Program accreditation ?

[slipsoffreud]

I am in a new doctoral program in School Psychology. I have looked over information on the APA website regarding program accreditation but am left wondering how likely it is that I will be graduating from an APA accredited program?

I am in the first cohort, and beginning my 2nd of four years. So far of course there is only one cohort behind me.

We are told basically all is in place for us to likely graduate from an APA accredited program but I am really left wondering about this - any information or links to better learn about this?

Another data point, there are potential complaints being made about a faculty member, not sure how much that could impact this process.

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[docma]

If the site visit occurs before you graduate and they receive a positive decision, you will have graduated from an accredited program. Even if there is a stretch of time while they address deficiencies, the effective date is the site visit. So a relevant factor is where they are in submitting a self-study which has to be in and reviewed in extensive detail before a site visit is granted. There can be additional materials required, etc., before a site visit is approved. All of the above could happen within 2 years but it is not guaranteed so keep alert to how they are proceeding and hope to have the site visit before you graduate.

 

[KillerDiller]

I believe a program can't even apply for APA accreditation until it graduates its first cohort. So, I'd say it's pretty unlikely.

 

[slipsoffreud]

I believe a program can't even apply for APA accreditation until it graduates its first cohort. So, I'd say it's pretty unlikely.

I keep seeing that mentioned on this forum but dont see that anywhere in APA's official requirements. Is this simply a rumor, where is the information to support?

 

[thewesternsky]

It's not a rumor. It's because the APA needs outcome data before they make an accreditation decision. The info is on page 1 of this document:

http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/about/policies/operating-procedures.pdf

The best you can hope for is an "accredited, on contingency" status by the time you graduate.

 

[MCParent]

I keep seeing that mentioned on this forum but dont see that anywhere in APA's official requirements. Is this simply a rumor, where is the information to support?

http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/about/policies/implementing-regs.pdf

D1-1.4.

D.1. Regulations related to initial application for accreditation

D.1-1. Operating Procedures for Programs Submitting an Initial Application for Accreditation5

(Commission on Accreditation, January 1997; revised January 2001)

A doctoral program, doctoral internship program, or postdoctoral residency program may apply for
review of its initial application for accreditation when:

1. The self-study is complete in all respects;

2. It is determined by the CoA that the program meets the requirements of Domain A: Eligibility of the
G&P;

3. The program can demonstrate in its application the achievement of the following outcomes:

a. in a doctoral program, there are sufficient students at each level of matriculation, including
candidacy status, during the year of its initial application;

b. in an internship program, there are at least two students enrolled during the year of its initial
application;

c. in a postdoctoral residency program, there is at least one student enrolled during the year of its
initial application;

4. If the program does not yet have graduates, interns or residents who have finished at the time the
application is submitted, it is incumbent on the program to demonstrate how there are sufficient
outcomes to warrant accreditation.

Accreditation before people have graduated is unlikely. seems to me that whoever told you that was either misinformed or attempting to mislead you.

 

[slipsoffreud]

It's not a rumor. It's because the APA needs outcome data before they make an accreditation decision. The info is on page 1 of this document:

http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/about/policies/operating-procedures.pdf

The best you can hope for is an "accredited, on contingency” status by the time you graduate.

I thought this "contingency" status was only for internship/postdoc sites? If its for programs it seems fairly "easy" for a program to obtain if they have, as in my case, designed the program from ground up to be APA accredited (with consultation from APA along the way).

My program is housed at a respected research university, is fully funded, with faculty actively participating in key APA work groups.

I want to thank people for responding, and understand this is somewhat rude, but I am really interested in actual experiences with this type of situation, not merely conjecture (e.g. merely looking up information from APA's website).

 

[MCParent]

The best you can hope for is an "accredited, on contingency” status by the time you graduate.

That's only for internship and post-docs.

 

[MCParent]

I want to thank people for responding, and understand this is somewhat rude, but I am really interested in actual experiences with this type of situation, not merely conjecture (e.g. merely looking up information from APA's website).

