as benchmarks before students move further into clinical fieldwork.
Students are responsible for travel, lodging, meals, and other residency expenses.
This makes Palo Alto better described as online with limited residency requirements than as a degree that can be completed entirely without travel.
Clinical preparation
Students eventually move into supervised field experience and internship, where the work becomes local and hands-on.
That is important because California counseling programs need more than online coursework. Future LPCCs need clinical training with actual clients.
Palo Alto University explicitly connects the Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum to California LPCC educational preparation.
Best for: Students who want a strongly established CACREP program and prefer live online classes over asynchronous study.
2. Alliant International University — Online M.A. in Clinical Counseling
Alliant’s M.A. in Clinical Counseling is offered online through the California School of Professional Psychology.
The program is 60 credits and is specifically built around clinical mental health counseling rather than a broader psychology degree.
CACREP currently lists Alliant’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program as accredited through October 31, 2030.
A direct clinical counseling path
Alliant’s curriculum addresses areas such as:
- counseling theory
- clinical assessment
- diagnosis
- treatment
- multicultural counseling
- ethics
- research
- supervised clinical practice
The university identifies the program as preparation for professional counseling and California LPCC eligibility.
That matters because California’s BBS separately lists Alliant among schools offering education that may qualify toward LPCC licensure.
Why Alliant ranks highly
Alliant has a long-standing institutional focus on psychology and behavioral health.
For someone specifically pursuing clinical counseling, that can be appealing compared with a large general university where counselor education is a relatively small program.
The main comparison with Palo Alto comes down to learning style, tuition, clinical-placement support, and any residency or synchronous participation requirements in effect for the cohort you enter.
Best for: Students who want an online CACREP-accredited clinical counseling degree from a university heavily focused on behavioral health.
3. Concordia University Irvine — Online M.A. in Counseling
Concordia University Irvine’s Townsend Institute offers an M.A. in Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis designed for working adults.
The degree is primarily online and can be completed in as few as 24 months.
CACREP lists Concordia’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program as accredited, with reaffirmation currently in process and the present accreditation cycle scheduled through October 31, 2027.
That does not mean the program is unaccredited. It remains accredited while going through the normal reaffirmation process.
Online study with relational training
Concordia uses online coursework but also incorporates intensive experiential elements.
The Townsend Institute emphasizes relational counseling, emotional development, neuroscience, and whole-person approaches alongside the standard clinical mental health curriculum.
That gives the degree a more identifiable philosophy than some broad counseling programs.
Faith is part of the program
Concordia is a Christian university, and the counseling curriculum reflects that institutional identity.
For some applicants, that will be a major advantage. Others may prefer a secular counseling program.
The distinction is worth considering before enrollment rather than treating the university’s faith orientation as incidental.
California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences lists Concordia University’s Townsend Institute among schools offering education that may qualify toward LPCC licensure.
Best for: Working adults who want CACREP accreditation, online flexibility, and a Christian relational model of counseling.
4. Saybrook University — M.A. Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Saybrook University takes a low-residency approach rather than trying to make counselor education completely virtual.
Its 60-credit M.A. in Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization combines online coursework with required residential learning experiences.
CACREP currently lists the program as accredited, with reaffirmation in process and the current accreditation cycle extending through October 31, 2027.
A three-year low-residency model
Saybrook’s current academic catalog describes the full-time curriculum as a three-year program with online instruction and residential learning experiences tied to program milestones.
Students encounter both synchronous and asynchronous online coursework.
Clinical training includes:
- one semester of practicum
- a two-semester full-time internship sequence, or
- a three-semester part-time internship sequence
The model may work particularly well for students who want substantial online study but do not want clinical counselor education stripped of all in-person interaction.
Humanistic counseling orientation
Saybrook is known for its humanistic tradition.
The counseling program emphasizes areas such as:
- person-centered counseling
- cultural responsiveness
- holistic practice
- social transformation
- relationship-centered clinical work
That gives students a clearer theoretical environment than they may find in a more generalist program.
The California BBS includes Saybrook among schools offering education that may qualify toward LPCC licensure.
Best for: Students who want CACREP accreditation and online flexibility but are attracted to a humanistic, low-residency counseling model.
5. The Chicago School — Online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The Chicago School’s online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit distance-learning program with supervised clinical training.
CACREP currently lists The Chicago School’s online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program as accredited.
The program has held CACREP accreditation for its online delivery since 2018.
