Frequently Asked Questions 
PCOM PsyD Program

The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program in School Psychology is an innovative, applied professional psychology program designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree in psychology (or closely related field) and, or, a MA/MS degree who are committed to working with children, youth and families in educational settings. The PsyD program consists of a minimum of 111 credit hours.

1. PCOM strives to bring the best of the discipline and practice of school psychology by providing a comprehensive, integrated, state-of-the-art program of study in a student-centered supportive learning environment involving exciting courses, highly credentialed and qualified faculty, along with well-supervised field experiences.
2. PCOM offers an emphasis in behavioral pediatrics, cognitive behavioral therapy, applied behavior analysis, and advanced assessment.
3. The PsyD program fulfills coursework requirements for 3 practice credentials: School Psychology Certification, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Licensing as a Doctoral Level Psychologist. See state licensing disclosures.
4. PCOM can enrich your education with opportunities for interprofessional education with other disciplines found within a medical college.
5. PCOM has a state-of-the-art Clinical Learning and Assessment Center that offers simulated learning experiences.
6. PCOM's modern campus is conveniently located in the city of Philadelphia.

Yes, you may still apply to the program. The program may allow you to transfer up to 30 credits from your previous program providing you meet certain criteria as determined in consultation with the program director.

The program is a minimum 5-year commitment, with the last year being a full year (or half-time over two years) internship. The curriculum is sequential, cumulative and graded in complexity, with each year building upon the knowledge acquired from the previous year. The required dissertation is designed to be completed prior to the end of the internship.

Student loans, scholarships and other resources may be available. Learn more about financial aid at PCOM.

VIEW COST OF ATTENDANCE

While the majority of the courses are offered in the late afternoon/early evening (and some weekends), there will be some day courses and/or other commitments throughout the program. In particular, the second, third, fourth and fifth years of the program will require field training. As school psychologists' primary roles are in schools, this would require the student to spend two or more days out of the week in a school setting being supervised by an appropriately credentialed psychologist.

Using a practitioner-scholar model of training, the School Psychology program integrates cognitive behavior therapy and applied behavior analysis with advanced assessments/interventions (i.e., neuropsychology in the schools) in the training of school psychologists to work with children, families and schools.

Faculty engagement and mentoring of students is a core component of the School Psychology PsyD program. The Program Director and Director of Clinical Training provide primary advisement during the first two years in the program. Once a dissertation topic is finalized, primary advisement shifts to the student’s Dissertation Chair. All faculty are available to students to answer questions and provide guidance.

PCOM has rolling admissions; therefore, a potential student can apply at any time throughout the academic year. Please note, for a guaranteed review of application and possible early acceptance, potential students are encouraged to apply early in the process.

VIEW APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

PCOM’s PsyD program in School Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Our next required site visit is in 2033.

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Phone: 202-336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
accreditation.apa.org/contact

The PsyD program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as an approved Institute of Higher Education (IHE) for the school psychology certification program. The PsyD program is also fully accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

PCOM school psychology programs have been designed to meet the BCBA® exam Pathway 2 coursework requirements. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements to qualify for BCBA credential. Current and prospective students must submit an approvable application by December 31, 2026, to be eligible under the current (2022) coursework requirements. Effective January 1, 2027, new eligibility requirements will take effect for students applying via Pathway 2. Please review the BACB website for details about certification requirements and contact Dr. Jessica Kendorski if you have questions about your coursework and eligibility requirements.