Bethel University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (www.hlcommission.org; 312.263.0456).

The academic program at Bethel University is enriched by its membership and participation in programs of the Christian College Consortium and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Bethel University is registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to Minnesota Statutes sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions.

Athletic Training:

The Bethel University Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3101.  

Counseling

Bethel's MA in Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling Related and Educational Programs (CACREP) as a clinical mental health counseling program through March, 2031, having met all CACREP standards.

Business

Bethel's MBA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a leading specialized accreditation association for business education.

Education:

Bethel's graduate teacher education degree programs are accredited by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) which has approved Bethel's Graduate education programs leading to initial and add-on licenses in various K–12, 9-12, and 5-12 content areas; initial and add-on licenses in various special education disability areas; as well as an add-on license in Teacher Coordinator of Work-based Learning.

The Minnesota Board of School Administrators has accredited Bethel University's K12 Administrator Licenses Program leading to licenses as principals, superintendents, and directors of special education. Once the required coursework, internships, and panel review are concluded, Bethel recommends students for a K12 administrator's license; the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board grants the license.

The Master of Science degree in nursing at Bethel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The nurse-midwifery program is accredited by Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). www.midwife.org/acme 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1230, Silver Spring, MD 20910-6374. For information about accreditation please contact ACME directly. Tel: 240-485-1802, email.  For information about the nurse-midwifery program contact Dr. Katrina Wu. 

The Master of Science program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Physician Assistant:

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Bethel University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Bethel University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2026. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.

The PA program is also listed as an approved program by the Higher Learning Commission and registered with the Minnesota Department of Education.

Social Work

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) officially awarded accreditation candidacy status to the MSW program in 2021. The program’s candidacy status is confirmed here. Bethel's BA in Social Work has been accredited since 1981 and was re-accredited in the summer of 2021.

Per the Minnesota Board of Social Work, candidacy status ensures that graduates of the program are eligible for provisional LGSW licensure in Minnesota (as well as license-level equivalency in many other states), granting them all of the privileges and responsibilities of LGSW licensure, but with annual (rather than biennial) renewal obligations.

A temporary LGSW license can be converted to a standard LGSW license once the program is fully accredited by CSWE. In Minnesota, supervised practice hours under a provisional LGSW license can be applied to LISW and LICSW (clinical) licensure requirements.

CSWE accreditation is a 3+ year process involving a program’s completion and CSWE’s approval of 3 annual benchmarks. Please note that the program received formal COA approval of its Benchmark I documentation in February 2022 when it earned “candidacy” status. The program received approval for its Benchmark II volumes in February 2023 and will be reviewed for full accreditation in February 2024. At that point, all Bethel graduates with provisional LGSW licenses may exchange their provisional licenses for non-provisional LGSW licenses. 

For more information about social work accreditation, visit the CSWE website. Or contact accreditation.