Institutional Accreditation
Pacifica is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). More information on Pacifica’s accreditation is available here.
State Authorizations
The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions offering distance education to comply with state regulations. At Pacifica Graduate Institute, we understand that regulations for distance education vary by state. To comply with these regulations, we have obtained specific state authorizations for the relevant programs. Below is the current status of our authorizations (or exemptions), which we regularly update to reflect any changes.
Non-Licensure Programs—Currently Accepting New Students from Limited
States:
Each program listed below has specific state authorizations/exemptions:
- MA Depth Psychology and Creativity
- MA/PhD Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies
- PhD Integrative Therapy & Healing Practices
- MA/PhD Jungian & Archetypal Studies
- MA/PhD Mythological Studies
- MA/PhD Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness (Currently pending approval from the Department of Education. Prospective students should be aware that this status may affect eligibility and other factors related to enrollment.)
Pacifica Graduate Institute is authorized to enroll students from the following states for our non-licensure programs listed above (Please note that our licensure programs are NOT authorized in the following states):
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Illinois
- Minnesota (only for MA/PhD Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and EcoPsychologies, and MA/PhD Mythological Studies)
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
Non-Licensure Programs–States Seeking Authorization:
Prospective students residing in the following states are encouraged to contact our Admissions Office for the latest status of authorizations in these states:
- New York
Licensure Programs–New Federal Regulations (Effective July 1, 2024):
The following Pacifica programs are designed to lead to professional licensure or certification following graduation:
- MA in Counseling Psychology
- PsyD in Counseling Psychology
- MA/PhD in Clinical Psychology
Aside from the state authorization permissions described above, in accordance with a new rule issued by the Department of Education and effective on July 1, 2024, with limited exceptions, an institution may not enroll students by distance education in a program that leads to occupational licensure unless the institution has confirmed the program meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state in which the student is located upon enrollment or attests they intend to seek employment after graduating.
- For our MA/Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program, students are responsible for staying informed about non-educational licensure requirements.
- Our MA in Counseling Psychology meets all California educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. However, students are responsible for staying informed about non-educational licensure regulations.
- For our PsyD in Counseling Psychology program, students are responsible for staying informed about non-educational licensure requirements.
Responsibility of Students:
Current students are responsible for understanding and complying with any noneducational licensure requirements, and for staying abreast of changes to all licensure requirements. We recommend consulting with state licensure boards or legal advisors for the most current and relevant information.
