The Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology program has received 7-years of accreditation by the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA). Accredited programs are scheduled for a review every 3-7 years. It is an honor for the program to receive the maximum years of accreditation.  “This accreditation is the most important measure of the quality of our doctoral program in Counseling Psychology,” said Roberta Nutt, who led the accreditation process and is a Clinical Professor & Training Director for the program.  “It recognizes our high quality faculty, students, and training.”

Nutt explained that the whole process from initial application to final results can take up to two years.  The application is a lengthy self-study that details program mission and goals; fit within its larger institution; curriculum; faculty, student, practicum, and financial resources; program policies and procedures; attention to issues of diversity; definition and assessment student competencies; and student success in obtaining internships, licensure, and jobs. 

Nutt went on to say that after the self-study is accepted the program schedules a two-day site visit with three psychologists to assess the program and the self-study information in person.  “After the site visit, the visitors submit their findings to APA, the program can respond, then decisions are made at the next full meeting of the Commission on Accreditation,” she said. 

APA accreditation of doctoral programs attests to the quality of the university, college, and department, as well as the program, because one of the variables considered is the quality of the larger system in which the program is imbedded.  For the students, APA accreditation makes the variety of internships and jobs they can achieve possible. 

Beginning next year, only doctoral students from APA-accredited programs will be able to use the national matching system for internship placement.  Most jobs require graduation from an accredited program.  “Many, and soon all, states require graduation from an APA-accredited program for licensure as a psychologist, and it is illegal to call oneself a psychologist if one is not licensed,” said Nutt.  “APA accreditation is becoming a necessity for training psychologists, and our program could not exist without it.”

PHLS department chair Ezemenari M. Obasi is grateful for Nutt’s hard work throughout the accreditation process.  “In addition to congratulating the Counseling Psychology faculty, I also want to recognize Roberta Nutt’s leadership in writing the self-study and guiding the program area through a thoroughly vetted process,” he said. “Thank you Roberta for your work and dedication throughout this critically important accreditation process! So much hinges on our capacity to remain accredited by the APA.”