School Psychology Program Receives National Accreditation

PLATTSBURGH, NY (11/23/2009)(readMedia)-- A new accreditation will open doors for SUNY Plattsburgh graduate students working toward degrees in psychology, giving those degrees recognition across the country.

The National Association of School Psychology has awarded full accreditation to the college's Master of Arts/Certificate of Advanced Study program in school psychology after reviewing the curriculum and data collected on student performance.

"This accreditation signifies that Plattsburgh's school psychology graduate program meets or exceeds the standards of training established by NASP and qualifies students to work virtually anywhere in the country," said Dr. Dale Phillips, the associate professor of the psychology who headed the accreditation efforts.

Candidates who graduate from a program with NASP-approved status are automatically eligible for the National Certificate in School Psychology, pending the attainment of a passing score on the Praxis II Examination in school psychology and documentation of an internship consistent with NASP standards.

"The NASP creates a good set of professional standards for students," said Dr. Patricia Egan, associate professor of psychology. "We owe it to our students to be accredited."

"This achievement is the result of years of effort by the faculty of the school psychology program with the support of the entire psychology department and chairs. Deans Kathleen Lavoie and David Hill have been critical to this success," added Phillips.

The three-year program includes two years of hands-on work in schools, with the final year spent interning full time at a school.