A fully online academic model
Coursework covers the standard counselor-education foundation, including:
- ethics
- counseling theory
- assessment
- diagnosis
- research and program evaluation
- career development
- counseling interventions
- multicultural counseling
Students also complete clinical field experience.
The Chicago School has a significant behavioral-health and professional-psychology footprint, which may appeal to students who want counseling education within a larger mental health institution.
California students should verify the exact pathway
This program needs a little more caution than the four above.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences currently lists The Chicago School among institutions offering programs that may qualify toward LPCC licensure. However, that BBS list is school-level guidance, not a blanket guarantee that every current program and delivery format automatically satisfies every California requirement.
Older Chicago School materials also contained California-specific cautions about the online program, so California residents should get current written confirmation from both the university and the BBS-aligned program materials before enrolling.
That is not a reason to exclude the program. It is a reason to verify more carefully.
Best for: Students interested in a fully online CACREP program who are willing to confirm the current California LPCC curriculum before committing.
What Does CACREP Accreditation Actually Mean?
CACREP stands for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
It accredits graduate counseling programs rather than entire universities.
That distinction is important.
A university might hold regional institutional accreditation while:
- its Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP-accredited,
- another counseling specialization is not,
- or a new program is still going through the accreditation process.
CACREP reviews areas such as:
- curriculum
- clinical training
- faculty qualifications
- assessment
- program outcomes
- professional counselor preparation
- specialization-specific standards
As of 2026, CACREP reports accrediting more than 969 master’s and doctoral counseling programs at hundreds of colleges and universities.
Does California Require a CACREP-Accredited Counseling Degree?
No.
California does not make CACREP accreditation the sole requirement for LPCC licensure.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences determines whether an applicant’s graduate education satisfies the state’s legal requirements.
For most current applicants, California LPCC education includes:
- a qualifying master’s or doctoral degree
- at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units overall
- required counseling content
- specified practicum preparation
- at least 280 hours of supervised face-to-face counseling experience
CACREP accreditation and California licensing eligibility overlap, but they answer different questions.
A CACREP program has met national counselor-education standards. A California-qualifying program has met the state’s legal requirements for LPCC applicants.
Ideally, students who value both can choose a program that satisfies both.
Why Choose CACREP If California Doesn’t Require It?
For some students, CACREP does not need to drive the decision.
If you know you will remain in California and a non-CACREP program clearly meets BBS requirements, that degree may be completely appropriate.
CACREP becomes more valuable when portability matters.
Moving to another state
Counselor licensing laws differ considerably across the country.
Some states give CACREP graduates a simpler route through educational review or explicitly require CACREP education for certain pathways.
If relocation is realistic, national programmatic accreditation can reduce uncertainty.
Professional identity
CACREP programs are structured specifically around professional counselor education.
That can matter to students who want their graduate training centered on counseling rather than psychology, marriage and family therapy, or another mental health discipline.
Employer preferences
Some employers and federal programs may place additional value on CACREP education.
That does not mean every counselor needs it, but it gives the credential more practical relevance than a marketing badge.
CACREP Accreditation vs. Institutional Accreditation
These are easy to confuse.
| Type | What Is Accredited? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional accreditation | The university as a whole | Palo Alto University |
| Programmatic accreditation | A specific academic program | M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
| California licensure alignment | Whether education satisfies state law | LPCC preparation |
A university should have legitimate institutional accreditation regardless of whether you care about CACREP.
CACREP adds another layer specifically for counselor education.
Neither one by itself automatically grants a California license.
Fully Online vs. Low-Residency CACREP Programs
The word “online” covers several different formats.
| Program | Online Coursework | In-Person Academic Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto University | Yes, live online | 2 Bay Area residencies |
| Alliant | Yes | Verify current cohort requirements |
| Concordia Irvine | Primarily online | Intensive/residency component |
| Saybrook | Yes | Residential learning experiences |
| The Chicago School | Online | Clinical training remains hands-on |
The practical difference can be substantial.
A California resident living in Sacramento may have little trouble traveling to the Bay Area twice for Palo Alto University.
Someone living in another state may see the residency requirement as a significant additional cost.
Always include travel in the financial comparison.
Online Does Not Mean You Can Complete Clinical Training From Home
Counseling is a licensed clinical profession.
Academic coursework can move online. Practicum and internship cannot simply disappear.
CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs include supervised clinical experiences in which students work with real clients.
