FAQs for CE Sponsor Approval

Where do I begin?

Becoming an approved sponsor is normally resource-intensive for both the applicants and reviewers. Applicants and approved sponsors can moderate this process by doing the following:

• Refer to the submission deadlines on the website for your own planning purposes (e.g., based on the application cycle for which you intend to apply).
• Use the Online Application System (OAS) pre-checklist (PDF, 116KB)opens in new window to aid your preparation. Prepare and convert documents to PDF in advance to save time. Documents must be submitted (in .pdf format only) in the OAS. The CESA office will not accept emailed or mailed attachments as application addenda.
• Consider submitting a draft application for feedback. CESA accepts draft applications for review in hard-copy format, and begins accepting drafts 75 days prior, and up to 45 days prior to the application due date. Review by staff does not guarantee approval by the committee. Drafts will not be returned and incomplete draft applications will not be reviewed. Be mindful of formatting and be consistent throughout the application.
• Plan for the time needed for the entire review process. Review the estimated turnaround time for CESA application cycles.

What is necessary for inclusion within the application?

Read the standards and criteria (PDF, 316KB)opens in new window and review the application support materials on our webpage — this information can be extremely useful for helping you to write learning objectives, justifications, etc.

Answer all the questions in narrative form when required. Some of the questions for each standard and criterion require both a sample and a narrative description. Providing a sample does not replace, but exemplifies a good narrative justification.

Can I still get approved if I have not yet offered a CE program?

It is possible to become approved without having offered a CE program. However, you must be able to answer all questions within the application about the programs you plan to offer in the future so that the Committee will be able to determine your compliance with the Standards and Criteria. Although the application specifically asks for information about programs offered in the past year, new applicants should instead provide information for programs they intend to offer in the future if there have been no programs offered in the past.

New applicants that intend to offer both live and homestudy programs must submit both the CESA application and the homestudy supplemental application. All program components must be fully developed before the organization is considered for APA approval. New applicants must request a profileopens in new window to gain access to the Online Application System (OAS).

What about review reports and fees? What will be required of our organization once our application has been reviewed?

Following application reviews by the Continuing Education Committee (CEC), organizations' individual review reports will become available within the OAS. The review report will include any comments or concerns that were identified by the CEC, and should be read in conjunction with the standards and criteria. Some sponsors will also be responsible for additional fees – login to the OASopens in new window to determine if you have additional fees that must be paid to remain in compliance.

Sponsors are required to respond only to each of the comments and concerns that are listed in the review report (in accordance with standards A-G), and must do so by logging into the OAS.

Is it correct that I would be seeking APA approval to sponsor continuing education for psychologists (is that the formal designation?)

Yes. APA's CEC does not approve individual continuing education programs; approval is at the organizational level. As such, the application focuses on the capacity of the organization to deliver continuing education consistent with the standards and criteria.

Is there a statement for use by organizations whose approval is pending?

No, APA's CESA Office does not have an approved statement for use by organizations who have submitted applications to become approved sponsors.

Is there an application to use if I only want to offer homestudy programs?

Yes. The Homestudy Only Application should be completed by applicants intending only to conduct continuing education (CE) programs which do not allow for live interaction with presenters.

Are teleconferences considered homestudy?

Homestudy is defined as any program where there is no ability for live interaction with the presenter.

• If participants in the course can interact with the instructor and ask questions in real time, then it is considered a live program.
• If the course is not in real time (e.g., prerecorded), then it is considered a homestudy program. You must submit a Homestudy Supplemental Application and receive APA CE Sponsor Approval (CESA) before you can offer this program type.

Note: in some instances, a program may be both live and homestudy – e.g., as well as live workshops or sessions, there are components that are ‘homework' and/or conducted off-site without the interaction of a presenter. In this instance, sponsors/applicants will need to complete both the CESA and Homestudy Supplemental applications.

I want to offer a new course type — homestudy — that I have not received APA approval to sponsor. Do I need to submit this new program information for review and approval?

Yes. You need to submit the Homestudy Supplemental Application and receive approval before homestudy programs can be offered.

Homestudy applications will only be accepted and reviewed during the two regularly scheduled annual review cycles. You must answer all applicable questions, submit all the necessary attachments along with the relevant application fee (see the CESA Fees webpage), and this material will be sent to APA's Continuing Education Committee (CEC) for review. If the material appears to meet the criteria, homestudy will become a part of your existing approval.

