PCSAS

APPLICATION PROCESS

Accreditation procedures are designed to take applicant programs through several stages of documentation, review, and analysis. Depending on the outcome of a review, PCSAS may require varying amounts of additional follow-up reporting. The normal review cycle for programs receiving positive evaluations is ten years; however, PCSAS will expect annual reports and may request a more detailed intra-cycle review if concerns from annual reports or other information warrant closer monitoring. A program's accreditation status may be changed at any point during the ten year cycle if the RC should determine, based on new evidence, that the program's performance no longer merits accreditation.

Steps of the application process: A program's accreditation review and decision-making process will include the following steps:

establishment of program eligibility (with payment of initiation fee);
program self-study;
submission of application (with payment of application fee);
assignment of RC's program-specific reviewers;
arrangements for on-site review;
completion of on-site review;
preliminary written report by review team;
program's response to preliminary report;
RC meeting, review, and decision;
summary report of RC's evaluation and final decision sent to program;
RC decision made available to the public;
monitoring of program-supplied annual and interim reports;
self-study and renewal application after ten-year accreditation cycle.

All applications are to be submitted electronically (see Application Template). Where feasible, correspondence regarding applications, scheduling, and official matters other than RC deliberations about specific applications will be carried out electronically, as well, to preserve a record of these interactions, minimize misunderstandings, and maximize transparency.

Costs: The accreditation fees and annual dues are in line with those charged by APA's Commission on Accreditation. Expenses associated with site visits are covered as part of the application fee. (For a detailed outline of costs, see the Application Template page.)

Calendar: The RC is expected to meet to review applications twice each year (normally in May and November). There are no deadlines for submission of inquiries regarding eligibility. However, completed applications are due no later than three months prior to the RC meeting at which they are scheduled to be reviewed. No application will be deemed submitted and complete until the application fee has been paid in full. Site visits must be completed no later than one month prior to the applicant program's scheduled evaluation by the RC. Programs may expect to receive official notice of the RC decision approximately one month following the review meeting.