FAQs for New Applicants: Become Approved to Sponsor CE Programs

For organizations interested in offering CE and/or seeking to become approved by APA.

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

Is there an application to use if I only want to offer homestudy programs?

Yes. The Homestudy Only application should be completed by applicants intending to conduct only CE programs which do not allow for live interaction with presenters. Find the CESA application.

Does the CE program administrator have to be a psychologist?

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

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

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). It is recommended that you review the Criteria and Processes for Determining Proposed Programs' CE-Eligibility, located within Standard D (PDF, 316KB) of the Standards and Criteria manual.

Is it required that instructors be psychologists?

No. However, instructors 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. Please review the educational and technical assistance section following Standard C (PDF, 316KB) of the Standards and Criteria manual.

The application requests the submission of a curriculum vitae (CV) for instructors and psychologists who will be involved in program planning and implementation. Can a resume, biographical sketch or summary be used to satisfy this criterion?

No. A biographical sketch is an overview of the most important highlights of a person's education, work and other relevant experience. A CV provides a complete and lengthy account of one's professional background and includes academic, research and fellowship information.

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

Yes. Sample documents such as evaluation forms, grievance procedure forms and documentation of attendance are available with our online resources.

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

There are some professions that accept credit from APA-approved sponsors. However, it remains the responsibility of program participants to confirm this with his/her licensing board.

Do APA-approved sponsors offer CEUs?

APA-approved sponsors are approved to offer continuing education (CE) to psychologists, which is not the same as a CEU (continuing education unit). CE credit for psychologists is granted on a one credit per one contact hour basis; CEU, on the other hand, grants one CEU for every ten contact hours. 

The term 'CEU' should not be used to refer to credits earned from APA-approved organizations. There are some professions that accept credit from APA-approved sponsors, but program participants are strongly urged to confirm acceptance of APA CE with his/her licensing board prior to enrollment.

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

It is possible to become approved without having offered a CE program. However, you must be able to answer all questions within the application about the programs you plan to offer in the future so that the committee will be able to determine your compliance with standards and criteria (PDF,316KB). Although the application specifically asks for information about programs offered in the past year, new applicants should instead provide information for programs you intend to offer in the future if there have been no past programs.

New applicants that intend to offer both live and homestudy programs must submit both the CESA application + Homestudy Supplemental application. All program components must be fully developed before the organization being considered for APA approval. New applicants must request a profile to gain access to the Online Application System (OAS).

Is it possible to submit a draft application for review?

Yes. You may submit one draft application for review at the staff level. CESA begins accepting draft applications 60 days prior to the application due date, and will continue to accept drafts up to 30 days prior to the published submission deadline. 

Review by staff does not guarantee approval by the committee. Please see the CESA OAS Processes Table for tentative draft submission dates.

Is it correct that I would be seeking APA approval to sponsor continuing education for psychologists (is that the formal designation?)

Yes. APA's Continuing Education Committee does not approve individual continuing education programs; approval is at the organizational level. As such, the application focuses on the capacity of the organization to deliver continuing education consistent with the standards and criteria (PDF,316KB).

Is there a statement for use by organizations whose approval is pending?

No, APA's Office of CESA does not have an approved statement for use by organizations who have submitted applications to become approved sponsors. Your organization may state that an application is pending. However, keep in mind that not all applications are approved.

Once I become an APA-approved sponsor, does that mean that I am also approved in my local state?

No, requirements set by APA may differ from state requirements. We strongly recommend that you contact your state board to determine if any programming offered by an APA-approved sponsor is accepted.