However, if you want to newly conduct homestudy and you also have an application due at the next cycle, you should complete both the CESA Application and Homestudy Supplemental Application to renew your current status as an approved sponsor and to apply for homestudy approval.

I want to offer a new course that was not listed on my original application. Do I need to submit this new program information for review and approval?

No. APA's CEC does not review or approve individual programs. As an approved sponsor, all programs you offer for CE to psychologists must meet the requirements as outlined in the Standards and Criteria (PDF, 316KB)opens in new window manual which should be reviewed by both the CESA administrator and psychologist involved in program planning for compliance.

Acceptable programs must adhere to the definition of "continuing education" in that they improve service to the public and enhance contributions to the profession. The responsibility remains on the sponsor to adequately establish the bridge between program content and the elements of the criteria. The more distant a topic appears from core disciplinary knowledge, the greater the responsibility of the sponsor to demonstrate the connection to improvement of services to the public and contributions to the profession.

What are the responsibilities associated with being an approved sponsor?

APA-approved sponsors of continuing education for psychologists must maintain a variety of responsibilities. Each of these responsibilities - including adhering to the standards and criteria, paying scheduled fees, responding in a timely manner to review report(s), and submitting annual report(s) — are detailed in the Policies and Procedures Manual (PDF, 257KB)opens in new window under the terms of approval.

What is the best way to stay up-to-date with our responsibilities as an approved sponsor?

CESA is now paperless. Invoices and reminder notices to current sponsors regarding upcoming deadlines will now be sent to the primary email address of the contact person on file. To ensure timely receipt of your reports and fees, ensure contact information is up-to-date by verifying this information in the Online Application System (OAS)opens in new window and be sure to begin the application or annual reporting process with sufficient time to submit by the deadlines.

You may also log into the online application system (OAS) at any time to check your organization's current status and ensure that all payments and application/annual report submissions are complete. If you ever have questions concerning the status of your organization or regarding deadlines, you may contact our office at (202) 336-5991, option 1. To ensure that we are able to assist you promptly, it is important that everyone on your committee/team knows the name of the organization as it was indicated on your most recent application or profile update request.

Where can I find information regarding deadlines for application and annual report submissions?

Details about applications and the calendar of due dates are available both on the CESA resources page, and within the OAS. Fee information may be found on our fees webpage and are also located within the payments tab on your OAS account. Timely submission of payments, annual reports, review report responses and applications are important. By submitting materials on time, you can avoid probation and termination.

What is required with the submission of my annual report?

Annual reports must be submitted online with the promotional materials that support each program offered in the past year. Promotional materials include brochures, relevant webpages and emails that are used to advertise your programs. Remember that all attachments uploaded to the OAS must be in .pdf format, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Incomplete annual reports will not be accepted. Please be reminded that your ongoing approval and receipt of your annual certificate of approval are contingent upon our office receiving your completed reports.

We recommend that you review Promotional Material Do's and Don'ts (PDF, 38KB)opens in new window for additional information about how to advertise CE programs offered by approved sponsors. You may also refer to oneopens in new window (PDF, 207KB) of twoopens in new window (PDF, 140KB) sample promotional materials for guidance when creating promotional materials specific to your organization and CE programs.

When will my approval expire?

APA's Continuing Education Committee (CEC) reviews applications during their meetings that occur each spring and fall, usually within the months of April and September. New sponsors may receive approval for two years; renewing sponsors may be awarded approval for up to five years.

The Office of CE Sponsor Approval makes available within ten (10) weeks following the meeting, a report of the committee's comments and concerns. This Review Report will be made available under the applications tab in the OAS once the review has been completed. To maintain approval, it is required that sponsors respond to the Committee's concerns and comments by submitting a written response to the review report within 30 days.

Please note that continued approval as a sponsor remains contingent upon the submission of the annual report and annual fee. Once both requirements have been fulfilled, a certificate of approval will be issued, valid for one year.

Why is my certificate only valid for one year when I was approved for a longer duration?

The certificate you received is accurate. Approved sponsors are required to send an annual report and submit fees each year (respective to their length of approval); therefore, certificates which indicate your status as an APA-approved sponsor will expire in one year. Regardless of whether you have received approval for one, two, or five years, approved sponsors will receive a new certificate once these annual obligations have been satisfied.

