HELP!!! I'm looking for a DL/non-traditional Psy.D. program that meets the educational requirement of that state, and would allow me to sit for the psychology licensure exam. Prefernces include: no residency or short term residency in summers, RA schools would be preferred...but state approved schools are fine too. FYI...I have a MA (counseling), MS (psychology) and an Ed.S. (school psychology). I am a NCSP. I am looking into California Coast University's Psy.D. degree. I read that it is state approved, but I am not sure if it meets educational requirements to allow me to sit for licensure? SO...WHAT SCHOOLS are at least state approved, and meet the requirements to allow me to sit for licensure? Can anyone help me out here?
Greetings! You might want to view requirments at the Capella University web site. Capella has links to the requirements for every state in the US. This is a real challenge to digest, by the way I would strongly recommend obtaining a regionally accredited degree! The effort and expense is well worth the investment. Rob, Doctoral Student in Psychology Assistant Professor of Psychology
I would also suggest directly contacting the California Board of Psychology in order to receive updated information regarding the status of specific state schools offering doctoral degrees in Psychology and whether they enable you to be eligible for state licensure. Some California state approved schools have been grandfathered enabling their students to continue to be considered for licensure. However,the current trend and direction in California is for these state approved schools to seek regional accredition in order for them to retain a viable status. That is why is is critical that one ascertains the specific status of the school they wish to attend.
CCU's Psy.D. program is not approved/eligible for CA psychology licensure. CA Approved psychology doctoral degree programs implemented (Approved by the BPPVE) after January 2001 do not qualify graduates for licensure. CCU did not offer this degree prior to January of 2001. Existing degree programs (individual degree programs not necessarily instutitions) maintain their eligibility status. Good Luck, Wes
Hello. The suggestions I make are based on my experience as a 20-year psychologist. I am, additionally, a supervisor in an APA-approved internship program. 1) Read the articles in the February 1999 APA monitor by Bridget Murray and John Grohol before committing to your plan. This is a must! 2) Restrict your search to APA-approved programs. Which, I believe at this time is only the Fielding Institute, if you are limited to the dl format. 3) If you elect to go other than APA insist on information about the program's success in placing students in internships as this has been a bottleneck recently. Some students who are unable to secure an internship wind up sitting out a year or more. APA-approved status is a big plus at this point. 4) Recognize that you will be required to complete a year long internship as part of the process. The internship is generally 40+ hours per week and often requires one relocate. Good luck!
May I second what David Williams stated: get not only a RA doctorate but also one that is APA approved. Why a PsyD? For a little more you can get a PhD and have a lot more opportunities. I don't know of any school that will grant you a PsyD or a PhD in Psychology without some residence requirements. PLEASE - get all the facts before you spend money. ------------------ Howard Rodgers
I am looking at Saybrook Graduate school(RA)Ryokan College(state approved) Trinity College of Graduate Studies(state approved-not DL)and the American Behavioral Studies Institute(state approved-not DL)All 4 offer a pych doctorate that qualifies for CA state licensure. I'm sure there are many others.
I am not a psychologist but awhile back in this forum and on a.e.d. it was pointed out that Harvard's psychology program in not APA accredited. If so, how is this seen in the community? Since it is Harvard APA doesn't matter? I'm curious? Thanks, John
There are many psychology programs at accredited schools which are legitimate but not apa accredited. However, that does not mean they have have a "clinical" program. Psychology includes hehavioral programs which test rats, social psychology programs which look at group activity, etc. The goal of being a licensed psychologist who can counsel patients/clients and bill insurance carriers for sessions will require an apa accredited program. Furthermore, in most states you can only practice in the specific areas of study and internship from the graduate program. Harvard is a special case. My guess is that even a Harvard graduate has to figure out how to get the apa approved internships, or not work as a clinician. I would think a Havard grad. would have an easy time getting a post doc. position. For those interested, I am not a psychologist. But I am a Lic. Mental Health Clinician, a Lic. Alcohol and Drug Counselor a Cert. Guidance Counselor and a Cert. Rehabilitation Counselor.
It has been quite some time since I checked but my memory tells me that none of the specialty areas within the Harvard Psychology Dept. include a Clinical concentration. It's all "experimental," "developmental," "cognitive," and those sorts of non-clinical psychology. They used to offer a EdD program in counseling and consulting psychology through their dept. of education but I'm not certain that they offer this any longer. So... I'm thinking, no clinical PhD program, no need for APA approval. Jack
Hello John, Let me see if I respond in a helpful way. Psychology is a broad discipline with many subspecialties. Within APA the specialties are referred to as "divisions" of which there are at least 50 at this time. Examples include areas like: history and systems, experimental, clinical, neuropsychology, educational, etc. Not all specialties are accredited. Accreditation is reserved for doctoral level training in the "applied" areas which traditionally are clinical, counseling, school, and industrial-organizational psychology. I've never reviewed Harvard's psychology program but I would imagine the University does not offer the doctoral degree in one of the applied specialties. I hope this helps. David
