How to Use the Designation List

Date First Designated

AN INDIVIDUAL IS CONSIDERED A GRADUATE OF A DESIGNATED PROGRAM IF THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNATED AT THE TIME THE INDIVIDUAL'S DEGREE WAS COMPLETED.

The 2009 online edition lists the date a program was first recognized as a doctoral program in psychology meeting designation criteria and does not necessarily reflect the date the program was initiated at the educational institution. The date first designated appears in parentheses as (ASPPB/NR: 19__). If the program is APA/CPA accredited also, the date of approval is included, and the listing appears as (ASPPB/NR:19__; APA/CPA: 19__). The reader may wish to contact APA or CPA directly for additional information on programs accredited by those organizations.

Listing of Canadian Doctoral Programs and CPA Accreditation

Another feature of this publication is the listing of accreditation by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) as equivalent to APA accreditation. The three major relevant organizations in Canada endorsed this project: the Council of Provincial Associations of Psychologists (CPAP), the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), and the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (CRHSPP). The 1988 edition of this publication included for the first time Canadian doctoral programs that submitted the documentation in support of meeting the "Guidelines" and that which the ASPPB/National Register Designation Committee evaluated as meeting the "Guidelines." Therefore, 1988 will be the earliest date of designation (date in parentheses after each program) for any Canadian program.

Beginning with the 1990 edition, all programs receiving joint accreditation by APA and CPA were noted as such as well as those receiving accreditation by only one of those organizations.

Institutional Accreditation (in the United States, Canada and other countries)

In the United States, the requirement for regional accreditation of the educational institution in the designation criteria refers to regional accreditation (Criterion 2) by one of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Commission on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA) or the United States Department of Education (USDOE). Programs in educational institutions that are candidates for regional accreditation or have probationary status do not meet this criterion and therefore are not included in this publication. However, a program is eligible to apply for listing as soon as full accreditation status is achieved for the institution.

In Canada, the requirement for institutional accreditation refers to an institution with provincial authorization.

To date, only programs located in Canada and the United States have qualified for designation and listing in this publication. However, language was added to clarify that this requirement also refers to an institution that is accredited by a body which is deemed by the ASPPB/ National Register Designation Committee to be performing a function equivalent to U.S. regional accrediting bodies. This allows institutions outside the United States to apply for designation.

Designation of "Programs"

Designated programs are identified in the online publication, Designated Doctoral Programs in Psychology Meeting Designation Criteria (www.nationalregister.org/designate.htm) under the Department or Division in the educational institution. Specific programs  are listed with identifying letters (i.e., a., b., c.). Some programs have indicated that there is a special emphasis or concentration in the doctoral program, and these are included in italics below the name of the recognized program. However, the designation process makes no representation about such  areas of concentration within recognized programs. Reviews are only of programs as listed and not of any special focus within individual doctoral programs.
If any substantive changes occur in a program, it may be considered a new program and reviewed as such by the JDC.

Designated Programs No Longer Accepting New Students

Once the JDC has been formally notified that a designated program is  no longer admitting  students, the ASPPB/National Register Designation web page will  state for one year that this "Program is no longer admitting new students." At a specific date determined by the JDC, the program is dropped from designation and the program listing is removed from the website. This policy applies only to programs which are considered by JDC to meet designation criteria.  Thus, individuals who have matriculated for a degree in a designated program that subsequently closes to new students are considered as having completed a designated program when they graduate if they complete the requirements within the time frame determined by the JDC. However, should graduation be delayed significantly due to a student not having complied with university policy for completion of a doctoral degree within a set time frame (often seven years), designation status does not apply. In other words, students who fulfill program requirements and meet graduation timelines will be considered to have graduated from an ASPPB/National Register Designated Doctoral Program in Psychology.

Designated Programs with Significant Changes to the Program

It should be noted that programs may be deleted from designation when documentation requested by the JDC is not provided or when the documentation provided indicates that the current program no longer meets the ASPPB/National Register Designation Criteria. When a designated program is determined to no longer meet designation criteria, either as a result of its regular three year review by the JDC or as voluntarily communicated by the program, only those enrolled students who have qualified for graduation from the originally approved and designated program and by the date determined by the JDC will be considered to have graduated from an ASPPB/National Register Designated Doctoral Program in Psychology. Please note an individual is considered a graduate of a designated program if the program was designated at the time the student's degree was completed.

As programs make changes, such as closure of the program, the program faculty is responsible for guiding students through the program in a timely manner or assisting them to find adequate and appropriate placement in other doctoral programs. Programs in transition or in the process of closure have met this responsibility to currently enrolled students through a number of approaches. In some instances this has involved hiring a consultant to work with the students and faculty to achieve those goals. The university is responsible for fulfilling its obligations to currently enrolled students.

Comments Solicited

If there are any questions about the use of Doctoral Psychology Programs Meeting Designation Criteria, please direct them in writing to the National Register. It is our intent that the information serves credentialing bodies and the public. Any suggestions for improvements in that information will be given careful consideration.

Judy E. Hall, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
National Register
1120 G Street, NW, Ste. 330
Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202-783-7663; Email: judy@nationalregister.org

updated 08/20/2009