North Carolina Psychology Board May, 2006 I am currently working on a graduate degree in psychology online through XYZ University and would like to find out what the requirements are for licensure. The program in which I am enrolled is not APA accredited. Will I be able to obtain a North Carolina state license to practice psychology with a degree from this institution? The Board does not have the authority to approve, or disapprove, graduate training programs per se for licensure; it must evaluate each individual applicant’s program after an individual formally applies for licensure. Therefore, no staff member of the Board or the Board itself is able to review your proposed program to determine, prior to submission of an application, whether the program would meet requirements for licensure. While eligibility for licensure can sometimes be a complex question, the Board refers you to the requirements for licensure which are specified in the NC Psychology Practice Act and Board rules. For the doctoral level of licensure (Licensed Psychologist), see G.S. § 90-270.11(a) and 21 NCAC 54 .1803 (also see 21 NCAC 54 .2704 for health services provider requirements). For the master’s level of licensure (Licensed Psychological Associate), see G.S. § 90-270.11(b) and 21 NCAC .1802. The Practice Act and rules are available on the Board web site at http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/Office/PDFiles/PRACACT.pdf. For your information, the Board has reviewed applications of graduates who completed graduate programs which primarily provided instruction online. Under Board rules, in situations where individuals have applied for licensure having graduated from non-APA accredited programs which provide online instruction as the primary mode of instruction, the North Carolina Psychology Board has denied the applications. Some of the reasons for the denial, based upon Board rule, include, but are not limited to the fact that a program must have “an identifiable body of students in residence at the institution . . .” and “an identifiable full-time psychology faculty in residence at the institution . . . providing instruction at the home campus of the institution”; and that the program include one year’s residency which is defined as 30 semester (45 quarter) hours taken on a full-time or part-time basis at the institution.” The Board has not determined that instruction provided on computer in one's home or another location which is not at the institution is the equivalent of being “at the institution.” In addition to requirements in rule regarding the faculty and students having to be in residence at the institution and requirements related to the provisions for residency, the applicant’s degree program must meet all other provisions set forth in rule.