Higher Learning Commission

Adler Graduate School is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Questions and comments regarding accreditation may be directed to the Commission at info@hlcommission.org or 800.621.7440.

The Higher Learning Commission
230 S. LaSalle Street Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604

All programs are approved by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

International Registry of Counsellor Education

The following programs are approved by the International Registry of Counsellor Education, an international affiliate of CACREP.

  • Master’s of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy: Co-Occurring Disorders and Addictions Counseling
  • Master’s of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • ​Master’s of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling

Academic Programs

Art Therapy

  • The Art Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education. 
    • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
      25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
      Clearwater, FL 33763
      Phone: (727) 210-2350  |  www.caahep.org
  • The AGS Art Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE).

School Counseling

  • The School Counseling program is fully approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). This program prepares graduates for school counselor licensure.
    • Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board 
      1021 Bandana Blvd. E., Suite 222
      Saint Paul, MN 55108
      651-539-4200  | https://mn.gov/pelsb/

Counseling

  • The Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). 

NC-SARA

  • While not an accrediting body, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) authorizes colleges to enroll non-Minnesota residents in online courses
    • National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
      3005 Center Green Drive, Suite 130
      Boulder, Colorado 80301
      303.848.3275  |  info@nc-sara.org

Certificate Programs

  • Post-master’s certificate in Counseling. This certificate is offered in two specialties:
    • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
    • Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
  • Post-master’s certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy
  • Certificate in Co-Occurring Disorders and Addictions Counseling

History of Accreditation and Approvals

July 2022 – CACREP Accreditation

The following programs were accredited by CACREP until 2030.

  • Master’s of Arts in Counseling Co-Occurring Disorders and Addictions Counseling
  • Master’s of Arts in Counseling Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Master’s of Arts in Counseling Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling

August 2020 – IRCEP Program Approval

The following programs were approved by The International Registry of Counsellor Education Programs (IRCEP), an international affiliate of CACREP.

October 2019Re-accreditation Report

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) conducted a site visit as a follow-up to our Assurance Argument we wrote in July 2019. HLC representatives determined that Adler Graduate School continues to meet accreditation criteria. Our final report can be found on our Assurance Argument page and in the link above.

July 2019 – Assurance Argument

Adler Graduate School submitted our Assurance Argument on July 30, 2019. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) will conduct an Assurance Review of Adler Graduate School to determine if the college continues to meet accreditation criteria. The review consists of an organization’s Assurance Argument, an Evidence File, and a site visit. The Assurance Argument is a narrative where the institution explains how it meets HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. See our Assurance Argument Page to see the Assurance Argument and Evidence File that was submitted.

March 2019 – Relocation Submission

On March 16th of this year, Adler Graduate School submitted a proposal to the Higher Learning Commission for a substantive change regarding the campus relocation from Richfield, MN to Minnetonka, MN. We received notice that the request had been recommended for approval on May 9th, and the application was approved by the Institutional Actions Council at the June 2018 meeting (https://www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/june-2018-actions.html)

1991 – Higher Learning Commission 

This was followed by accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in February 1991.  Since then, AGS has hosted HLC Comprehensive Visits in September 1993, May 1999, May 2003 and December 2004.  In addition, a Focused Visit was hosted in December 2000. After the 2010 site visit Adler Graduate school achieved full affiliation in 2011 with the next Comprehensive visit in 2019-20.  AGS has participated in the HLC Assessment Academy where it has honed its assessment process and developed a plan for continuous improvement.  When it was decided by the AGS Board to move and a location was procured, in 2018, a Substantive Change Application was submitted to HLC and approved.

1989: State of Minnesota

Adler Graduate School was initially approved by the State of Minnesota to offer the Master of Arts Degree in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy in April 1989.

Past Reports