3 Reasons Why Choosing an Accredited Psychology School Matters

There are hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States, and it can be hard to find the perfect fit.

One thing you need to look for when choosing a school is accreditation. Keep reading to learn more about what accreditation is and why choosing an accredited psych school matters.

What Is Accreditation?

There are two types of accreditation in higher education: institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation.

Institutional accreditation refers to the entire college or university, while programmatic accreditation refers to specific programs within that institution.

The U.S Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the agencies that accredit these institutions and programs.

Institutional Accreditation

If an institution is accredited, the entire institution has met the guidelines established by the accreditation agency.

In the United States, a college or university can be either regionally or nationally accredited.

Regional Accreditation

The majority of colleges and universities in the United States are regionally accredited. To be regionally accredited, the institution must meet the strict standards set by the regional agency for its state.

There are six regional accreditation agencies, and each accredits schools within certain states. These agencies are:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC): Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE): Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C.
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC): Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU): Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): California, Hawai'i, and the Hawaiian territories

State institutions and private, non-profit institutions are almost always regionally accredited.

National Accreditation

Most for-profit private schools in the United States are nationally accredited. However, this isn't a blanket rule.

Some for-profit schools, like Rasmussen University, Walden University, and the University of Phoenix, are regionally accredited.

National accreditation is also used for trade schools and vocational schools. There are over two dozen recognized regional accreditation agencies in the US, including:

• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
• Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation
• Distance Education Accrediting Commission

National accreditation agencies usually accredited schools based on how they compare with institutions across the country that have a similar focus or curriculum.

Is Regional or National Accreditation Better?

Generally, regionally accredited schools are preferable over national accreditation, but there are benefits to nationally accredited schools.

Nationally accredited institutions are often less expensive and have more relaxed admission standards than regionally accredited institutions.

However, credits earned at a nationally accredited institution typically do not transfer into regionally accredited schools, while credits from regional schools are accepted almost anywhere.

Additionally, regionally accredited universities are typically considered more prestigious and look better on a resume.

If your employer offers corporate tuition reimbursement plans, you may not be eligible if you attend a nationally accredited university.

Programmatic Accreditation

Programmatic accreditation means that a specific program within the college or university has met standards set by a programmatic accreditation board.

A university may be No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called "institutionally accreditedhttps"!, but that does not mean that all the programs it offers are programmatically accredited.

Many agencies in the U.S. accredit programs, including:

• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar American Bar Association
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation

In the United States, the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation is the primary body for psychology programs.

However, the commission only accredits programs at the doctoral level. Other programmatic accreditation agencies for psychology include:

• Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council
• National Association of School Psychologists (graduate programs only)
• Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PhDs only)

There are currently no agencies that accredit bachelor's programs in psychology.

Why Does Accreditation Matter?

There are several reasons why you should choose an accredited psychology school.

1. First, institutions that are not accredited do not have educational requirements to meet. You may not receive a complete education at an unaccredited institution.
2. Next, federal financial aid, and many types of private aid, will not fund education at an unaccredited institution. However, the institution itself may provide aid.
3. Attending an unaccredited university may also make it difficult to further your career. Most graduate programs will not accept students from an unaccredited institution.

Additionally, employers often will not hire, or are not allowed to hire, candidates from unaccredited schools. This is especially true for government jobs.

Those that want to become licensed psychologists must attend an APA-accredited doctoral program in order to qualify for licensure.

How To Tell If Your Psych School Is Accredited

It should be easy to determine if your No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called "psychology schoolhttps"! is accredited at both the institutional and programmatic levels.

All public colleges and universities must be accredited, so if you're attending a public school, it will be an accredited institution. Most established institutions are also accredited.

A quick internet search can help you determine the accreditation status and agency for your psychology school. Usually, this information is available on the institution's website.

You can also check the website for the regional accreditation agency that covers the state your school is in. Most of these agencies have a list of accredited institutions on their websites.

For programmatic accreditation, you can check the accreditation agency's website for a list of accredited institutions. Most programs will also list their accreditation on their website.

Pursue Your Education at an Accredited Psychology School

When attending a bachelor's or master's program in psychology, you need to attend a college or university that's accredited, and preferably, regionally accredited.

At the doctoral level, your program also needs to be accredited by the APA so you can qualify for licensure.

With the information above, you can find an No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called "accredited psych schoolhttps"! and start your journey in psychology today.