Accreditation is both a status and a process.
As a status, accreditation provides public notification that an institution or program meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting agency. As a process, accreditation reflects the fact that in achieving recognition by the accrediting agency, the institution or program is committed to self study and external review by one's peers in seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of education and training provided. It also publishes annually in the American Psychologist a list of accredited programs. Two members are non-psychologists and represent the public's interest. One member is a psychology graduate student representing the American Psychological Association's Graduate Students.