California’s own licensing requirements also include substantial practicum preparation.
So an online counseling degree normally looks something like this:
- Complete academic courses remotely.
- Attend any required residencies or skills intensives.
- Secure an approved practicum placement.
- Begin supervised client work.
- Complete internship requirements.
- Graduate and move into the California APCC process.
That is why clinical-placement support deserves serious attention when comparing online programs.
What Happens After You Graduate?
Graduating from a CACREP-accredited counseling program does not make you an LPCC.
California graduates generally move next into the Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) stage.
The BBS currently requires LPCC applicants to accumulate 3,000 supervised post-degree hours over at least 104 weeks after entering the associate process, subject to California’s detailed experience rules.
Applicants also take the California Law and Ethics Examination and, later, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.
CACREP affects your education. The BBS controls the California license.
Keeping those roles separate makes the process much easier to understand.
What Should You Compare Besides CACREP Status?
Accreditation can narrow the list, but it should not end the search.
Program format
Find out whether courses are:
- asynchronous
- live online
- a mix of both
A program requiring live attendance three evenings per week can feel very different from one where you control most of the weekly schedule.
Residencies
Ask how many trips are required and where they occur.
Include:
- airfare
- driving
- hotels
- food
- lost work time
A slightly cheaper tuition rate may stop being cheaper once repeated travel is included.
Practicum placement
This is one of the most important differences among online counseling programs.
Ask:
- Does the school find placements?
- Does the student initiate the search?
- How far can I live from campus?
- What happens if I can’t secure a local site?
- How are supervisors approved?
California LPCC alignment
Never assume CACREP settles this automatically.
Check the curriculum against California’s rules and look for a direct university statement about California licensure preparation.
Tuition
Online private counseling degrees can vary significantly in cost.
Compare the entire program, not just the advertised rate per credit.
Include fees and residency expenses as well.
Are There Affordable CACREP-Accredited Online Programs in California?
The options are more limited than the broader California counseling market.
Most of the programs on this list are private universities.
That means students comparing them with campus-based CSU counseling degrees may see a sizable tuition difference.
The tradeoff is flexibility.
An online program may allow you to:
- keep your current job
- remain in your community
- avoid moving to San Francisco or Los Angeles
- reduce commuting
- continue family responsibilities
Those savings can offset some tuition differences.
If cost is the main priority, our guide to affordable counseling programs in California compares lower-cost options more broadly, including programs that are not necessarily online or CACREP-accredited.
CACREP-Accredited Online Counseling vs. Online MFT Programs
These are not the same category.
CACREP primarily accredits counselor-education programs such as Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Marriage and family therapy programs generally look to COAMFTE for specialized MFT accreditation.
That matters if you’re deciding between LPCC and LMFT training.
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Marriage & Family Therapy |
|---|---|
| Often CACREP-accredited | Often COAMFTE-accredited |
| Professional counseling orientation | Family systems orientation |
| Common path to LPCC | Common path to LMFT |
| Individual/group counseling emphasized | Couples/family systems emphasized |
| California BBS regulates license | California BBS regulates license |
If you want professional clinical counseling, CACREP is the more relevant specialized accreditation.
If your interests center on couples and family systems, comparing online MFT programs in California may make more sense.
Which CACREP-Accredited Online Counseling Program Is Best in California?
For most California students, Palo Alto University offers the strongest overall package.
Its online delivery is explicitly included in the CACREP accreditation, the program clearly addresses California LPCC preparation, and students get a structured combination of live remote coursework, residencies, and clinical field training.
Alliant is another strong choice for students who want a behavioral-health-focused university and a direct online Clinical Counseling degree.
Concordia Irvine may appeal more to students who value Christian and relational counseling, while Saybrook offers a distinct humanistic, low-residency model.
The Chicago School has a legitimate CACREP-accredited online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, but California residents should verify the current state-specific curriculum more carefully before enrolling.
There is no reason to choose a CACREP program solely because the acronym looks reassuring. Use accreditation as one quality and portability filter, then make sure the program also works financially, logistically, and legally for the California counseling career you intend to pursue.
If you’re still comparing specialties and degree formats, our broader guide to California counseling degrees can help you sort through the options before narrowing your list.
CACREP accreditation, program delivery, tuition, practicum requirements, and California licensing rules can change. Verify current accreditation directly with CACREP and current LPCC requirements with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences before enrolling.