Accreditation

When choosing a university at which to study get a degree in psychology, accreditation is an important credential that you should always look for. If you need to transfer credits, you should make sure that the two universities have accreditation in the course and the transfer of credits is allowed. It is unfortunate that most students still take up degrees in psychology without checking the accreditationstatus of the university, leading to a waste of time and money.Benefits of Accreditation

1. Evidence of quality – When a school is accredited to offer degree in psychology, it is an evidence that you will be provided high-quality education. Therefore, you will not find it difficult in getting a good job. Most employers are not interested in hiring people from universities with non-accredited programs.
2. Competitive edge – In case of research, funding agencies and sponsors are aware that accredited schools provide more comprehensive protections, have more efficient operations, and produce high-quality data. Therefore, such bodies are always interested in engaging the students and schools in research in the field of psychology.
3. Government recognition – Governments know the value of accreditation. Therefore, they respect institutions with accredited programs, especially in a course like Psychology. In carrying out inspections, governments are more likely to target universities without accreditation. Therefore, for most schools, accreditation can serve as a tool for preventing frequent government intervention and regulation.
4. Public trust and confidence – Accreditation is a voluntary and an objective measure of high-quality education. Therefore, psychology programs with accreditation enjoy public trust and confidence than the programs which are not accredited. Parents are only interested in getting their children enrolled in psychology programs that are accredited, as that shows high quality.

How a Psychology Program Gets Accreditation?

The psychology programs of schools are accredited by the ASPPB and the APA. After the program, you will be eligible to practice psychology. The accreditation process of the two bodies is very simple, but should be followed by each institution. This is a brief description of the steps involved.

1. The ASPPB – The school needs to submit documentation to the ASPPB, after which a detailed review is carried out. In addition to the review of the documentation, the ASPPB will also interview the administrators and faculty members.

The ASPPB sets up a panel to review the detailed self-study report submitted by the school, and if it is satisfied, a vote will be cast on whether or not accreditation should be granted based on the curriculum’s competence, the program’s organizational structure, the school’s facilities and budget, and the quality of the staff, faculty, and clinical instruction and research.

2. The APA – Many factors are considered before the APA grants accreditation for the psychology program of any school. Some of the things considered are:

• Program objectives, philosophy and curriculum plan
• Individual and cultural diversity;
• Relationship between students and faculty
• Determine if the program provides written public materials fairly representing material facts.
• The commitment of the school program to continue to work with the APA to maintain its accreditation
• The conditions that make applicants to be eligible for the program. For instance, what is the goal of the trained students in the practice of professional psychology? Does that program require an internship or a minimum of three years of academic study?

One of the most interesting things in life is to have a career in psychology. It is also a challenging profession for those who are in it. The people who have studied psychology from schools with accreditation have already gone through the vague premises and know all parts of psychology which relate to the various intrigues and traps of the human mind and how it is compelling to delve into this uncharted territory which involves the diagnosis and treating every abnormal thing in the labyrinthine human psyche.

A career in psychology from schools with accreditation offers many such opportunities to manipulate and understand the subconscious value system and thought process of human beings in a way through which its benefits can be holistically and positively relayed to the sufferer and the society. Therefore, the accreditation is one of the most important things to consider because starting the course.