Graduating from a PCSAS-accredited program equips students with the necessary skills to operate as highly effective clinical psychologists regardless of the career path that is ultimately chosen. Further, the clinical science-based training that is offered by PCSAS-accredited programs ensures that students are equipped with the necessary tools to integrate the discovery of new knowledge with clinical practice and the dissemination of new knowledge. The approach emphasizes the integrative nature of research and practice: Research informs practice and practice informs research and it is the belief of all PCSAS-accredited programs that this approach is necessary to advance the treatment of mental illness. Finally, graduates of PCSAS-accredited programs are in very good company: Most, if not all, of the top clinical psychology programs are accredited by PCSAS. A list of PCSAS-accredited programs can be found here.
Two important areas where clinical psychology doctoral students may want to explore is the relationship between accreditation and the psychology internship year as well as the relationship between accreditation and licensure policies in the United States.
The Psychology Internship Year
Each individual internship site independently decides on its inclusion criteria for admitting students. Currently, APPIC allows students from PCSAS programs, including programs that have moved to PCSAS-only accreditation, to participate in their match system. Importantly, internship requirements change yearly and may not be reflected on the internship programs’ websites. Aspiring interns may wish to ask sites directly if they have questions regarding internship inclusion criteria.
Students often ask questions about the success rate of PCSAS students who are applying for internships and also what training background leads to success during the internship process. The PCSAS Review Committee (RC) recently collected normative data at the time of internship application, including students’ clinical hours, productivity, success in matching, etc. The overarching goals of this report was to: (1) Describe students in PCSAS-accredited programs at the time of internship application: publication of journal articles and chapters, receipt of federally funded and competitive national fellowships or grants, intervention and assessment hours, and years in the program, (2) Characterize three aspects of internship outcomes for PCSAS-accredited programs: match rate, percent matching at an APCS site (as a very rough proxy for a clinical-science internship), and student ranking of the site at which they matched, and (3) Examine several potential correlates of these three aspects of internship outcomes for PCSAS-accredited programs: publication of journal articles and chapters; receipt of federally funded and competitive national fellowships or grants; intervention, assessment, and total direct-contact hours; and years in the program. The bottom line from the study is that PCSAS students are extremely successful in matching to their desired internship site. The full report can be found here.
Please note that PCSAS-accredited programs emphasize the integration of clinical and research training. If you’re interested in internships with a strong research component that integrates research into clinical practice and clinical practice into research, these programs may align well with your career goals. In fact, graduates of PCSAS-accredited programs may be more competitive for internship programs with a research component, which, in turn, would likely further advance the graduates careers in clinical psychology and clinical science.
Gaining Licensure to Practice in the United States:
The licensure process in the United States can be confusing in that licensure is operated at the state level and not the federal level. Hence, the rules and policies concerning licensure vary from state to state. Some states require graduation from an accredited clinical psychology program. Some states require only that the university in which the program resides be accredited by a recognized regional accreditor. Many states offer alternative pathways to licensure if the applicant does not meet the specific accreditation requirements (e.g., usually a mixture of required coursework and clinical experience). Students should be aware that there are states that require graduation from an APA or CPA-accredited institution and have no clear alternate pathway to licensure. PCSAS continues to work to get recognized in all 50 states.
Graduating from a PCSAS-accredited program can enhance your qualifications when applying for licensure as a clinical psychologist. Licensing boards often recognize the rigorous training, the high quality, and the scientific focus that are characteristics of PCSAS-accredited programs. If you intend to practice in a different state or country, some jurisdictions may offer licensure reciprocity or streamlined licensure processes for graduates of accredited programs. Also, having graduated from a PCSAS-accredited program may give you a competitive advantage when applying for licensure, as it demonstrates a commitment to high standards of training and scientific excellence.
In sum, the specific requirements for licensure and internship placements vary by jurisdiction and institution and are subject to change. As of September 2023, about a quarter of the states recognize PCSAS explicitly and two-thirds recognize APA explicitly in their policies. In total, PCSAS is explicitly recognized in the laws and regulations of states representing about 50% percent of the U.S. population, including the large population states of California, New York, and Illinois. Others are Arizona, Delaware, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. In addition, Minnesota is in the process of altering regulations to recognize PCSAS. The remaining states either do not have language about an accreditation requirement or they do not require accreditation from a program-level accreditor like PCSAS or APA-CoA. PCSAS has resources available for programs interested in approaching their state licensure boards to request that PCSAS accreditation be recognized for licensing purposes and will assist in that process.
Aspiring psychologists should thoroughly research the requirements and preferences of the relevant licensing boards and internship sites in their chosen area of practice. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) is an alliance of state, provincial, and territorial agencies responsible for the licensure and certification of psychologists throughout the United States and Canada. Click here for a link to the ASPBB website where a comprehensive list of individual state contact information and licensing regulations can be found.
Click here to see the organizations that recognize PCSAS accreditation.
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