Psychology Program Accreditation: Your Essential Guide
Accreditation ensures psychology programs meet rigorous educational standards. Understanding accreditation is critical for career planning, licensure eligibility, and educational investment protection.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a quality assurance process where external organizations evaluate educational programs against established standards. For psychology, two types of accreditation matter:
Institutional Accreditation
Regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education evaluate entire colleges and universities. Institutional accreditation confirms that the school meets basic educational standards and operates with financial stability.
Programmatic Accreditation
Specialized accrediting bodies evaluate specific programs within institutions. For psychology, the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation provides the gold standard for doctoral programs and predoctoral internships.
APA Accreditation Standards
The APA accredits doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and combinations thereof. Accreditation evaluates programs across multiple dimensions:
Program Philosophy and Training Model
Programs must articulate clear training models (scientist-practitioner, practitioner-scholar, clinical scientist) and demonstrate how curriculum, practica, and research experiences align with stated goals.
Faculty Qualifications and Resources
Accredited programs maintain adequate numbers of core faculty with appropriate credentials, active research or practice engagement, and diverse areas of expertise. Faculty-to-student ratios must support quality mentorship.
Student Admissions and Achievement
Programs must demonstrate selective admissions processes, clear admission requirements, and track student outcomes including graduation rates, time to degree, licensure passage rates, and employment outcomes.
Curriculum and Training
APA-accredited programs provide comprehensive training in:
- Scientific foundations of psychology
- Research methods and statistical analysis
- Evidence-based assessment and intervention
- Professional ethics and standards
- Individual and cultural diversity
- Interdisciplinary systems and collaboration
- Supervised practicum experiences
Internship Requirements
Doctoral programs must require completion of a predoctoral internship, preferably at an APA-accredited site. The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) coordinates the internship matching process.
Why Accreditation Matters
Licensure Requirements
Most state licensing boards require graduation from APA-accredited doctoral programs for licensure eligibility. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards maintains that non-accredited degrees may severely limit licensure options, even if the school has regional accreditation.
Employment Opportunities
Many employers, particularly hospitals, universities, and government agencies, prefer or require candidates from APA-accredited programs. Veterans Affairs facilities typically hire only graduates from accredited programs.
Internship Match Competitiveness
Students from accredited programs have significant advantages in the competitive internship match process. Many internship sites give preference to applicants from accredited doctoral programs.
Quality Assurance
Accreditation confirms that programs meet profession-wide standards for curriculum, training experiences, and faculty qualifications. This protects students from investing time and money in substandard programs.
Interstate Mobility
Graduation from an accredited program facilitates license mobility if you relocate. The PSYPACT interstate compact allows licensed psychologists to practice across participating states, but typically requires APA-accredited degrees.
Accreditation for Master's Programs
The APA does not accredit master's programs in psychology. However, master's programs in counseling may be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Master's programs in school psychology may be approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). These accreditations are important for counselor licensure and school psychology certification respectively.
Evaluating Non-Accredited Programs
If considering a non-accredited program, research thoroughly:
- Verify institutional accreditation status
- Contact your state licensing board about eligibility
- Review program completion rates and graduate outcomes
- Investigate whether graduates successfully obtain licensure
- Understand limitations on career options and geographic mobility
Some programs may be in "candidacy" status, working toward full accreditation. The APA website provides current accreditation status for all programs under review.
Finding Accredited Programs
The APA maintains a searchable database of accredited programs at https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs. This database includes:
- Program contact information
- Areas of accreditation (clinical, counseling, school, combined)
- Accreditation status and dates
- Program outcome data
When researching psychology degree programs, always verify accreditation status directly with the APA database rather than relying solely on program websites.
International Considerations
APA accreditation is specific to programs in the United States and Canada. International students planning to practice in their home countries should verify whether APA accreditation is recognized by their national licensing authorities. Similarly, international degrees may not be recognized for U.S. licensure without additional credentialing.
Next Steps
Understanding accreditation helps you make informed decisions about psychology education. As you explore career paths and review program requirements, prioritize accredited programs that align with your professional goals. Visit our FAQ page for additional questions about accreditation and program selection.