Transfer/Advanced Standing Credit Policy

It may be possible to transfer credits successfully completed at another regionally accredited institution to the Psy.D. program.  There are two options for transfer: one for those who have graduate credits without a completed graduate degree in a related field, and one for those with a completed graduate degree in a related field. Please note that the program includes a minimum of three (3) full-time academic years of graduate study at Union Institute & University, with the equivalent of one (1) year of full-time residency at UI&U.  The Psy.D. program is a 124 credit hour degree program.

A. Bachelor’s degree only: Applicants may be eligible to transfer up to 12 credits of graduate coursework completed at another regionally accredited institution to the Psy.D. program.  The transfer coursework must have been:

Please note: life experience, workshops, seminars, and individual learning programs do not qualify for transfer credit.

All requests for acceptance of course transfer are handled individually. Learners without a prior master's degree in a related field are required to take a minimum of 112 credits at UI&U. Transfer of credits must be requested by petition after the learner has been formally admitted to the program and prior to the beginning of the learner’s first term in the program (Transfer/Advanced Standing Petition Form). If your petition is approved, you are strongly encouraged to replace the waived course with other work toward the degree.  The following process should be followed in petitioning for acceptance of course transfer/waiver:

  1. Present a written petition to the director of clinical training, which includes the course syllabus and any other pertinent materials.
  2. Have an official transcript sent to the program from your previous institution(s), if it is not on record with UI&U as part of your admissions application.
  3. The director of clinical training will forward your petition to the Psy.D. program faculty member who teaches the UI&U course. The submitted material must demonstrate that the prior coursework meets at least 75% of the current course content offered by the Psy.D. program. The faculty member will evaluate the materials and make a recommendation to the director of clinical training.
  4. The director of clinical training will notify you of his/her decision, which is final. 

Learners may not transfer credit for any of the following courses:


B. Master’s degree in a related field: Applicants with a completed graduate degree may apply for advanced standing in the Psy.D. program, potentially enabling them to enter the program with the status of a second year learner. Advanced standing will be granted only to learners who meet the follow criteria:


Advanced standing must be requested by petition after the learner has been formally admitted to the program and prior to the beginning of the learner’s first term in the program.  Advanced standing requests are handled on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by both the director of clinical training (DCT) and the associate dean of psychology. Learners will be allowed to transfer up to 30 credits of successfully completed academic coursework, including up to six (6) credits of practicum. Coursework approval will follow the same process as specified for course transfer credit. Learners may not transfer credit for any of the content courses specified in that section.

Advanced standing learners will need to meet the following requirements in the program:


Advanced standing learners may be eligible to receive up to six (6) credits for successfully completed practica experiences, waiving up to one year (up to 800 hours) of practicum. These prior clinical experiences and supervision must meet the current Psy.D. program practicum criteria. All requests for practicum waivers will be reviewed and must be approved by the director of clinical training. This approval process will include a review of all academic work as well as placement summaries and supervisors’ reports from all practica experiences. The petition must include, but not be limited to:


All transfer credits accepted toward the degree program are used to determine the remaining maximum timeframe and are included in the total of 124 required credits.  Transfer credits are not calculated in the GPA. In both A & B above, the decision of the director of clinical training is final.

Transferability of Credit

Learners should be aware that decisions about acceptance of credit in transfer are up to the receiving institution. There is no guarantee that credits earned while enrolled in Union Institute & University’s Psy.D. program will be accepted by another educational institution.