Licensing and Accreditation

Accreditation

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has developed a document titled The Value of Accreditation. This resource briefly addresses accreditation, how it works, and how it benefits both students and the public.

Regional Accreditation of the Institution

Palo Alto University (PAU) is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Questions or complaints related to Palo Alto University’s WSCUC accreditation status should be directed to: 

WASC Senior College and University Commission
985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100
Alameda, CA 94501
www.wscuc.org/contact
510-748-9001

In addition, individuals who wish to file a complaint can also do so by contacting the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) at:

Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95833
Telephone: (916) 431-6959
FAC: (916) 263-1897
www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml

Specialty Accreditation for Individual Programs

American Psychological Association (APA)

Each of PAU’s doctoral programs have been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)

             -PhD program in Clinical Psychology since 1988
             -PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium since 2006

In accordance with APA’s accreditation requirements, PAU maintains an updated IR C-20 for each doctoral program.  This “APA data” provides a snapshot of program admissions, attrition, and student outcomes for the PhD and PsyD programs.

The most recent APA letters of accreditation for the PhD and PsyD programs are also available for review.

Questions related to APA accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Both of the emphases in the MA in Counseling program; Marriage, Family and Child emphasis and Clinical Mental Health emphasis, have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) since January 2017, when they were awarded 8 years of accreditation. Learn more about PAU's accreditation. 

Questions related to CACREP accreditation status should be directed to:

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510
Alexandria, VA  22314
Phone: (703) 535-5990
Fax: (703) 739-6209
Web: www.cacrep.org/contact/

Licensure

Doctoral Level: Licensed Clinical Psychologist

The Palo Alto University PhD in Clinical Psychology program and PGSP-Stanford PsyD. Consortium are each designed to meet the educational requirements needed for graduates to take and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and become licensed professionals. Data regarding the number of candidates from different schools and their outcomes on the licensing examinations are available online at both the state level through the state level through the California Board of Psychology, and the national level through the national level through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).  More information about clinical psychology licensure in the state of California can be found at the California Board of Psychology's Lincessee and Registrant Information page.

Master's Level: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

The Palo Alto University MA Counseling degree with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling is designed to meet the educational requirements for graduates to pursue the MFT license wiith the Board of Behavioral Sciences in the State of California (Section 4980.36 or 4980.37).  Before and after graduation, students will need to accumulate two years (104 weeks) of supervision and 3,000 pre- and post-Master's hours of supervised work experience. To obtain the MFT license in California, graduates must also pass both the LMFT Clinical (LMCE) exam and the California Law & Ethics exam.  Further information on licensure requirements and exams can be found on the California BBS website, including exam statistics.

Master's Level: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Graduates of the Palo Alto University MA Counseling degree with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will have completed the educational requirements to pursue the Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences in the State of California (Business and Professions Code §4980.36).

Graduates of the Palo Alto University MA Counseling degree with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling may also pursue licensure as a Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California with a scope of practice that includes counseling couples and families.

The State of California requires graduates to accumulate two years (104 weeks) of supervision and 3,000 hours of post-Master's supervised work experience. To obtain the LPCC license in California, graduates must also pass both the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) exam and the California Law & Ethics exam.  Further information on licensure requirements and exams can be found on the California BBS website, including exam statistics.

Master's Level: Out-of-state Licensure

Students who plan to seek licensure in a state or territory outside of California should research their region's specific laws and regulations before enrolling. Information on state counseling boards can be found on the AASCB website.