Radford University Doctor of Psychology Program Earns Accreditation

Nov. 8, 2012—Radford University's Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program has earned accreditation from the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation (APA-COA).

The APA-COA announced the recognition at its October meeting. The accreditation was made retroactive to June, when an American Psychological Association (APA) team made a site visit to Radford University.

The retroactive accreditation means the Psy.D. program's first graduates—Joshua Bradley, Kevin Simonson and Zetta Nicely—each received their degrees from an APA-accredited program. The three graduates will be recognized at Radford University's 2012 Winter Commencement in December.

"Having the program accredited by the APA is a major accomplishment," said James Werth, director of the Psy.D. program. "It validates nearly a decade of effort by faculty, staff, administrators, students and community partners. We are proud of the program we have built and are glad that it is being recognized in this way."

The Radford University Psy.D. program joins 66 other active, APA-accredited counseling psychology programs, only three of which offer a doctorate of psychology degree.

"Accreditation is a process that assures the educational community and the general public that an institution or a program has clearly defined and appropriate objectives and maintains conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected," according to an APA statement.

The Radford University Psy.D. program enrolled its first cohort of students in fall 2008. It offers a Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology with a focus on rural mental health and additional emphases on cultural diversity, social justice and evidence-based practice in psychology.
The program is designed for people pursuing careers as psychologists in mental-health settings and institutions where clinical supervision and the direct application of counseling, therapy and psychological assessment are required.

The accreditation announcement came not long after the Virginia Rural Health Association awarded the Psy.D. program its Best Practices in Rural Health Award. The annual honor is given by the Virginia Rural Health Association in recognition of a program or institution that "exemplifies commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virginia,” the VRHA said.

Nov 8, 2012
Chad Osborne
(540) 831-7761
caosborne@raford.edu