In an effort to create Accreditation Operating Procedures (AOP)opens in new window (PDF, 524KB) that complement the Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychologyopens in new window (pdf, 1.20MB), the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) released a draft of a proposed AOP in fall 2014. At the February policy meeting, CoA reviewed the 108 comments, incorporated suggestions where appropriate, and voted on a final version to send to APA governance for final approval. CoA is pleased to report that the new AOP was approved in June 2015 and will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017.
A few highlights of the new procedures are:
- Updated formatting. Each training level (doctoral, internship and postdoctoral residency) has its own procedural section.
- Length of accreditation. CoA may grant accreditation for up to 10 years.
- Site visitor selection. CoA will select the site visit chair. The program will select the other visitor(s).
- “Intent to Apply” declaration. The “Intent to Apply” declaration will replace “eligibility.” Programs recognized as “eligible” and “intent to apply” are not accredited — rather, they are declaring their intent to apply for accreditation.
- New doctoral application options. Beginning in January 2017, doctoral programs may submit an application for CoA to acknowledge a program’s “intent to apply” declaration (not an accredited status) or for CoA to approve “accredited, on contingency” status (an accredited status).