Accreditation and Approvals
State Licensure
California Southern University is a member of the American InterContinental University System, which is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.
Aimed at expanding distance education opportunities for students, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is an organization that establishes comparable national standards for the interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. California Southern University is a member of the American InterContinental University System, which has been approved to participate in NC-SARA.
Institutional Accreditation
California Southern University is a member of the American InterContinental University System. The System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Programmatic Accreditation
California Southern University’s Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Business Administration are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). www.acbsp.org
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). http://www.ccneaccreditation.org
Program Approvals
The California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) and the Education Board (CCAPP Institute) have granted approval to California Southern University’s Pre-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Addiction Studies (CPAS), Certificate Program in Advanced Addiction Studies (CPAAS), and MS in Psychology, with a Concentration in Advanced Addiction Studies.
The 315 hours of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specific Education provided by California Southern University’s Pre- Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Addiction Studies (CPAS) fulfills the educational requirement for the Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor I (CADC I) or Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor II (CADC II). The Certificate in Advanced Addiction Studies (CPAAS) provides 270 hours of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) specific education. The optional practicum experience may be required for some levels of certification. The MS in Psychology with a Concentration in Advanced Addiction Studies (MS, AAS) provides 360 hours of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) specific education required for the Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (LAADC).
Persons interested in certification are encouraged to contact the CCAPP Credentialing Board for a complete listing of all requirements and for more information at www.ccapp.us. Certification requirements vary by jurisdiction, type, and are subject to change. Individuals interested in eligibility for any other state or jurisdiction are encouraged to contact the appropriate regulatory authority directly for more information and to determine requirements.
California Southern University is recognized as an Approved Academic Education Provider for The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). The Certificate Program in Addiction Studies, Certificate Program in Advanced Addiction Studies, and the MS in Psychology, with a Concentration in Advanced Addiction Studies, meet nationally approved standards of education developed for the addiction/substance use disorders counseling profession. Program participants are assured that the continuing education (CE) credits provided will be accepted toward national credentialing by the NAADAC Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) as well as by many of the individual state licensing/certification bodies in the addiction and other helping professions.
Persons interested in national certification through NAADAC should contact www.naadac.org. Individuals interested in completing other jurisdictional requirements are encouraged to contact the appropriate regulatory authority directly for more information and to determine requirements.
Program Acceptances
The California Board of Psychology accepts California Southern University’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree as meeting the educational requirements for licensure as a psychologist in California. Persons interested in licensure are advised to contact the Board of Psychology in Sacramento, California to determine what other requirements may exist for licensure.
California Board of Psychology
1625 N Market Blvd # N-215, Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: 916.574.7720 | www.psychology.ca.gov
Licensure requirements vary by jurisdiction, license type, and are subject to change. Individuals interested in licensure in any other state or jurisdiction are encouraged to contact the appropriate State Board or licensing authority to determine requirements. If additional courses are required, please advise Learner Support Services for guidance.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts California Southern University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology, with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program as meeting the educational requirements for California licensure as both a marriage and family therapist (MFT) and licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). Persons interested in licensure are advised to contact the Board of Behavioral Sciences in Sacramento, California to obtain a complete listing of all requirements for licensure.
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
1625 N Market Blvd S-200, Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: 916.574.7830 | www.bbs.ca.gov
Licensure requirements vary by jurisdiction, license type, and are subject to change. Individuals interested in completing practicum or pursuing licensure in any other state or jurisdiction are encouraged to contact the appropriate State Board or licensing authority to determine requirements.
California Southern University is recognized by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to provide continuing education credit per BPC Section 1887.4.3. California MFT, LPCC, or LCSW licensed learners may earn California BBS CEU credit for any applicable master’s or doctoral level course from the School of Behavioral Sciences. The credit hour conversion is 15 hours for every one (1) semester credit earned. Please contact the Registrar or the School of Behavioral Sciences Programs Coordinator for more information.
Government Approvals
Regular enrolled learners attending CalSouthern who have Federal student loans from previously attended institutions are eligible for an in-school deferment of repayment of Federal Family Education Program Loans and Federal Direct Student Loans. This deferment is in effect while the learner is enrolled and making progress toward completing a CalSouthern degree program. The OPE ID Number is 02113600 assigned to the AIU System by the U.S. Department of Education.