If I have not offered any CE programs in the past year, do I still need to submit an annual report to the Office of CE Sponsor Approval?

Yes. In years in which an annual report is due, you still need to log into the CESA OAS to access the annual report tab to indicate that no activities have been offered in the past year.

In years in which a renewal application is due, sponsors are required to submit an application (rather than the annual report) if they wish to continue their approval.

I was recently appointed as the point of contact for our APA sponsor approval by my organization, but my predecessor left no instructions. Where do I begin?

In order to become fully acquainted with what is required of APA-approved sponsors, please review the Policies and Procedures Manual (PDF, 257KB)opens in new window and the Standards and Criteria (PDF, 316KB)opens in new window manuals, and visit the CESA website for additional resources.

If you have further questions, please email CESA for assistance.

Do I need to notify the CESA office when our organization has a change in personnel for the primary point of contact (POC)?

Yes, if any contact information changes, then approved sponsors must update this information immediately. It is crucial that records are accurately maintained and consistently updated. The CESA Office will contact the POC with reminders about upcoming deadlines for reports, fees and applications. While your organization is responsible for adhering to the policies and procedures, these courtesy emails from the CESA Office can aid in preventing consequences such as termination of approval for non-submission of payment and/or reports.

Probation and termination notices will be sent to the email address of the individual we have listed on your CESA OAS profile and will not be reversed due to failure of an organization to provide updated information. General updates can be modified by the sponsor by accessing the CESA OAS. To update the contact person and/or email address(es) on file, please contact the CESA Office via email. Please be sure to include the organization name, new primary contact's first and last name, email address and phone number.

Note: Please ensure that OAS emails are designated ‘safe' and accepted by whomever is the POC so that courtesy emails do not get lost via spam filters.

I am the primary POC for our organization, but I do not handle payments. How do I pay our fees if I am the only person who has access to the CESA OAS?

If the individual who processes payments for your organization is not involved in other administrative processes and/or program planning pertaining to CE for your organization, this individual may not necessarily have access to your organization's OAS account. Because sponsors are not permitted to have more than two active contact persons on their OAS accounts, we recommend the following for making payment without access to the OAS:

• Ensure that you have appropriate internal communication within your organization. The POC (or other individual with access to the account) may provide the individual making the payment with a copy of the invoice that can be found under the Payments tab of the OAS. The individual making the payment may then use the invoice to submit the payment to APA via check, credit card payment via telephone at (202) 336-5807, option 1, or ACH/wire transfer. Please ensure that the individual making the payment references the CPID and Constituent ID numbers as found on the invoice.
• Contact the CESA office by email . Please note that we do not recommend sharing your login information with anyone. Should another individual require access to the OAS for administrative purposes, a request can be made to CESA, and these requests will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

What am I really being asked about in Standard A with regard to my statement of goals?

This question specifically asks applicants to relate their goals for doctoral-level psychologists with regard to their OWN organization, rather than a broad statement about health/other professionals or what their organization does in general. Consider how your organization directly meets the continuing education needs of doctoral-level psychologists. Remember that if your organization also meets the educational needs of other professionals (health or otherwise), it must be distinctly clear how you do this for doctoral-level psychologists in your APA application for sponsor approval.

What is the role of the program administrator?

In accordance with Standard B, Criterion 2, of the program management section of the Standards and Criteria (PDF, 316KB)opens in new window:

"Sponsors must have a clearly designated program administrator who is responsible for ensuring that the organization meets the standards described in this document."

Once an organization becomes an approved sponsor, the program administrator is responsible for reviewing the content of programs that may be created and offered after approval has been obtained. The program administrator ensures that your organization maintains a current and continuing awareness and knowledge of, and adherence to, APA CE Sponsor Approval Policies and Procedures Manual (PDF, 257KB)opens in new window.

Although the primary point of contact and program administrator may often be the same individual, it is not a requirement that these two roles be combined.

Does the CE program administrator have to be a psychologist?

No. However, at least one doctoral-level psychologist must be involved in all aspects of program planning and development.

Does the CE program administrator have to be the primary point of contact (POC)?

Your organization's primary POC is the sole individual who will receive email correspondence from our office. As only one individual will receive courtesy reminder and notification emails, be sure to assign the most appropriate individual who will share information to ensure deadlines are met. This individual must login periodically to the CESA online application system (OAS)opens in new window to review your organization's account and ensure responsibilities are fulfilled. Importantly, because only one individual will receive email correspondence from the CESA OAS, it is strongly recommended that all individuals involved in your organization's CE program regularly communicate.

