The Accreditation Operation Procedures (AOP) outline procedures that guide the accreditation process for programs to be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Correspondent to the AOP are Implementing Regulations (IRs), which are official policy documents that “elucidate, interpret and operationally define” the CoA’s policies and procedures. IRs are divided into several different sections (A through E), which are subject to regular review and revision by the CoA. Through this iterative process, opportunities for clarification have arisen regarding IRs in Section D, which relate specifically to the AOP, and an IR in Section E, which addresses Self-Governance and Regulation.
IRs D.4-5 and D.4-11
Section 8.2 at the master’s level of the AOP provides that APA-accredited master’s programs may request “accredited, inactive” status for one year at a time. IR D.4-5 provides details of the inactive process for programs at all levels. Changes to this IR provide clarification to APA-accredited programs at the master’s level that are phasing out.
Section 1.3 at the master’s level of the AOP states that an accredited program may request voluntarily withdraw from accredited status at any time by advising the COA in writing in advance of the requested withdrawal date. IR D.4-11 has been updated to provide APA-accredited master’s programs with clarification regarding AOP-compliant withdrawal procedures for programs that wish to withdraw from accreditation but continue to operate.
In accordance with the APA “Policies for Accreditation Governance” and the US Department of Education regulations for public notice and comment, the CoA is making the proposed revisions available for a thirty (30) day period of public review and comment at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomm
IR D.4-7(d)
Under Master’s Standard II.D.3, the CoA uses its professional judgement to determine if student achievement outcomes of a master’s program demonstrates students’ successful preparation for entry-level practice in health service psychology at the master’s level. The Commission has developed IR D.4-7(d) to outline the thresholds for student achievement outcomes in APA-accredited master’s programs.
In accordance with the APA “Policies for Accreditation Governance” and the US Department of Education regulations for public notice and comment, the CoA is making the proposed revisions available for a ninety (90) day period of public review and comment at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomm
IRs D.3-3(a) and E.1-7 (Notice)
Site Visitor Training and Re-Training: To decrease the time constraints of being a site visitor or site visit chair, the Commission has decreased the requirement of training frequency to an encouragement.
Use of Quick Reference Guides in Program Review: After merging the information from the “Quick Reference Guide” with other CoA documents, the Commission has decided to delete this IR.
In accordance with the APA “Policies for Accreditation Governance” and the US Department of Education regulations for notice and comment, the CoA is providing additional information and is making the changes available for a thirty (30) day period of public notice starting December 10, 2024. On behalf of the CoA, thank you in advance for your review.
To promote thoughtful discussion, the CoA is providing an electronic-based form for public comment submission. Comments and other information, including users’ identities will be public while email addresses used in the registration process will be confidential. The CoA will consider all comments received and make appropriate revisions should they be deemed necessary before approval of the final versions of the IRs.
Should you have any questions of concerns, please contact the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at (202) 336-5979 or apaaccred@apa.org. On behalf of the CoA, thank you for your review and comments.