An institution with authority to grant a doctoral degree is not necessarily providing high quality training. Accreditation is one indicator of quality. Institutional accreditation, which certifies that an educational institution has met minimum standards of quality appropriate for post secondary education, is granted by seven regional accrediting organizations. Specialized accreditation pertains to professional and technical programs of post secondary education and training on a national basis. In the field of psychology, specialized accreditation is granted by the American Psychological Association.
Accreditation is a voluntary process.
Graduation from a non-accredited program does not prevent licensing or employment in most states. To be licensed as a clinical psychologist in some states, however, you must have graduated from an APA-approved doctoral program and internship. Graduation from an APA-accredited doctoral program is not a guarantee of licensure, certification, or employment, but it may help. Some employers prefer graduates of accredited programs.