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Clinical Psychology Certification, Accreditation and Licensing

Read all about clinical psychology certification, licensing and accreditation programs and requirements

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Importance of Accreditation in Psychology

psychology accreditation

There are two kinds of accreditation: institutional and specialized.

Institutional accreditation certifies that an institution has met minimum standards of quality. It is granted by one of seven regional accrediting organizations recognized for this purpose by the US Department of Education. Membership in the American Psychological Association (APA) requires that one's doctoral degree in psychology or equivalent be from an accredited institution.

Specialized accreditation only applies to professional programs. It certifies that the program meets the minimal standards of quality as defined by that profession.

In the field of psychology, specialized accreditation is granted by the APA Committee on Accreditation and applies only to doctoral programs, internships, and postdoctoral residency programs in professional psychology.

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Get Information on Accreditation

Increasingly, employers and health services reimbursement companies require that the psychologists they employ or reimburse be graduates of accredited programs in professional psychology.

You can contact the following organization for more information about accredited programs:

APA Education Directorate
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-4242
education@apa.org

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Clinical Psychology Certification and Licensing

To practice as an independent clinical psychologist anywhere in the United States or Canada, you must be licensed or have clinical psychology certification.

  • Licensed Psychologists usually have doctorates in clinical psychology
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists usually have master's degrees in clinical psychology

Before granting permission to take the licensing exam, the state licensing board will review your educational background. A doctoral degree does not automatically make you eligible, because requirements vary from state to state.

States require that your doctorate be in psychology or a field of study "primarily psychological in nature" and that it be from a regionally accredited institution. You also must have had at least two years of supervised professional experience.

Information about state and provincial licensing requirements can be obtained from the following organization:

American Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPS)
P.O. Box 4389
Montgomery, AL 36103
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Clinical Psychology Career Resource Center

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Spotlight Schools

Walden University

At Walden, you'll benefit not only from our unique distance learning delivery models, but from the personal attention of our world-class faculty, and from a highly customized program that is directly related to your career goals.

Capella University - The Harold Abel School of Psychology

At Capella University, you will earn your degree from an accredited university that delivers the challenge of a traditional classroom with the flexibility to fit education into your life.

Argosy University - The American School of Professional Psychology Graduate Programs

Argosy's College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences is where you will receive the training to become one of tomorrow's clinical practitioners through practical training, internships and small class size.