A small but growing number of U.S. doctoral programs hold APA accreditation and explicitly integrate Christian faith into their clinical psychology training. The APA Commission on Accreditation maintains a searchable database at apa.org. Verify status there before applying, since new programs earn accreditation regularly.
If your faith is central to how you approach psychology, you don’t have to choose between your beliefs and your credentials. A handful of U.S. institutions hold APA accreditation for doctoral programs that explicitly integrate Christian theology with clinical training, which means you can graduate with the credentials many state licensing boards require and the formation you’re looking for. One thing worth knowing upfront: the APA accredits specific doctoral programs, not universities. So a school’s Christian identity alone doesn’t tell you whether its clinical psychology program meets licensing requirements. The programs below have both. For a broader look at the field, see our list of the most affordable clinical psychology graduate programs.
Which APA-accredited program offers a Christian PhD in clinical psychology?
The longest-running option is Biola University’s Rosemead School of Psychology in La Mirada, California. Rosemead’s PhD in Clinical Psychology has held APA accreditation since 1980 and is widely regarded as the flagship of Christian clinical psychology training. The program prepares graduates for clinical practice, academic careers, and research from a framework that integrates biblical understanding of human nature with evidence-based psychology. Students complete coursework in psychology, theology, and integration seminars alongside a year-long, full-time APA-approved internship.
Which APA-accredited programs offer a Christian PsyD?
Five established programs offer APA-accredited PsyD degrees in clinical psychology with an explicit Christian integration model. Verify each program’s current accreditation status at apa.org before applying.
Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California, offers a PsyD through its Department of Graduate Psychology on a practitioner-scholar model with a Family Psychology emphasis, drawing on clinical training sites across Southern California.
Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, has the longest track record here. It was the first institution to earn APA accreditation for a Christian clinical psychology program, back in 1972. Its PsyD uses a practitioner-evaluator model. Graduates also earn two master’s degrees alongside the doctorate, one in psychology and one in Christian leadership.
George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, offers a five-year PsyD with emphasis tracks in Assessment, Health Psychology, Integration of Faith and Psychology, and Child and Adolescent Psychology.
Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, offers an on-campus PsyD that prepares students for state licensure as a clinical psychologist within a Christian integration framework.
Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, offers a PsyD with a practitioner-scholar model and an explicit focus on preparing psychologists to serve marginalized and underserved communities.
What should I look for when choosing a Christian clinical psychology program?
Confirm APA accreditation and verify at the source
Many state licensing boards strongly prefer or require graduation from an APA-accredited program, and psychologist licensing requirements vary by state. Most competitive APPIC member internship sites require applicants to come from APA or CPA-accredited doctoral programs. A program’s Christian integration model matters for your professional formation, but accreditation is what opens doors to internships, federal employment, and smoother licensure across state lines. The APA program database at apa.org is the authoritative source. Check it directly, not just in listings like this one, since programs are added as new institutions earn accreditation.
PhD vs. PsyD comes down to what you want to do after graduation
The PhD at Rosemead is the better fit if you want to pursue research, publish, or work in academic settings alongside clinical practice. The clinical psychology doctorate programs at the other institutions follow a practitioner model. Clinical skill development is the priority, the research component is lighter, and the path to licensure is more direct. Neither is the lesser degree. They prepare you for different versions of the same career.
Ask each program how Christian integration is delivered, not just stated
Most of these programs use a practitioner-scholar model. Fuller Seminary’s uses a practitioner-evaluator model. Beyond the label, ask programs directly how integration shows up week to week in the classroom, not just in the mission statement. The field has also grown recently, with institutions including Liberty University and Northwest Nazarene University earning initial APA accreditation in 2025 and 2026 for faith-integrated programs. The APA database at apa.org reflects the current full roster.
Use the tool below to compare accredited psychology programs by state, degree level, and concentration.