Cycle applications
Education Providers are required to register their intention via a Notification of Intended Application at a time advised by APAC in the year prior to assessment and then submit a detailed Submission for Accreditation 3 months prior to the agreed scheduled visit.
APAC will consult with the education provider to develop a Site Visit Schedule. In cases where a site visit includes assessment of postgraduate professional programs with specialist content, the specialist content assessors should typically be scheduled for the last two days of the visit.
Out-of-cycle accreditation application (Application for initial accreditation)
Out-of-cycle accreditation assessments, occurring at any point in the five-year cycle period, result in the same monitoring requirements detailed above from cycle accreditation assessments.
Education Providers seeking accreditation for a new program, must first submit a Notice of Intent to APAC. For more information regarding the Notice of Intent process, please contact the APAC office.
Once the Notice of Intent is accepted, the education provider is required to provide a written self-assessment, including supporting documentation detailing how the proposed program meets the Accreditation Standards. This is completed using the Submission for Accreditation.
Education providers should be aware the accreditation process can take up to 12 months to complete. Once APAC has determined that a program is accredited, the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) will consider the program and decide whether to approve the program for the purpose of registration in Australia. Providers must await the approval decision prior to commencing a new program delivering Graduate Competencies at Level 3 and above (APAC Rules for Accreditation 2.3).
Additional Titles
Complete an Additional Program Title Form for an additional title with identical content/staffing/mode of delivery as that in an existing accredited program.
An additional title to an existing accredited program being offered online for the first time is regarded as a substantial change and requires completion of a Submission for Accreditation.
Contact the APAC office to discuss whether an application is required for an additional title to an existing accredited program being offered at a new campus.
Complete an Additional Program Title Form when combining an APAC-accredited program title with another program to make a double degree, for example Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)/Bachelor of Commerce.
Complete a Change of Program Title Form to change the name of an existing APAC accredited program.
Discontinued programs
Accredited psychology programs of study which will be, or have been discontinued, and are currently being taught-out, should maintain APAC accreditation until all students have completed the program. A new Discontinued Program Application Form is to be submitted for each discontinued program.
Discontinued psychology programs can only receive a grade of Accreditation with Conditions. Conditional accreditation is for a maximum twelve month period. The education provider should re-apply for conditional accreditation each year until there are no students enrolled in the program. Application for conditional accreditation for a discontinued program is made by completing this form. Applications are to be received by APAC no later than two months prior to expiry of accreditation of that discontinued program.
Should the accreditation of a program be allowed to expire by virtue of a failure to re-apply for accreditation (or because APAC revokes its accreditation), there is a risk that any student subsequently completing the program of study requirements and graduating from the program may not be considered by the Psychology Board of Australia in the future to hold an APAC-accredited qualification.
Note: A program with a change to the program code but with the same title and content does not need to be discontinued.
