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