Accreditation and Memberships

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 or status:

• The Bachelor of Science Degree in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puget Sound is approved by the American Chemical Society
• 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 and school counselors.
  
  Effective Fall 2019 the Master of Education in Counseling program will require a 15-unit program of study that is consistent with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation standards. The University of Puget Sound is currently seeking this new accreditation. Pending approval of the accreditation process, candidates who graduate within 18 months from the time the first CACREP compliant cohort completes the program will be recognized as completing a CACREP program.
• 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.
• 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 this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
• 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 licensing examination offered by any of the 50 states.

Enrolled or prospective students wishing to review documents describing the University's accreditation may do so in the Associate Deans' Office, Jones 212.