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Frequently Asked Questions
Resources for students, professionals and the public seeking information about accredited psychoanalytic institutes and training programs.
General Information
1. What is the ACPEinc?
2. What is the mission of the ACPEinc?
3. Why should an institute seek ACPEinc accreditation?
4. What are the advantages to candidates?
Accreditation Standards and Process
5. Does the ACPEinc require adherence to a specific school of psychoanalysis or a particular approach to psychoanalytic education?
6. How can an institute apply for ACPEinc accreditation?
7. What about new psychoanalytic training programs?
8. Which institutes are currently accredited?
Organizational Structure
9. Is there a fee for accreditation?
10. Can one contribute money to the ACPEinc?
11. How can one contact the ACPEinc?
General Information
1. What is the ACPEinc? The Accreditation Council for Psychoanalytic Education, Inc. is an autonomous accrediting body that was established in 2001 as a Delaware (USA) not-for-profit corporation to implement the Standards of Psychoanalytic Education that the Psychoanalytic Consortium had delineated. While it began as a project of the Consortium and continues to receive some – but not all – of its funding from members of the Consortium, the ACPEinc functions as an independent agency. It has a good chance of becoming the first independent psychoanalytic accrediting agency to achieve recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education (US DOE).
2. What is the mission of the ACPEinc? The ACPEinc has a twofold mission: to protect the public by evaluating and accrediting psychoanalytic training programs in the United States and to promote excellence in psychoanalytic education. By its accrediting function the ACPEinc aims to assure that training institutions educate practitioners of psychoanalysis to appropriate standards.
3. Why should an institute seek ACPEinc accreditation? It seems reasonable to believe that an institute that adheres to the core Standards of Psychoanalytic Education will welcome the opportunity to have the high quality of its program endorsed by an independent agency. The ACPEinc is that agency.
The self-study exercise that is the essential element of the application allows an institute to review for itself the extent to which it meets its own stated objectives. The site visit and reporting process afford an institute opportunities to view itself in the eyes of colleagues from other parts of the country. This provides affirmation and the basis for continuing self improvement.
ACPEinc accreditation immediately provides university-affiliated programs status equal to that of other advanced programs in graduate schools, which customarily require each such program to gain accreditation by its relevant independent review agency.
Eventually, successful participation in the ACPEinc accreditation process will allow both freestanding and university-affiliated institutes to present their psychoanalytic training programs as subspecialty Fellowships – or as education for a new health care specialty. This will consolidate the position of psychoanalysis in the world of academic professional training, in which accreditation by independent agencies such as the ACPEinc is the norm.
4. What are the advantages to candidates? ACPEinc accreditation assures prospective candidates that an institute that they may be considering provides appropriate training in the core elements of psychoanalytic theory and practice and an introduction to research in these areas. US DOE recognition will enhance the value of training in an ACPEinc accredited institute when that institute offers a subspecialty Fellowship for mental health professionals.
A candidate who is not a member of a core mental health profession or who chooses separate licensing as a psychoanalyst will be more likely autonomously to practice clinical psychoanalysis after graduation, even in restrictive regulatory environments. That is because US DOE recognition will significantly increase the probability that ACPEinc standards will inform future state licensing laws for psychoanalysts – and the regulations that implement both current and future laws.
Eventually, we anticipate, graduation from an ACPEinc accredited institute will confer eligibility to sit for national certification examinations.
Accreditation Standards and Process
5. Does the ACPEinc require adherence to a specific school of psychoanalysis or a particular approach to psychoanalytic education? The ACPEinc is aware that psychoanalysis is a rich and diverse profession and that its Standards may be implemented in various ways. We expect only that each institute will adhere to the core Standards and that it will implement its own standards and values in a coherent and consistent fashion.
6. How can an institute apply for ACPEinc accreditation? Our website, ACPEinc.org, contains a recommended Self Study document (as both *.doc and *.PDF files) and information about the process from application through accreditation. Institutes may request a mentor, who will often be a Trustee of the ACPEinc, to provide specific information, support and guidance.
7. What about new psychoanalytic training programs? The ACPEinc accredits only established institutes, but we will offer support and guidance to the founders of a new program from the earliest phase of their work, to help assure that their institute will, in due course, meet ACPEinc standards.
8. Which institutes are currently accredited? Please review the member chart of accredited institutes and training programs.
Current members include:Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis
International Institute for Psychoanalytic Training
Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute
New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
San Diego Psychoanalytic Institute
Organizational Structure
9. Is there a fee for accreditation? There is no application fee. Further, until it is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, the ACPEinc will process applications from selected institutes – to include site visits – without any charge.
10. Can one contribute money to the ACPEinc? Yes. The ACPEinc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and contributions are deductible from taxable income. We are immensely grateful to the generous donors – individuals and groups – who make our work possible.
11. How can one contact the ACPEinc? Visit www.ACPEinc.org and complete our online contact form, or email directly to Administrator@ACPEinc.org or to our President, Sheila Hafter Gray, at President@ACPEinc.org.