Typically, no. Only psychologists licensed in the specific state in which the client actually resides may provide therapy to that person. For example, if your client is living in California, you must be licensed as a Psychologist by the California Board of Psychology.
If you are licensed as a Psychologist in the state in which your client(s) reside, legalities may present less of a barrier for provision of online therapy than ethical principles, however.
Even if a Psychologist possesses a license to practice in the state in which their potential client resides and might legally provide therapy to that person, ethical considerations must be taken into account. For example, if the client is in a different time zone and has an emergency, how will this be resolved assuming the Psychologist may be out of the office during normal business hours in the United States? Furthermore, insurance providers may not offer malpractice options in a situation where the Psychologist is living outside the United States.
Additional information regarding regulation of the practice of psychology in the United States may be found on the website of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boardsopens in new window.
The APA Education Directorate and APAGS—the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students—also provide information for students. You can also visit Psychology Information Onlineopens in new window for information on graduate psychology programs.
What is an accredited school or institution?
In the United States, there are regional associations that accredit universities—universities become accredited by meeting a standard of quality defined by a set of specific criteria. It is typically easier to obtain a license to practice psychology in the U.S. if your doctoral program is from a regionally accredited school.
What is an accredited program in psychology? Does APA accredit any programs outside of the United States?
APA accredits doctoral programs in professional psychology (clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology) requiring licensure for independent practice in the United States and Canada. Accreditation is overseen by the APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA). Doctoral internship, postdoctoral internship (residency) and specialty postdoctoral internship programs in professional psychology also may be accredited. APA does not accredit programs outside the U.S. APA does not accredit undergraduate programs.
What is the APA Commission on Accreditation?
The Commission on Accreditation (CoA) of the APA is what is referred to as a program accreditor. Rather than review the credentials of an individual, the commission reviews the education and training provided by programs. This review includes the qualifications of the faculty and other resources, the appropriateness of the curriculum, and the level of competencies achieved by program graduates as a group. The list of currently accredited programs can be found on the APA website. The CoA accredits programs in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
There are many issues related to academic equivalency of different degree programs across nations, even English-speaking countries such as the U.S. and U.K. Although these issues are being addressed by educators, including psychologists, in a number of international forums, they remain unresolved. A university registrar may be able to offer you guidance on how equivalence of international academic credentials is verified.
Should you plan to pursue a career in psychology that includes practicing in the U.S., you must be aware that there are statutory and regulatory requirements for licensure in the different state and (Canadian) provincial jurisdictions, and you should try to determine in advance how your education and training outside the U.S. will meet those requirements.
In the United States, regulations about the practice of psychology are determined by each state. There is no federal regulation. You must be licensed to practice psychology according to the laws and regulations in effect in each state where you provide services. These laws are regulated by state boards of psychology. Requirements for licensure are not standardized across states, but generally, candidates are assessed on their education, supervised training, and examination performance.
The doctoral degree is generally considered the entry-level degree for the independent, licensed practice of psychology as a profession in the United States. In addition to the doctoral degree, licensure for professional practice usually requires 2 years of supervised training: 1 year during the doctoral program (an internship in most cases) and an additional year after receipt of the doctoral degree (postdoctoral residency).
You can find out information about U.S. state and Canadian province requirements by contacting the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boardsopens in new window.
In the United States, the legal basis for licensure lies in the right of the state, province or territory to enact legislation to protect its citizens—in other words, to identify qualified practitioners. The education and training of psychologists around the world varies greatly both in terms of the nomenclature of the university qualification (e.g. diploma, license, masters, candidate, and so on), and also in terms of length and content of university curricula contributing to professional qualification. At present, there is no international recognition of equivalence of degrees or in professional psychology qualifications.
It is important to research and contact the board of psychology in the state you are interested in practicing for information on education, supervised experience, and examinations. In some states, attendance at an APA-accredited program is required. Most states in the U.S. have a section of the law that applies to individuals who receive their education and training outside the U.S. State boards can also provide advice on transcript and credential evaluation.
Unfortunately, no. APA had no mechanisms for intervening in decisions made by licensing boards.
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