For further clarification, please see the contact and correspondence information FAQs.

How do I engage in co-sponsorship with another organization?

Please refer to the CESA resources webpage to view the Co-sponsorship Requirements and Best Practice resource (PDF, 112KB)opens in new window. Review the CESA Glossary (PDF, 289KB)opens in new window to find our office's full definition of a co-sponsorship. You may also find an updated list of all current APA-approved sponsors online.opens in new window

If your organization is NOT an APA-approved sponsor : You may co-sponsor a CE activity with a currently approved sponsor. To engage in co-sponsorship, you may contact a current sponsor and indicate that you are interested in conducting a co-sponsorship. As a reminder, co-sponsorship is "the mutual planning of an activity by two or more organizations, which is not to be construed as lending or transferring approval status."

If your organization IS an APA-approved sponsor : You may co-sponsor a CE activity with another current APA-approved sponsor, or with an organization that is not an APA-approved sponsor. As a reminder, co-sponsorship is "the mutual planning of an activity by two or more organizations, which is not to be construed as lending or transferring approval status." Co-sponsorship does not permit the sponsor that is approved by APA to act as an approval body by reviewing a program or organization and then stating that it is, in turn, approved by APA. As an approved sponsor, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that all of the Standards and Criteria for Approval of Sponsors of Continuing Education for Psychologists (PDF, 139KB)opens in new window of the APA's Office of CE Sponsor Approval are met.

Although a written co-sponsorship agreement is not required, it is recommended that you have one in order to delineate the responsibilities of each organization.

If collaboration is between two or more approved sponsors, only one sponsor should maintain responsibility for the program (i.e., only one sponsor's approval statement appears on promotional materials, only one sponsor issues certificates, only one sponsor reports the program in the annual report or application, etc.).

Are there any resources your office has available that may be of assistance with Standard B?

Please refer to our resources for CE sponsor approval. Specifically, you will find a grievance procedure sample as a guide for creating a grievance procedure document appropriate to your organization. Please note that all grievance procedures must include contact information for the individual responsible for handling participant complaints.

You may also find the diversity for approved sponsors (PDF, 347KB)opens in new window document helpful in illustrating the process in which your organization selects instructors and develops program content that respects all aspects of diversity. Please also see the Continuing Education Committee's APA Annual Convention presentation, "Methods for Teaching Diversity to Students and Lifelong Learners" (PDF, 1.7MB)opens in new window .

What should our Continuing Education (CE) program learning objectives look like? Is there a specific number of learning objectives required for each course?

Rather than a description of topics to be covered, learning objectives should clearly define what the participant will know or be able to do as a result of having attended the program, and these objectives must be stated in measurable terms. Please refer to the guidelines for writing behavioral learning objectives (PDF, 34KB)opens in new window.

When determining how many Learning Objectives (LO) should be established, the following guidelines should be utilized (please note that there is no "correct" number of LO necessary for each course – the quality and quantity should be considered of LO for all programs, particularly for those longer than 8 hours):

• 2-3 LO for 1-3 hours
• 3-4 LO for 4-6 hours
• 5-6 LO for 7-8 hours

The application requests the submission of a curriculum vitae (CV) for instructors and psychologists who will be involved in program planning and implementation. Can a resume, biographical sketch or summary be used to satisfy this criterion?

No. A biographical sketch is an overview of the most important highlights of a person's education, work and other relevant experience. A full CV provides a complete and lengthy account of one's professional background and includes (but is not limited to) academic, research and fellowship information.

CESA recommends that you request CVs from your instructors in advance to ensure instructors can furnish the required information for your review prior to your final submission of the application.

Is it required that instructors be psychologists?

No. However, instructors must have expertise in the content area and be competent to teach the program at a level that builds upon a completed doctoral program in psychology. Please review the educational and technical assistance section following Standard C of the Standards and Criteria manual.

The standards and criteria state that each program offered for Continuing Education (CE) credit must be appropriate for doctoral-level psychologists – how can our organization make this determination?

Acceptable programs must adhere to the definition of continuing education in that they improve service to the public and enhance contributions to the profession. Programs that address the personal or professional well-being of the psychologist must also demonstrate how they meet the above definition. Acceptable programs must also adhere to the APA policy on the Quality Professional Development and Continuing Education Resolution.

