U.S. Department of Education recommends suspending APA accreditation

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) of the U.S. Department of Education has voted 7-4 to recommend the suspension of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) accreditation status. The recommendation targets Master’s and Doctoral level programs across the United States.

The committee cited the APA’s failure to address pervasive antisemitism within its organization, professional divisions, and public programming. Additionally, the NACIQI noted that the APA has allowed politically biased education, pedagogy, and training to influence the graduate programs it accredits.

If the Senior Department Official approves the recommendation, the APA Commission on Accreditation’s recognition would be suspended for 12 months. This decision raises questions regarding the immediate impact on currently accredited programs, federal grant funding, and state licensing requirements.

Separately, concerns have been raised regarding the American Bar Association (ABA) and its role in legal education and state licensure, specifically regarding the influence of social justice and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies on professional standards.