What Does "APA Approved" Mean for Continuing Education Courses?
"APA approved" means the American Psychological Association has recognized a continuing education (CE) provider as an approved sponsor of CE for psychologists. When you see this phrase on a course page, it signals that the provider has agreed to meet APA's standards for CE content and that the provider—not the APA—takes responsibility for the quality of that specific program. For psychologists who need CE credits to renew a license, this approval is usually what makes a course eligible to count. It does not automatically mean the course will satisfy your state board's requirements, and it does not apply to every mental health profession.
Who APA approval is actually for
APA approval is designed for psychologists. Other licensed professionals typically need approval from a different body:
| Profession | Typical approving body for CE |
|---|---|
| Psychologists | American Psychological Association (APA) |
| Licensed clinical social workers | Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) |
| Mental health counselors | National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) |
| Marriage and family therapists | Often a state or professional association, depending on the state |
If you are an LCSW or a counselor, an "APA approved" course may not count toward your renewal even though it is legitimate CE for a psychologist. Check the approval that matches your license.
What the approval statement should say
A real APA sponsor statement is specific. On Genesis Continuing Education, for example, the site states: "The Genesis Continuing Education Group is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Genesis Continuing Education Group maintains responsibility for this program and its content."
That second sentence matters. Under APA's sponsor model, the APA approves the provider, and the provider is accountable for each course's content. So "APA approved" is really shorthand for "this provider is an APA-approved sponsor, and this course is offered under that sponsorship."
Be cautious with pages that only display a logo or the words "APA approved" without a full sponsor statement. The complete sentence is what tells you the provider is claiming approved-sponsor status and accepting responsibility for the program.
How to confirm a course will count for you
- Find the sponsor statement. Look on the course page or the provider's approval page for the full APA sponsor language, not just a badge.
- Match the approval to your license. Confirm the approval body is the one your state board recognizes for your profession.
- Check your state board's rules. State psychology boards set their own CE requirements, including how many hours, which topics, and whether online or home-study courses are accepted. APA sponsorship is often necessary but not always sufficient.
- Confirm the credit type and amount. Verify the course awards the CE or clock hours you need, and that the topic fits any category requirements (for example, ethics).
- Keep your documentation. Save the certificate and course details in case your board requests proof during renewal.
Common points of confusion
- "APA approved" vs. "APA accredited." Accreditation applies to graduate training programs, not to individual CE courses. For CE, the correct term is approved sponsor.
- One approval does not cover all professions. A course can be APA approved and still be ineligible for social work or counseling credit.
- Free courses still need the right approval. Genesis CE lists free courses for 1 CE or 1 clock hour, including an ethics course based on the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Free does not mean automatically acceptable—check the approval and your board's rules. Note that one listed ethics course, based on the NBCC Code of Ethics, is explicitly not available for CE for psychologists.
- Provider responsibility is ongoing. Because the sponsor maintains responsibility for content, a provider's approval status and course list can change. Verify at the time you enroll.
Bottom line
"APA approved" tells you a CE provider is an APA-approved sponsor offering a program under that sponsorship, which is the standard route for psychologists to earn license-renewal credits. Before you enroll, read the full sponsor statement, confirm the approval matches your profession, and check your state board's specific CE rules—because APA approval alone does not guarantee a course will count for your renewal.