Virginia State University Secures Top-Tier 10-Year APA Accreditation For Clinical Health Psychology Ph.D. Program

The recognition positions VSU among a limited number of HBCUs nationwide with an APA-accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology.

Virginia State University is proud to announce that its Clinical Health Psychology Ph.D. program has earned a 10-year accreditation in clinical psychology from the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA), the highest level of recognition awarded by the Commission. VSU joins a small number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide with APA-accredited doctoral programs in clinical psychology.

The accreditation followed the Commission’s rigorous review process, which recognized the quality of training provided by the program and its compliance with national Standards of Accreditation. The Commission also noted the program’s scientist-practitioner training model, led by highly qualified faculty who provide students with broad clinical training and specialized instruction in health psychology.

“APA accreditation is the gold standard in psychology education and a critical step for students pursuing licensure as psychologists,” said Dr. Katrina L. Walker, Associate Professor and Director of the Clinical Health Psychology Ph.D. Program. “This achievement reflects VSU’s commitment to expanding opportunities for future generations of diverse psychologists, especially students from historically underrepresented communities. It affirms that our program provides rigorous, ethical, and culturally responsive training that prepares graduates to serve with excellence and compassion.”

The VSU Clinical Health Psychology program provides students with comprehensive training in psychological theory, research methods, ethics, and clinical practice. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct psychological assessments and support the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical illness and psychological disorders.

Virginia State University has a long-standing tradition of preparing students for careers in health-service fields, and this accreditation strengthens the University’s ability to prepare the next generation of clinical psychologists. The accreditation is retroactively effective as of November 11, 2025, with the Commission scheduled to conduct its next review in 2035.

Prospective students and others interested in learning more about the program and its admission requirements are encouraged to visit the VSU Clinical Health Psychology program webpage.