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 regarding IRs in Section C, which relate specifically to the SoA as well as IRs in Section D, which relate specifically to the AOP, and an IR in Section E, which addresses Self-Governance and Regulation.
Distance Education (all levels)
Per Standard II.B.2 of the SoA-M and Doctoral Standard II.B.2 of the SoA, the CoA requires that master’s and doctoral programs describe their process that allows students to attain discipline-specific knowledge and each profession-wide competency. IRs C-10 M and C-11 D have been updated with a new requirement on the evaluation of distance education, elements noted for master’s programs, and/or self-study requirements for doctoral programs using distance education.
Per Internship and Postdoctoral Standard II.C of the SoA, the CoA requires that accredited programs provide learning elements or experiences to develop competencies. IRs C-29 I and C-25 P have been updated with the definitions of distance and electronically mediated education as well as a requirement of the evaluation of distance education.
In accordance with the APA "Policies for Accreditation Governance" and U.S. Department of Education regulations for notice and comment, the CoA will make the proposed revisions available for a ninety (90) day period of public review and comment. The comment period began at
5:00pm Eastern Time on March 24, 2025 and will continue through 5:00pm Eastern Time on June 22, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at
http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/.
Scheduling Site Visits & Self-Study Expiration
In accordance with Section 8.1 of the AOP at all levels, the CoA reviews a program’s most recent self-study report, the most recent site visit report, the program’s response to that report, and any other records of relevance that the program has submitted as well as any third-party comments and responses to those comments that have been received before making an accreditation decision. Via IR D.2-4, the Commission’s training work group has expanded its policy on scheduling site visits to update information about how long a program’s self-study would remain valid. The CoA also updated the site visit cycles mentioned in the IR to bring them into compliance with the Commission’s current actions.
In accordance with the APA "Policies for Accreditation Governance" and U.S. Department of Education regulations for notice and comment, the CoA will make the proposed revisions available for a sixty (60) day period of public review and comment. The comment period is scheduled to begin at
5:00pm Eastern Time on March 24, 2025 and will continue through 5:00pm Eastern Time on May 23, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at
http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/.
Maintenance of Program Accreditation Records (Notice)
To align the CoA’s policies with its current actions, the Commission has clarified its policy on its maintenance of program accreditation records to comply with Department of Education and other legal requirements.
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
March 24, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at
http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/. 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.
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 regarding IRs in Section C, which relate specifically to the SoA as well as IRs in Section D, which relate specifically to the AOP, and an IR in Section E, which addresses Self-Governance and Regulation.
Distance Education (all levels)
Per Standard II.B.2 of the SoA-M and Doctoral Standard II.B.2 of the SoA, the CoA requires that master’s and doctoral programs describe their process that allows students to attain discipline-specific knowledge and each profession-wide competency. IRs C-10 M and C-11 D have been updated with a new requirement on the evaluation of distance education, elements noted for master’s programs, and/or self-study requirements for doctoral programs using distance education.
Per Internship and Postdoctoral Standard II.C of the SoA, the CoA requires that accredited programs provide learning elements or experiences to develop competencies. IRs C-29 I and C-25 P have been updated with the definitions of distance and electronically mediated education as well as a requirement of the evaluation of distance education.
In accordance with the APA "Policies for Accreditation Governance" and U.S. Department of Education regulations for notice and comment, the CoA will make the proposed revisions available for a ninety (90) day period of public review and comment. The comment period began at 5:00pm Eastern Time on March 24, 2025 and will continue through 5:00pm Eastern Time on June 22, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/.
Scheduling Site Visits & Self-Study Expiration
In accordance with Section 8.1 of the AOP at all levels, the CoA reviews a program’s most recent self-study report, the most recent site visit report, the program’s response to that report, and any other records of relevance that the program has submitted as well as any third-party comments and responses to those comments that have been received before making an accreditation decision. Via IR D.2-4, the Commission’s training work group has expanded its policy on scheduling site visits to update information about how long a program’s self-study would remain valid. The CoA also updated the site visit cycles mentioned in the IR to bring them into compliance with the Commission’s current actions.
In accordance with the APA "Policies for Accreditation Governance" and U.S. Department of Education regulations for notice and comment, the CoA will make the proposed revisions available for a sixty (60) day period of public review and comment. The comment period is scheduled to begin at 5:00pm Eastern Time on March 24, 2025 and will continue through 5:00pm Eastern Time on May 23, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/.
Maintenance of Program Accreditation Records (Notice)
To align the CoA’s policies with its current actions, the Commission has clarified its policy on its maintenance of program accreditation records to comply with Department of Education and other legal requirements.
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 March 24, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/. 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.