2026-ACPA-NASPA-Competencies

2026 ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies for Student Affairs Educators

October 26, 2026

ACPA – College Student Educators (ACPA) and NASPA are pleased to introduce the 2026 ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies for Student Affairs Educators. We thank the task force members whose work to gather feedback from members across a wide range of experiences informed the revision we present here. 

The 2026 competencies represent a timely and collaborative effort to ensure the field’s foundational framework remains responsive to the current landscape of higher education. As student needs, institutional dynamics, and the profession continue to evolve, the 2026 Professional Competencies, organized as Guiding Values and Essential Practices, provide an adaptable, relevant, and forward-facing guide for scholarship and practice.

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NASPA membership is required.

Disclaimer

ACPA and NASPA do not discriminate against any group or individual and are committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all. The ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies are not to be applied in any way to illegally discriminate against any group or individual.

We recognize many states have unique regulatory requirements that apply to colleges and universities. At the same time, the federal regulatory environment is unclear due to changing regulations and court rulings. The ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies, in part or in full form, are not to be used to replace or circumvent any existing campus, local, state, or federal law, regulation, or policy. ACPA and NASPA members are expected to review the Professional Competencies and tailor them to their legal and regulatory systems.

ACPA and NASPA do not present these competencies as the exclusive source of preparation for student affairs work. Some states, institutions, or divisions may require additional training or lesser amounts of training, and the expectation is that each college and university will consider application of the Professional Competencies accordingly.