The University of Central Arkansas Department of Psychology and Counseling has received a seven-year accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) for the counseling psychology program.
With the recent accreditation, UCA is now home to two of the three accredited psychology programs in Arkansas. The counseling psychology program is one of 72 accredited counseling psychology programs in the U.S.
“APA accreditation ensures that UCA will teach and train exceptional doctoral-level counseling psychologists. These professionals will be highly qualified to provide a variety of services: counseling and psychotherapy, assessment and consultation,” Elson Bihm, director of the counseling psychology program, said. “In turn, Arkansas will benefit from an increased number of psychologists available to serve throughout the state, especially in rural areas and in service to under-served groups.”
APA is the only organization that accredits psychology programs and is considered the gold standard for quality education for psychologists.
“Accreditation by the American Psychological Association recognizes the high quality of graduate education in psychology that students receive at UCA,” Art Gillaspy, chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling, said. “I am very proud of our faculty and students for this accomplishment.”
The Department of Psychology and Counseling has been educating mental health professionals since the 1970s. The counseling psychology program started in 2008 to meet the increasing demand for psychological services in Arkansas and the U.S. The program currently accepts four to five students per year. To date, seven students have graduated and six have stayed in Arkansas to practice.
The department also offers a master’s in mental health counseling, as well as a post-master’s certificate and undergraduate degrees. UCA’s school psychology program, which offers a doctorate and a master’s, started in 2001 and was accredited in 2006.