What Is the American Psychological Association (APA) and How Does APA Approval Affect Continuing Education for Psychologists?

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest professional organization for psychologists in the United States, and it operates a sponsor approval system for continuing education. When a provider says it is "approved by the APA to sponsor continuing education for psychologists," it means the organization has been authorized to offer CE credits that count toward APA-related requirements. This matters most if you are a psychologist who needs APA-recognized CE credits for license renewal, credential maintenance, or employer requirements. If you are a counselor, social worker, or addiction professional, APA approval may not apply to you—you would look for approvals from bodies like NBCC or ASWB instead.

What the APA Is and What It Does

The APA is a professional membership and standard-setting organization for psychology. Its activities include:

• Publishing research journals and treatment guidelines
• Setting ethical standards, such as the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
• Accrediting doctoral training programs and internships
• Operating a continuing education sponsor approval system

For CE purposes, the relevant function is the sponsor approval system: the APA reviews organizations that want to offer continuing education and, if approved, allows them to award CE credits to psychologists.

What "APA-Approved CE Sponsor" Means

When a provider is approved by the APA to sponsor continuing education, it can:

• Offer courses that carry APA-recognized CE credit
• Award credit hours to psychologists who complete those courses
• State that it "maintains responsibility for this program and its content"

That last phrase is not boilerplate. APA-approved sponsors must take responsibility for the quality and content of the programs they offer. If you see a provider claiming APA approval, look for that responsibility statement—it signals the provider is following the APA sponsor requirements.

One important limit: APA approval applies to the sponsor, not automatically to every course on the site. A provider might be APA-approved but still offer some courses that are not available for APA credit. For example, Genesis Continuing Education notes that one of its ethics courses is "not available for CE for psychologists" even though the site overall is APA-approved. Always check the individual course page.

Why APA Approval Matters When Choosing CE

APA approval matters if:

• Your state licensing board requires APA-approved CE for psychologists
• You hold a credential that requires APA-recognized CE
• Your employer or professional liability insurer specifies APA-approved CE
• You want consistency across states if you are licensed in more than one

It matters less if:

• Your license renewal accepts CE from any approved provider regardless of the approving body
• You are not a psychologist (counselors, MFTs, social workers, and addiction professionals typically use NBCC, ASWB, or state-specific approvals)

The practical rule: check your state board's requirements first, then match the provider's approval to what your board accepts.

How APA Approval Differs from NBCC and ASWB

Different mental health professions use different approval bodies. The table below summarizes the general pattern.

These are not interchangeable. A course approved by NBCC may not count for APA credit, and vice versa. Some providers hold multiple approvals so they can serve several professions. Genesis Continuing Education, for example, describes itself as approved by the APA to sponsor continuing education for psychologists and also lists courses tied to NBCC and other sources.

If you are a psychologist, APA approval is the one to verify. If you are a counselor, check NBCC. If you are a social worker, check ASWB or your state board.

How to Verify a Provider's APA Approval

Before enrolling, take these steps:

1. Check the provider's approval statement. Look for language like "approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists" and the responsibility statement.
2. Check the individual course. Confirm the specific course is offered for APA credit, not just the site overall.
3. Check your state board's rules. Some boards require APA-approved CE; others accept a broader range. The provider's approval only helps if it matches what your board accepts.
4. Check the credit type and hours. Confirm whether the course awards CE credits or clock hours and how many.
5. Keep your completion documentation. You will likely need certificates or transcripts if your board audits your CE.

Where to Find APA-Approved CE Courses

APA-approved CE is offered by a range of providers, including professional associations, university-based programs, and independent CE companies. Genesis Continuing Education is one example: it offers online CE for psychologists, LCSWs, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and addiction professionals, and states that it is approved by the APA to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

When browsing any provider, look for:

• A clear APA approval statement
• Per-course indication of APA credit availability
• The number of CE credits or clock hours
• The cost and any membership requirements
• Completion requirements (for example, post-test or evaluation)

Genesis CE notes that most courses are based on books by respected authors and that it does not benefit from book sales, which are not included. It also states that courses can be completed whenever you want, with no time limit. Those are provider-specific details—verify them on the course page before enrolling.

What to Check Before Enrolling

Use this checklist:

• [ ] Does my state board require APA-approved CE for psychologists?
• [ ] Is the provider APA-approved to sponsor CE for psychologists?
• [ ] Is this specific course offered for APA credit?
• [ ] How many CE credits or clock hours does it award?
• [ ] What is the total cost, including any membership or materials?
• [ ] What are the completion and documentation requirements?
• [ ] Does the course content match my renewal or professional development needs?

If you can answer yes to the approval and course-specific questions, and the cost and content fit your needs, the course is a reasonable candidate. If any answer is unclear, contact the provider before paying.