Four accreditors, four paths
Psychology is unusual: four recognized accreditors cover different pathways, so the one that matters depends entirely on the role you want.
- APA-CoA — American Psychological Association, Commission on AccreditationAccredits doctoral programs (clinical, counseling, and school psychology), internships, and postdoctoral residencies. Recognized by USDE and CHEA. This is the one that gates psychologist licensure.
- PCSAS — Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation SystemAccredits PhD clinical science programs. Growing and prestigious, but not required for licensure in any state. CHEA-recognized.
- NASP — National Association of School PsychologistsAccredits school psychology specialist (EdS) and doctoral programs; central to school-psychologist certification and K-12 employment. CHEA-recognized.
- MPCAC — Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation CouncilAccredits master’s-level psychology and counseling programs. CHEA-recognized.
APA accreditation and psychologist licensure
School psychology (NASP)
For a school psychologist working in K-12, the credential path runs through NASP-accredited specialist or doctoral programs together with the state education department’s certification rules — similar to the teacher-licensure model. Many school psychology programs hold both NASP accreditation and APA accreditation (for the doctoral track).
MPCAC and master’s programs
For master’s-level psychology and counseling roles, MPCAC accreditation signals a vetted program. Whether it satisfies licensure depends on the state and the specific credential — some counseling licenses point to CACREP instead. Check your state board’s exact educational requirement.
Verify a psychology program
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
- Who accredits psychology programs? Four recognized bodies for different paths: APA (doctoral, internship, postdoc), PCSAS (clinical science PhD), NASP (school psychology), and MPCAC (master's). APA is recognized by USDE and CHEA.
- Do I need an APA-accredited program to become a psychologist? Effectively yes. All 50 states require a doctoral degree from an APA-accredited program, plus supervised hours and the EPPP exam, for psychologist licensure.
- What does APA accreditation cover? Doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, plus internships and postdoctoral residencies — the training that leads to psychologist licensure.
- What is PCSAS? The Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, which accredits PhD clinical-science programs. It is respected but not required for licensure in any state.
- How do I become a school psychologist? Through a NASP-accredited specialist (EdS) or doctoral program and your state education department's certification process — a path distinct from the doctoral psychologist license.
- What is MPCAC accreditation for? Master's-level psychology and counseling programs. Whether it satisfies a specific counseling license depends on the state; some licenses require CACREP instead.
- What exam do psychologists take? The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), after a doctoral degree and supervised hours.
- How do I verify a psychology program's accreditation? Search the APA (or PCSAS/NASP/MPCAC) directory matched to your path, and confirm educational requirements with your state psychology board.