As of late April, psychology’s training organizations and the APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA) were developing guidance for training sites, training directors and graduate students on how to best address the needs of a given site while protecting trainees’ health and best interests, including their ability to meet training requirements.
The Council of Chairs of Training Councils (CTCC) and the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) recommended that training sites and programs limit trainees’ in-person contact; minimize adverse impact on trainee finances and program completion; and minimize disparities in trainees’ access to resources, among other points. They also called for accrediting bodies and licensing boards to adjust their education and training requirements as needed while still focusing on trainee competence (see “Resources” on Grad students navigate the unknown for links to these and other recommendations).
Likewise, APA’s CoA issued a statement acknowledging that trainees may need to move temporarily to telehealth to meet various requirements. In April, APPIC was also starting to address an emerging problem of sites that were beginning to furlough psychology postdocs.
In May, The CCTC also released guidanceopens in new window on what sites should consider as they weigh resuming in-person services—including legal and regulatory considerations, health and safety precautions and other factors.
“Balancing continuity of training, patient-care needs and the safety of psychology trainees is complex and challenging given all the unknowns associated with COVID-19,” says APA Chief Education Officer Catherine L. Grus, PhD. “The training community is mobilizing to work together to ensure that decisions are made that are in the best interest of our trainees.”
