Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research

Graduation Criteria

CPTR trainee speaks at ceremony while faculty members look on.

Trainees may proceed at their own pace through our training programs in Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychoanalysis. When they have met the following criteria, candidates will be approved for graduation:

Competency

The Candidate has met Columbia's Senior level Learning Objectives as demonstrated by their supervisors' assessments of the preceding semester. (For example, a trainee whose Fall semester assessments attest to their having met this requirement will be eligible to graduate at the end of the following Spring semester.)

Exposure

The Adult Candidate has conducted a minimum of 60 months of analyses at a frequency of three to five times weekly with at least three different patients and supervisors. At least one of these cases has lasted at least 18 months. It is recommended that candidates strive for diversity among their analysands. This diversity may include different genders, racial and ethnic identities, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic status, among other differences.

The Accelerated Child Candidate has conducted a minimum of 36 months of analyses at a frequency of three to five times weekly, with at least three cases, each supervised by a child supervising analyst. At least one case must involve the medium of play. It is strongly recommended but not required that these cases reflect exposure to the following: a pre- or early-latency child (3-7 years), a latency or preadolescent child (8-12 years), and an adolescent or emerging adult (13-24). It is also recommended that all of these cases not be of the same gender. It is strongly recommended that the Candidate gain exposure to at least one case with a minimum 18-month duration.

The Traditional Child Candidate has satisfied both the Adult and the Accelerated Child exposure criteria as detailed above. Candidates may apply their months of work with any control case aged 16-24 towards their exposure requirement for both the adult and the child program if that treatment is supervised by a Child Supervising Analyst. 

The Adolescent/Emerging Adult Candidate has conducted a minimum of 30 months of analyses at a frequency of three to five times weekly with at least two different patients (between the ages of 13 and 24 at the start of treatment) and supervisors. It is recommended that at least one of these cases has lasted at least 18 months. Candidates may apply their months of work with any control case aged 16-24 towards their exposure requirement for both the adult and the adolescent/emerging adult program. At least one of these cases must have been supervised by a Child Supervising Analyst. It is recommended that all of these cases not be of the same gender. 

Course Work

  • The Adult Candidate has completed all courses offered in the four-and-one-half-year Adult curriculum.
  • The Accelerated Child Candidate has completed the first two years of the Adult curriculum as well as the two-year Child curriculum.
  • The Traditional Child Candidate has completed all courses offered in the four-and-one-half-year Adult curriculum as well as the two-year Child curriculum.
  • The Adolescent/Emerging Adult Candidate has completed all courses offered in the four-and-one-half-year Adult curriculum as well as the second-year-only Child curriculum. The first year of the Child curriculum may be taken but is not required.

Writing

The Candidate has completed all writing assignments.

Good Standing

The Candidate is in good ethical standing, has filed all necessary paperwork, and has no outstanding financial obligations to the Center.