Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation

Frequently asked questions:

• About accreditation
  The purpose of accreditation, kinds of accredited programs, understanding statuses of accreditation, etc.
• Choosing a program
  The importance of accreditation, how to find and verify accredited programs, how to select a program, etc.

APA Accreditation: Protecting the Public
A brief history of CoA, describing its fundamental values and usual practices.

CoA Response to Student Petition Regarding the Internship Imbalance
Reviewing revisions to IR D.4-7(b) implemented in 2013, outlining additional developments to address concerns related to the internship imbalance.

Self-study

• FAQs and instructions to help programs complete required self-studies.
• Review schedules of accredited programs.

Annual Requirements

• Annual Report Online (ARO)
• CoA Portal
• Fees
  Applications, annual accreditation, appeal hearing, site visit.
• Implementing Regulation (IR) C-20
  Instructions and table templates for the annual update of "Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data" for doctoral programs.
• Notify CoA of change in program training director
  See IR C-19 for other substantive changes that require notification.

Special Interest

• Guidance for accredited internships considering program changes
  How to notify CoA about adding rotations, curriculum and resources, adding interns, funding sources.
• Workshops
  Attend at no cost to learn more about self-study and/or site visitor training.

Tools

Information for site visitors about:

• Training and workshops.
• Policies regarding conflict of interest and confidentiality.
• FAQs for potential and current site visitors.
• Contact CoA to update your contact information and/or experience.

Become a Site Visitor

CoA is actively recruiting accreditation site visitors. Learn more about:

• Criteria for site visitors.
• Opportunities for training.
• How to nominate individuals to serve as accreditation site visitors.

Accredited Programs

A complete listing of programs accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation. Includes:

• Doctoral graduate programs in clinical, counseling and school psychology, and programs offering combinations of two or more of these areas.
• Internship programs, which are a required component of doctoral training.
• Postdoctoral residency programs for an advanced level of competency in traditional and specialty practice areas of psychology.

Understanding Accreditation

• Frequently asked questions about accreditation
  Answers to help you understand the kinds of doctoral and internship programs accredited by the APA; why accreditation is important; and the difference between APA accreditation and institutional accreditation.
• Explaining accreditation to students and the public
  Breaking down the accreditation process to help you understand the basic elements such as standards and peer review.