Accreditation
The Accreditation Commission is a constituent body of the Association, appointed by the Executive Board. It exercises two functions.
It accredits programs of education in psychosexual therapy. And it approves the providers of continuing education that certified members use to maintain their credential.
These are two different things, and neither confers the other.
Program accreditation applies to a program of education. It is assessed against the IAPST Standards for Accreditation, which set out fifty-three curriculum domains in nine areas, a minimum of 200 hours of instruction, and requirements for assessment, faculty, and where a program delivers it, supervision. Graduates of an accredited program have satisfied the educational requirement for certification as a Certified Psychosexual Therapist.
Continuing education provider approval applies to a provider and the offerings it delivers. It is assessed against the IAPST Standards for Continuing Education. Hours delivered by an approved provider count toward the five continuing education hours a certified member completes each year to renew. They do not count toward earning certification.
An accredited program that wishes to offer continuing education applies separately, on the same terms as any other provider.
| Comparison | Accreditation | CE provider approval |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | A program of education | A provider, and its offerings |
| Assessed against | Standards for Accreditation | Standards for Continuing Education |
| What it confers | Graduates satisfy the educational requirement for certification | Hours count toward maintaining certification |
| Term | Three years, then five, then ten | Two calendar years |
| The word used | A program is accredited | A provider is approved |