Frequently Asked Questions

The task force was charged with developing a plan, a blueprint, for a process by which APA could pursue accreditation of master’s programs in areas where APA already accredits, that is, clinical, counseling, school, and combinations thereof. The blueprint included a recommendation about the scope of accreditation and considerations as to whether this is best done as a new entity within APA or an expansion of the current doctoral accreditation system with a subunit focused on accreditation of master’s programs. The blueprint also recommended the types of expertise needed to establish accreditation standards and make decisions about accreditation. The task force was not charged with developing standards for accreditation.

The task force finalized its report in January 2019. Council then received the report during its Feb. 15-17, 2019 meeting. With the completion of the report, the task force was sunsetted by the Board of Educational Affairs in February 2019.

1. APA’s current accreditation program in HSP, the APA Commission on Accreditation, should be expanded to include accreditation of HSP master’s programs within the United States and its territories.
2. The purpose of accreditation should remain fundamentally unchanged: “to promote consistent quality and excellence in education and training in health service psychology” and to provide “tangible benefits for prospective students; the local, national, and international publics that are consumers of psychological services; and the discipline of psychology itself” (APA, CoA, 2015, p.3).
3. Accreditation in HSP programs at the master’s level should be conceptualized as focusing on core aspects of HSP (represented by the knowledge and competencies common to HSP) rather than accreditation specific to the practice areas of clinical, counseling or school psychology at the master’s level.
4. HSP, regardless of accreditation at the master’s or doctoral level should remain defined as “the integration of psychological science and practice in order to facilitate human development and functioning” (APA CoA, 2015, p.1).

Formation of a joint Board of Educational Affairs (BEA)/Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) Task Force will be charged with delineating a set of professional competencies for students completing a master’s level program in health service psychology (HSP) and distinguishing such from those of individuals trained at the doctoral level. The APA Commission on Accreditation is responsible for developing the standards for accrediting Master’s programs.

Members will be expected to meet virtually once a month for 90-minutes beginning in July 2019 for approximately one year. Members are also expected to attend a 2 ½ day in-person meeting in Washington, D.C. in the fall.

More information can be found on our website.

The task force reached out to groups, such as the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) and the National Association of School Psychologists, with a message of wanting to collaborate and to leverage the considerable expertise those organizations represent. The task force also had discussions with the National Association of School Psychologists to exchange information.

No, Council’s charge for the pursuit of master’s accreditation was limited to areas where APA already accredits. Therefore, the accreditation system that is being developed will be limited to health service areas of psychology, that is, clinical, counseling, school, and combinations thereof.

Questions about the practice of psychology at the master’s level were outside the charge of this task force and, as such, were not addressed by this task force.

Yes, the establishment of this new task force is one of the many steps that will be needed to develop all the components for APA to accredit master’s programs. It is likely that other work groups will be convened to develop other needed components. In addition, proposed standards for accreditation will undergo a period of comment during which individuals will be able to provide their input. Please visit our website for updates.