The University of Puget Sound is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an independent, non-profit membership organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.
In addition to institutional accreditation from the NWCCU, the following programs have specialized accreditation:
- The Bachelor of Science Degree in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puget Sound is approved by the American Chemical Society. This program is not intended to lead to licensure.
- The Master of Arts in Education program in the School of Education at the University of Puget Sound meets the standards of the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for professional certification of teachers in the state of Washington. Details for licensing requirements in states MAT graduates transfer to most frequently, can be found on our MAT Residency Reciprocity page. We have made determinations for endorsements offered through the MAT program followed by the requirements for the states our graduates transfer to most frequently: California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Oregon. The University of Puget Sound has made no determination if the MAT program will lead to licensure beyond these four states.
- The Master of Education in Counseling program in the School of Education at the University of Puget Sound has two specialties.
- The School Counseling specialty is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and meets the standards of the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for school counselor certification in the state of Washington. Certification requirements in other states vary by state. The University of Puget Sound has made no determination if the MAT program will lead to licensure beyond outside of Washington.
- The Clinical Mental Health specialty is accredited by CACREP and prepares graduates to apply for their Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associates through the Washington Department of Health. In 2023, Washington State joined the Interstate Counseling Compact, which allows professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without the need for multiple licenses. Licensure requirements in other states vary by state. The University of Puget Sound has made no determination if the MAT program will lead to licensure beyond outside of Washington.
- The School of Music at the University of Puget Sound is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the accrediting agency designated by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of music curricula in higher education. In the field of teacher education, the NASM cooperates with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The NASM is also a constituent member of the American Council of Education. Baccalaureate programs accredited are the professional degrees in performance, music education, music with elective studies in business, and the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music. This program is not intended to lead to licensure.
- The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. 301.652.2682. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the NBCOT, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) and can apply for licensure in any of the 50 states that require it.
- The Physical Therapy program at the University of Puget Sound is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703.706.3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http//www.capteonline.org. Accreditation qualifies the physical therapy graduate to take the national licensing examination and, on successful completion of the exam, apply for licensure in all 50 states.
Enrolled or prospective students wishing to review documents describing the University’s accreditation may do so in the Academic Deans’ Office, Jones 106.