Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Doctor of Behavioral Health a psychologist degree, like the Ph.D or Psy.D. in psychology?
Answer
No. The Doctor of Behavioral Health is a brand-new type of doctoral degree program and will not be a psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) degree. The DBH is designed to address the
unmet educational need for professional education and training to prepare behavioral health providers to practice in primary care and other medical settings.
How will the Doctor of Behavioral Health Program receive accreditation?
How will the graduates with the Doctor of Behavioral Health receive licensure?
Answer
The Doctor of Behavioral Health program has undertaken a state-by-state strategy to obtain licensure for the DBH. The type of licensing board that will grant licensure will vary from state to state due to existing differences in approaches to licensure for behavioral professionals. Our goal is to develop licensing standards that will match the DBH curriculum and practicum experience and the National Institute of Behavioral Health Quality accreditation standards. This will be a multiyear process with expected early adopters leading to widespread adoption over time. It is notable that Dr. Nicholas Cummings was a founder of the California School of Professional Psychology, the first Psy.D. program for psychologists. Dr. Cummings led successful efforts to obtain licensure for this new degree type that are now nationwide. Dr. Cummings will use his experience in this area to guide the DBH program to licensure.
How will graduates with the Doctor of Behavioral Health be able to be reimbursed if the new DBH licensure is not yet available in their respective states?
Answer
The DBH program will initially only be open to students with an existing master’s degree in behavioral health and a current license to practice. This will ensure that if doctoral licensure is not yet available for graduates in their state they may still be able to practice and receive reimbursement under their existing master’s degree license. The DBH business entrepreneur training will focus on strategies for obtaining reimbursement through approaches other than traditional fee for service, such as pay for performance incentives, case rates, or capitation. Lastly, many national physician and primary care advocacy groups are lobbying for health-care reform to include revised payment approaches in primary care to address current barriers. For additional details, see
Employment and Reimbursement for the Doctor of Behavioral Health Student.
Is there a distance-learning program for the Doctor of Behavioral Health so that I can enroll and complete the program even though I’m not an Arizona resident? What are the requirements to establish residency in Arizona to quality for residence tuition?
Answer
Yes, a distance-learning program will be available for the Doctor of Behavioral Health Program. The first cohort of students in fall 2009 will have the opportunity to attend either as a resident or via distance learning. For additional details, see the
Doctor of Behavioral Health Distance-Learning Program. The key requirement for establishing residency to qualify for resident tuition and fees include proof of one year of residence in Arizona. For additional details, see the
Residency for Tuition Purposes.
What are the total tuition and fees for the Doctor of Behavioral Health program?
Answer
The total tuition and fees for the entire 18-month Doctor of Behavioral Health program are in the final stages of review. At this time the projected average fee and tuition for residents of Arizona will be approximately $2,500 per 3-credit-hour course. This comes out to approximately $36,500 for the entire program for students who enroll in the accelerated 18-month program. The tuition and fees for non-residents in the distance-learning format are not yet finalized. It is anticipated that the average cost per 3-credit-hour course will range from $2,500 to $3,300. We will post updated information on tuition and fees as available.
What sources of financial aid are available for the Doctor of Behavioral Health program?
Can I attend the Doctor of Behavioral Health program on a part-time basis?
Answer
Yes. The DBH program will be available as an accelerated, 18-month, full-time program; as a regular full-time program (9 or more hours per semester); or part-time.
Will I be able to maintain part-time or full-time employment while completing the Doctor of Behavioral Health Program?
Answer
The DBH accelerated program is a full-time, intensive learning program with an average of 15 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and 6 credit hours in each of the two summer sessions. Students will also participate in practicum sites for an average of 8 hours per week throughout the entire program. It is not likely a student could work full-time and complete the accelerated program. Each part-time and regular full-time student will need to evaluate his or her unique employment situation to make a decision on balancing the demands of the program with employment. For additional information, see
Employment and Reimbursement for the Doctor of Behavioral Health Student and the
Doctor of Behavioral Health Distance-Learning Program.