Determination of eligibility is not made on the basis of topic alone. The responsibility is on the applicant to adequately establish the bridge between program content and the elements of the criteria. The more distant a topic appears from core disciplinary knowledge, the greater the responsibility of the sponsor to demonstrate the connection to improvement of services to the public and contributions to the profession.

Criteria and Processes for Determining Proposed Programs' CE-Eligibility may also be a helpful resource in making this determination.

Are books and textbooks appropriate references for CE programs?

CE programs must be grounded in an evidence-based approach. CE programs that are focused on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods must include content that is credibly supported by the most current scientific evidence. CE programs may also provide information related to ethical, legal, statutory or regulatory policies, guidelines and standards that impact psychology.

Each program must include at least three current (e.g., within the last 10 years), relevant references, in APA-style citation. These references should reflect the specific content and level of evidence required to meet the selected or appropriate Standard D criterion. For example, if your program relates to Standard D.1.1 which reflects teaching of an assessment or intervention, then applicants should provide peer-reviewed references that adequately support these programs.

Empirical support for the application of psychological assessment methods and interventions can be demonstrated through a variety of scientific methods. In-text citations to recent peer-reviewed journal publications embedded in the sponsor's narrative response to Standard D are one method to provide this foundation. It is recognized that some psychological interventions may not yet be supported by positive results from clinical trials, and may not yet be considered sufficiently evidence-based. The sponsor is responsible for providing sufficient information for the CE Committee to judge the evidence-based foundations of the proposed content covered.

How should our organization handle a potential conflict of interest for our CE programs?

Sponsors must have a process to identify any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support for all programs offered, and must clearly describe any commercial support for the CE program, presentation or instructor to program participants at the time the CE program begins. Any other relationship that could be reasonably construed as a conflict of interest must also be disclosed.

Potential conflict of interest, commercial support or commercial interest applies to sponsoring organizations, the presenter and the content of the presentation. Sponsors should advise participants of the potential biases inherent in accepting inducements that might affect the selection of texts, the use of particular tests, and/or sponsorship of CE courses. Please see our sample policy and procedure concerning potential conflict of interest (PDF, 129KB)opens in new window.

Do you have sample evaluation forms I can use to revise my own documents?

Yes. Sample documents such as evaluation forms, grievance procedure forms and a documentation of attendance are available in our Resources for CE Sponsor Approval. There you will find both the .pdf and Word document versions that may be used for electronic submissions of evaluation forms. For evaluation forms to be in compliance with the standards and criteria, make sure you adhere fully to the requirements for all sponsors.

Specifically, each learning objective must be assessed individually within your evaluation form. In addition, every evaluation form must include the following two questions and anchors verbatim in a 5-point Likert scale as follows:

How much did you learn as a result of this CE program?

1 2 3 4 5

(1 very little — 5 a great deal)

How useful was the content of this CE program for your practice or other professional development?

1 2 3 4 5

(1 Not useful — 5 Extremely useful)

What are the requirements for homestudy post-test questions (e.g., how many questions, passing criterion)?

We recommend six to eight questions for every one credit, a passing criterion of at least 75 percent (70% on tests with only 10 questions), with a minimum number of true-false questions. Test questions must be of sufficient depth to adequately determine the level of learning that was achieved.

Can practice and career management programs be offered for continuing education (CE) credit?

Career management programs (e.g., programs that are primarily for the purpose of career advancement) should be carefully considered to determine whether or not the content of the program can be deemed appropriate CE content for psychologists. The Committee recognizes that while such programs may be beneficial to psychologists by helping them grow their businesses, advance their academic careers or otherwise increase their earnings, the content may not actually be related to the professional practice of psychology, education, administration or research (e.g., programs on how to build a more profitable fee-for-service practice or how to acquire tenure are usually not considered appropriate for CE). It is recommended that you review the criteria and processes for determining proposed programs' CE-eligibility, located within Standard D of the standards and criteria manual.

Can instructors get CE credit?

Yes. However, because CE regulations vary by state, instructors should check with their state licensing board to see if the credits will be accepted for renewal of licensure.

What is the best method for determining the appropriate amount of CE credit to award for each program?

