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 C, which relate specifically to the SoA as well as Section D, which relate specifically to the AOP, and an IR in Section E, which addresses Self-Governance and Regulation.
Master’s Interim Reporting
To demonstrate ongoing consistency with the SoA, the Commission requires programs that receive ten years between periodic reviews to provide an interim report five years after the beginning of the ten-year accreditation term. The CoA currently has three IRs related to interim reporting at the doctoral, doctoral internship, and postdoctoral residency: IRs D.4-8(b-d). The Commission has developed an IR related to interim reporting at the master’s level: IR D.4-8(a).
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 May 29, 2025 and will continue through
5:00pm Eastern Time on July 28, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at
http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/.
Commission on Accreditation Meeting Procedures (Notice)
After using a virtual format for some meetings, the CoA has clarified its policy on Commissioner attendance via IR E.2-1(4). The new IR includes attendance guidelines for Commissioners attending a CoA meeting virtually.
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
May 29, 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 IRs in Section C, which relate specifically to the SoA as well as Section D, which relate specifically to the AOP, and an IR in Section E, which addresses Self-Governance and Regulation.
Master’s Interim Reporting
To demonstrate ongoing consistency with the SoA, the Commission requires programs that receive ten years between periodic reviews to provide an interim report five years after the beginning of the ten-year accreditation term. The CoA currently has three IRs related to interim reporting at the doctoral, doctoral internship, and postdoctoral residency: IRs D.4-8(b-d). The Commission has developed an IR related to interim reporting at the master’s level: IR D.4-8(a).
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 May 29, 2025 and will continue through 5:00pm Eastern Time on July 28, 2025. Information about the proposed standards and public comment is available at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment/.
Commission on Accreditation Meeting Procedures (Notice)
After using a virtual format for some meetings, the CoA has clarified its policy on Commissioner attendance via IR E.2-1(4). The new IR includes attendance guidelines for Commissioners attending a CoA meeting virtually.
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 May 29, 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.