FAQs for Sponsors

Please note that additional information specific to the Standards and Criteria is available in the Educational and Technical Assistance Sections of that document.

Q: Does the CE program administrator have to be a psychologist?

A: No. However, doctoral-level psychologists must be involved in all aspects of program planning and development.

Q: What are the requirements for homestudy post-test questions (e.g., how many questions, passing criterion)?

A: Although there are no specific requirements, we recommend 6-8 questions for every one credit and a passing criterion of at least 75%.

Q: Can practice and career management programs be offered for CE credit?

A: Career management programs (e.g., programs that are primarily for the purpose of career advancement) should be carefully considered to determine whether or not the content of the program can be deemed appropriate CE content for psychologists. The Committee recognizes that while such programs may be beneficial to psychologists by helping them grow their businesses, advance their academic careers, or otherwise increase their earnings, the content may not actually be related to the professional practice of psychology, education, administration, or research (e.g., programs on how to build a more profitable fee-for-service practice, or how to get tenure are usually not considered appropriate for CE).

Q: When will my approval expire?

A: If you have submitted a renewal application, your approval will continue without interruption assuming that the application is approved. If you choose not to reapply, your approval will expire on the last day of the Continuing Education Committee meeting (the Committee reviews application twice per year in the spring and fall, dates vary).

Q: Can instructors get CE credit?

A: Yes. However, because CE regulations vary by state instructors should check with their state licensing board to see if the credits will be accepted for licensure.

Q: Is it required that instructors be psychologists?

A: It is not required that instructors be psychologists. However, they must have expertise in the content area and be competent to teach the program at a level that builds upon a completed doctoral program in psychology.

Q: How do I list my programs in the online CE calendar?

A: The CE calendar listing form is available here.

Q: If I have not offered any CE programs in the past year, do I still need to submit a report to the Sponsor Approval System?

A: Yes. In years in which an activity summary is due, you still need to return the form indicating that no activities have been offered that year. In years in which a renewal application is due, sponsors are required to submit an application if they wish to continue their approval. If a sponsor has no programs planned for an upcoming year they may request inactive status, which will require them to pay only half of the usual annual fee. If a sponsor wishes to regain active status during that year, the remainder of the annual fee must be paid.

Q: I noticed that there are no longer criteria related to co-sponsorship. Does this mean I can’t collaborate with other organizations?

A: No. In fact, the co-sponsorship criteria were eliminated in order to make collaboration between organizations easier. While collaboration is encouraged, please be aware that the sponsor is still required to maintain responsibility for all programs offered under the auspices of its approval. Although a written co-sponsorship agreement is no longer required, it is recommended that you have one in order to delineate the responsibilities of each organization. If collaboration is between two or more approved sponsors, only one sponsor should maintain responsibility for the program (i.e. , only one sponsor’s approval statement appears on promotional materials, only one sponsor issues certificates, only one sponsor reports the program in the annual activity summary or application, etc.)

Q: Do you have any sample evaluation forms I can use to revise my own documents?

A: Yes. Sample evaluation forms, in addition to other sample documents, are available here.

Q: Do other professions accept credit earned from APA-approved sponsors?

A: There are some professions that accept credit from APA-approved sponsors. However, it is the individual’s responsibility to confirm this with his/her licensing board.

Q: Are teleconferences considered homestudy?

A: If a course is given in real time and the participants can interact with the instructor and ask questions in real time, it is considered a live program. However if the course is not in real time (e.g., prerecorded) then it is considered homestudy and requires a post-test.

Q: What if I can’t fit all the required promotional material information into my brochure?

A: We understand that you might not be able to include all required information in your brochures. However, this information must be made available to potential participants, even if it does not appear in brochures. Additionally, you must clearly provide a mechanism for obtaining this information (e.g., contact information, web site, etc.).

Q: My organization did not have plans to offer homestudy programs at the time of your last application, but now we would like to offer these types of programs. Do I need to submit a new application?

A: You do not need to submit a new application, but you do need to submit relevant portions of the application prior to offering these types of programs. You must answer all applicable questions and submit all the necessary attachments, and this material will be reviewed at the staff level. If the material appears to meet the criteria, homestudy will become a part of your existing approval. No additional fee is necessary for this review. Please contact SAS staff if you would like to receive a homestudy application.

Q: Are members of the Continuing Education Committee available for consultation?

A: Yes. Please contact SAS staff and they will put you in touch with the most relevant Committee member.

Q: Does the APA Sponsor Approval System have an approved statement for organizations whose approval is pending?

A: No, we do not have an approved statement for pending approval. Your organization may state that an application is pending. However, keep in mind that not all applications are approved.

Q: Can I still get approved if I have not yet offered a CE program?

A: It is possible to become approved without having offered a CE program. However, you must be able to provide as much information as possible about the programs you plan to offer in the future so that reviewers will be able to determine your compliance with the criteria. Although the application specifically asks for information offered in the past year, you should instead provide information for programs you plan to offer in the future if there have been no past programs. For new applicants that intend to offer homestudy programs, all program components must be fully developed before the organization can be considered for APA approval.

Q: Is it possible to submit a draft application for review?

A: Yes, you may submit a draft application for review at the staff level. Draft applications must be received at least one month prior to the application deadline. Review by staff does not guarantee approval by the Committee.

Q: Are members of the Continuing Education Committee available for consultation?

A: Yes. Please contact SAS staff and they will put you in touch with the most relevant Committee member.