CE credit for psychologists is granted on a one credit per one instructional hour basis and is awarded only for actual instructional time. Any program content not appropriate to be offered for CE credit for psychologists, as well as breaks and lunches, may not be included in the number of CE credits awarded.

When determining numbers of CE credits for homestudy programs, sponsors are strongly encouraged to utilize field-testing. As one of many possible formulae, you may find the Mergener formulaopens in new window helpful in making this determination. For programs that require a test of achieved learning, the specified passing criterion must be met before credit may be awarded.

Do APA-approved sponsors offer continuing education units (CEUs)?

APA-approved sponsors are approved to offer CE to psychologists, which is not the same as a CEU. CE credit for psychologists is granted on a one credit per one instructional hour basis; CEU, on the other hand, refers to 10 contact hours, and is not part of the current vernacular related to APA CE.

The term 'CEU' should not be used to refer to credits earned from APA-approved organizations. There are some professions that accept credit from APA-approved sponsors, but program participants are strongly urged to confirm CE requirements with their licensing boards prior to enrollment.

Do other professions accept credit earned from APA-approved sponsors?

There are some professions that accept credit from APA-approved sponsors. However, it remains the responsibility of program participants to confirm this with their licensing boards.

Once I become an APA-approved sponsor, does that mean that I am also approved in my local state?

No. Requirements set by APA may differ from state requirements. We strongly recommend that you contact your state board to determine if any programming offered by an APA-approved sponsor is accepted.

Is it acceptable to provide certificates of attendance to participants who are non-psychologists?

Yes. All participants attending the full length of your program may request a certificate of attendance. However, it is recommended that participants check with their respective state board to ensure that credits obtained will be accepted. Our sample documentation of attendance (letter format (PDF, 50KB)opens in new window and certificate format (PDF, 153KB)opens in new window) may be used as a template for developing certificates appropriate for your organization's CE programs.

When the application or annual report asks for the "# of CE credits awarded", are you looking for the number of credits assigned to the particular activity or the number of credits that were awarded in total (i.e., the number of psychologists who received credit)?

The number of credits awarded refers to the number of credits assigned to the activity. By providing the number of credits offered, we can compare this information to the program length and learning objectives to determine that the appropriate number of credits are being awarded. Additionally, for the purposes of the application and annual report, Instructional Time should reflect Activity Hours.

What if I can't fit all the required information into my promotional materials?

We understand that you might not be able to include all required information in your brochures. However, this information must be made available to potential participants. If it does not appear in brochures, you must clearly provide a mechanism for obtaining this information (e.g., contact information, website, etc.).

For additional help, see "The Art of Advertising: Getting the Most out of Your Promotional Materials (PDF, 349KB)opens in new window".

Are there sample promotional materials available to use as a guide?

You may also refer to oneopens in new window (PDF, 207KB) of twoopens in new window (PDF, 140KB) sample promotional materials for guidance when creating promotional materials specific to your organization and Continuing Education (CE) programs. We also recommend that you review Promotional Material Do's and Don'ts (PDF, 38KB)opens in new window for additional information about how to advertise CE programs offered by approved sponsors.

I noticed that one of the Standard G Criteria ask for sponsors to include the instructional level of the activity in the promotional materials – is there a guide for making this determination?

The levels of programming (PDF, 389KB)opens in new window document may be helpful to your organization in making the determination for each of your programs offered for CE credit. There is also an infographic (PDF, 1.3MB)opens in new window of the same title that may be useful as well.

Is there a statement for use by organizations who are approved sponsors to show their ability to offer programs for CE credit?

If you choose to indicate that you have obtained approval via APA, you may only do so by use of the statement of approval. Importantly, sponsors are responsible for both the program and the content of their programs and this statement cannot be altered. If used in your promotional materials, the statement of approval should read only as follows and without modification:

"(Organization name) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. (Organization name) maintains responsibility for this program and its content."

Is there an icon/logo that APA-approved sponsors can use on their websites or promotional materials to demonstrate approval?

Yes. APA designed an icon to distinguish your organization's status as an approved sponsor. The use of the icon is only permitted for currently approved APA sponsors and may only be used adjacent to the requisite APA CE Sponsor Approval statement:

"(Name of organization) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. (Name of organization) maintains responsibility for this program and its content."

The icon does not imply approval of specific individual program content. Learn the appropriate uses of the icon and download it for your purposes if you are an approved sponsor.