The Kane County Diagnostic Center Earns Prestigious APA Accreditation

KCDC Director Dr. Alexandra Tsang highlighted the impact of earning the accreditation, stating, “This prestigious recognition is the ‘gold standard’ in the field of health service psychology. It signifies that the program has met rigorous national standards for excellence in curriculum, faculty expertise, student resources, and clinical outcomes.”

This achievement marks a significant milestone for the program, which has already established a strong presence nationwide and in the Chicagoland area through its long-standing memberships in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and the Association of Chicago-Area Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (ACEPT) for diagnostic practicum training. Further leadership in the field is reflected in the fact that Dr. Elisa Lancaster, Director of Training, just became President-Elect of ACEPT.

​“Attaining APA accreditation is a monumental achievement for our staff and interns. This recognition is truly the result of a dedicated, full-team effort,” said Dr. Tsang. “It validates our commitment to providing a scientifically grounded, ethically driven education that prepares our graduates to serve as leaders in the field of clinical forensic psychology.” ​The program has earned a stellar reputation as a competitive forensic training site, offering specialized experience at the intersection of psychology and the legal system.

For interns, this accreditation is a critical milestone. Graduation from an APA-accredited internship program is often a requirement for state licensure, federal employment, and competitive postdoctoral fellowships. This status ensures that KCDC Internship graduates are equipped with the highest level of clinical skill and professional integrity.

The accreditation process involved an extensive self-study, a comprehensive site visit by a team of peer experts, and a rigorous review by the Commission on Accreditation to ensure compliance with the Standards of Accreditation in Health Service Psychology.“ ​This milestone reflects years of hard work and a relentless focus on quality and evidence-based practices,” added Dr. Tsang. “Our mission has always been to advance the field of clinical forensic psychology, and this status ensures our interns remain at the forefront of clinical practice and research.”

KCDC is the designated psychology department for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court and neighboring jurisdictions. It provides court-ordered psychological and forensic evaluations on adult and juvenile defendants, mandated treatment, crisis intervention, specialty court consultation, and expert testimony in judicial proceedings. It is an integral part of court services.

The APA Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) is the primary programmatic accreditor in the United States for professional education and training in psychology. It is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

About KCDC
The Kane County Diagnostic Center is the Psychology Department for the 16th Judicial Circuit. It provides psychological services to juvenile and adult offenders, which include: diagnostic evaluations, crisis intervention and individual, group and family psychotherapy.

The Diagnostic Center provides the Court with expert testimony as well as consultation and training for court, and correctional and probation staff. It assists the Merit Commission by conducting screening tests for Sheriff's Deputy, Correctional Officers and Court Security applicants and provides Adult Court Services with psychological evaluations on candidates for specialized field officer positions.​ APA accreditation further assures the community that KCDC meets national standards for excellence in training future psychologists.

For more information about KCDC and its internship program, visit the KCDC ​website​.