The most common outcome I've heard from this situation is people being told their program or internship will be accredited when they graduate, then having it not happen in time.

 

[slipsoffreud]

lol, sorry--I was under the impression you were posting to find out info on your situation, not attempting to have someone unknown on the internet claim to give you information that confirms what you've already decided is the case. 🙄

The most common outcome I've heard from this situation is people being told their program or internship will be accredited when they graduate, then having it not happen in time.

I was referencing the person who was clearly providing inaccurate information re: "contingency" which is only regarding internship sites as we've already cleared up. That kind of stuff is quite a bit different than what you have referenced in terms of accuracy and help.

 

[MCParent]

I was referencing the person who was clearly providing inaccurate information re: "contingency" which is only regarding internship sites as we've already cleared up. That kind of stuff is quite a bit different than what you have referenced in terms of accuracy and help.

Oops, my bad. I thought you were talking about my referencing the APA G&P. Edited.

I think "contingency" was originally going to apply to doc programs too, but that got cut in the final version, I think.

Rather than rely on individual comments, you might choose to go here (http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/programs/initial-accred.aspx) and then cross-reference with the program's web site C-20 data to see when they are applying for accreditation in relation to when they started taking students. I've only ever heard of this going the other way (students being told the program/internship would be accredited, then having it not happen), but maybe this has gone differently in some cases.

 

[thewesternsky]

That's only for internship and post-docs.

Oops. Sorry, I guess I was mistaken. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Member1928]

I agree with others that it is unlikely that the program will be accredited before you graduate. That being said, if you come from a respectable university (i.e., you are not attending a for profit institution) the fact that your program is not yet accredited probably won't be the end of the world. Training directors at internships recognize that new programs must graduate students before the program can be accredited.
If you are at a for profit institution I would cut your losses and head elsewhere.

 

[Member1928]

I agree with others that it is unlikely that the program will be accredited before you graduate. That being said, if you come from a respectable university (i.e., you are not attending a for profit institution) the fact that your program is not yet accredited probably won't be the end of the world. Training directors at internships recognize that new programs must graduate students before the program can be accredited.
If you are at a for profit institution I would cut your losses and head elsewhere.

 

[Member1928]

I agree with others that it is unlikely that the program will be accredited before you graduate. That being said, if you come from a respectable university (i.e., you are not attending a for profit institution) the fact that your program is not yet accredited probably won't be the end of the world. Training directors at internships recognize that new programs must graduate students before the program can be accredited.
If you are at a for profit institution I would cut your losses and head elsewhere.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Training directors at internships recognize that new programs must graduate students before the program can be accredited. .

...but employers *will* care. Some ppl in a position to hire will have zero discretion to hire someone from a non-APA acred. bc of hiring policies. Others will just go with the "safe bet" and require APA-acred. everything.

 

[MCParent]

Training directors at internships recognize that new programs must graduate students before the program can be accredited.

Disagree. If you're an internship TD and you have 200 applications, cutting nonaccredited applications is a good way to thin the pool out on an initial cull. Plus as universal accreditation does through, what's the point in giving an accredited internship to a nonaccredited program applicant?

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Disagree. If you're an internship TD and you have 200 applications, cutting nonaccredited applications is a good way to thin the pool out on an initial cull. Plus as universal accreditation does through, what's the point in giving an accredited internship to a nonaccredited program applicant?

As was mentioned, I know some TDs do look at unaccredited applicants if they're coming from new programs that are in the process of applying for accreditation. After all, as you mentioned earlier, these programs typically need to place folks somewhere to gain accreditation, and some TDs view it as a form of stewardship to the field to at least review the applicants' materials. I don't know how many end up actually placing rather than just being reviewed, though.

Now, whether or not we need more new programs to begin with is another matter entirely.

Edit: Although like T4C mentioned, unlike internship TDs, some/many employers won't care why a program wasn't accredited.