Self-Study Information

Accredited programs are assigned a self-study due date in the winter of the year before that in which their next site visit is scheduled. Once the program is informed of that due date, the self-study will open in the CoA Portal. Programs applying for initial accreditation must first register in the Portal. Once that registration is confirmed by the Office, the online self-study opens and the program can begin crafting responses to the focused questions and completing the required tables.

No. All self-studies are to be submitted online in the CoA Portal. Applicant programs seeking initial accreditation must first register on the CoA Portal in order to have the self-study made available for completion.

Note: The application to declare “Intent to Apply” must be submitted via email. See APA Accreditation Process for more information.

Programs without proximal and distal outcome data can apply for contingent accreditation. See Implementing Regulations (PDF, 1.5MB) C-29 D, C-26 I, and C-22 P for details on contingent accreditation for each level of training. Programs are eligible to apply for full accreditation when they can provide both proximal and distal outcome data consistent with the requirements of the relevant data Implementing Regulation (IR C-18 D, IR C-16 I, IR C-16 P).

For a doctoral program to apply for “accredited, on contingency” status, it must have enrolled a minimum of two student cohorts, one of which must be engaged in practicum training. Internship programs may apply for “accredited, on contingency” status when they can ensure that at least 2 interns will be on site at the time of the site visit. Postdoctoral residencies may apply for “accredited, on contingency” status when they can ensure that at least one resident will be on site at the time of the site visit.

Yes. Narrative preparation sheets are available on the commission's website for programs to use as they draft responses to the focused questions and complete the required tables. Programs should use the narrative preparation sheets for the year during which they will be site visited. This means that accredited programs assigned self-study due dates prior to September 1 should use the current year’s narrative preparation sheets. Accredited programs assigned a self-study due date of September 1 or later should use the upcoming year’s narrative preparation sheets.

For doctoral programs, the CoA requires that a department-level administrator (e.g., department chair or dean) and the president/institutional director provide countersignatures prior to self-study submission. Internships and postdoctoral programs must secure a countersignature from the president/institutional director. The countersignature indicates that those parties with authority over the program have approved the contents of the self-study, and the signature of the president/institutional director serves as an invitation for the CoA to conduct a site visit. These parties will also receive copies of the CoA decision letter. See the FAQ about the countersignature process. (PDF, 386KB)

The office cannot predict whether or how soon a site visit will be granted. Applications for accreditation are reviewed in the order in which they are submitted. Depending on the number of applications received, the timeline for review may take several months. Please note that authorization of a site visit is never guaranteed. Further, upon authorization of a visit the CoA cannot guarantee a specific timeframe for the site visit or final decision.

The initial date of accreditation (for applicant programs that become accredited) will be thefinal day of the site visit preceding the CoA’s final accreditation decision. Students/trainees completing the program after the initial date of accreditation are considered to have completed an APA accredited program.