DBH Program Transfer Credits

Doctor of Behavioral Health Program Transfer Credits

CGI welcomes transfer students. Transfer students participate in the same admissions process as new degree seeking applicants and are required to meet the same requirements, in addition to the following transfer student requirements and conditions.

DBH Transfer Credit Conditions at a Glance

Transfer Credit Policy

CGI has set guidelines for transfer credits to be considered. Transfer credits are accepted for degree seeking programs only. The goal of the process is to recognize previous work by students that meet the expectations of the CGI for academic content, rigor, scope, and relevance. In order for credits to be considered, prospective students must submit a Transfer Credit Request Form and provide the supporting documentation for review. Transfer credit can be requested at any point during the program, but it is highly recommended that students wishing to transfer credits, submit the Transfer Credit Request Form at the time of their Admission Application.

Transfer Credits must meet the following conditions in order to be considered for transfer into CGI.

Credits must come from a degree seeking program at an accredited college and/or university.
Credits must be degree level equivalent in order to be transferred into the institution.
Credits are only awarded for courses in which grades of 3.0 (“B”) or better on a 4.0 scale were obtained as a student and considered equivalent to CGI doctoral coursework on a course-by-course basis.
Credit(s) awarded are transferred as equivalent credit amounts. Course grades and GPA are not transferred or reflected on the student’s account, program of study, or official transcript.
Credit(s) must have been earned as a credit-bearing learner and not as an auditing student, faculty, teaching assistant, or experiential learner.
Credit is only awarded for courses completed by the student within seven (7) calendar years prior to acceptance at CGI.
In alignment with industry standards, the maximum allowed transfer credits to be accepted is dependent upon the program. The maximum credits allowed to be transferred are outlined within the Transfer Credit Request Form.
The Institute reserves the right to deny transfer credits.

Transfer Credit from International Schools

In order to qualify for transfer credit, courses completed at recognized international institutions must be applicable to CGI’s degree program and comparable to the nature and quality of the courses. Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for coursework completed outside the US or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit a Transfer Credit Request Form and required documentation, plus course-by-course evaluation obtained from a NACES member.

Transfer Credit Evaluation Process

Transfer credit can be requested at any point during the program, but it is highly recommended that students wishing to transfer credits, submit the Transfer Credit Request Form and supporting documentation at the time of their Admission Application. In order for credits to be considered, prospective students must adhere to the following procedure.

Applicant or student start by filling out the Transfer Credit Request Form. The form outlines which credits are being requested and which documents need to be submitted to support the request. The required documentation is outlined as followed:
1. An unofficial transcript of any transfer credits must be uploaded via the Transfer Credit Request Form. (Note: transfer credits cannot be officially awarded to the student until the official transcript associated with the transfer credits is received by the Admissions or Operations Department)
2. A copy of the prior institute’s catalog which includes course descriptions for any courses the applicant wishes to transfer must be uploaded in the Transfer Credit Request Form. (Note: CGI may request copies of course syllabi for review, in the event the catalog course descriptions do not fully articulate the course alignment to CGI.)
Once the Transfer Credit Request Form and supplemental documents are submitted electronically the Operations Department reviews the requested credits to ensure they first meet the Transfer Credit Policy Conditions. If the credits meet the Transfer Credit Policy conditions, the Operations Department forwards the materials and the Transfer Credit Decision Form to the Program Director.
The Program Director reviews the materials shared with them. The Program Director’s review consists of looking at the courses being requested to be transferred in content from the prior institution’s catalog. If the course description and information in the catalog is not enough, the Program Director will/can request course syllabi to allow for a proper review.
Upon completion of the review, the Program Director documents the decision on the Transfer Credit Decision Form and shares that with the Operations Department.
1. If the credit is denied, the request will show the denial and the reasoning for the denial.
2. If the credit is approved, the request will show the approval and which course the transfer credit will be equivalent to at CGI.
The Operations Team does a final audit of the transfer credits and decision form. Then sends the form to the Program Director for an electronic signature.
After all signatures have been collected on the Transfer Credit Decision Form, the Operations Department notifies the Enrollment Team and student and/or applicant of the decision.
The Operations Department is then responsible for awarding the transfer credits if approved.
1. If the official transcript is available at time of review, the Operations Department awards credits based on the evaluation and updates students’ file, online account, and documents it in the Enrollment Agreement if the Transfer Credits are reviewed prior to the Enrollment Agreement being sent out to the applicant.

If the unofficial transcript is only available at the time of review and attached to the Transfer Credit Request Form, the Operations Department marks the transfer credits in pending status until an official transcript is received and transfer credits are verified. (Note: transfer credits cannot be officially awarded until the official transcript has been received.)

Transfer Credit FAQ

Does CGI accept transfer credits?

Yes. Transfer credits are accepted for degree seeking programs only.

How many credits can I transfer to the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program?

The maximum allowed transfer credits to be accepted for the DBH program is nine (9) credit hours.

What courses can I transfer into the Doctor of Behavioral Health program? What are the requirements for transfer courses?

Transfer Credits must meet the following conditions in order to be considered for transfer into CGI.

Credits must come from a degree seeking program at an accredited college and/or university.
Credits must be degree level equivalent in order to be transferred into the institution.
Credits are only awarded for courses in which grades of 3.0 (“B”) or better on a 4.0 scale were obtained as a student and considered equivalent to CGI doctoral coursework on a course-by-course basis.
Credit(s) awarded are transferred as equivalent credit amounts. Course grades and GPA are not transferred or reflected on the student’s account, program of study, or official transcript.
Credit(s) must have been earned as a credit-bearing learner and not as an auditing student, faculty, teaching assistant, or experiential learner.
Credit is only awarded for courses completed by the student within seven (7) calendar years prior to acceptance at CGI.
In alignment with industry standards, the maximum allowed transfer credits to be accepted is dependent upon the program. The maximum credits allowed to be transferred are outlined within the Transfer Credit Request Form.
The Institute reserves the right to deny transfer credits.

Can I appeal a credit transfer decision?

In the event that a student disagrees with the awarded transfer credits or requests an exception to be considered for over the transfer credit maximum policy, the student may submit an appeal following the Transfer Credit Appeal Process.

Will transferring credits shorten the time to earn my degree?

Yes, transferring credits can shorten your time to degree. The length of time shortened is dependent upon the quantity of credits transferred and student pace.

Will my GPA transfer?

Transfer credit(s) awarded are transferred as equivalent credit amounts. Course grades and GPA are not transferred or reflected on the student’s account, Program of Study, or Official Transcript.

What if I have more questions?

Additional information about transfer credit policies and procedures can be found at https://cgi.edu/admissions/.

Additional DBH Program FAQs can be found at https://cgi.edu/faq/dbh/.

Questions can be emailed to the admissions@cgi.edu.

Testimonials

“As a member of the AAPI community, I’m very familiar with the barriers to mental health services and the need to break through the glass wall of cultural stigma that prevents many from receiving potentially life–saving treatment. I was the only Asian American person in my master’s cohort, the only Asian American person in many of my clinical work settings, the only Asian American person to walk into many of the professional settings that I pushed myself to show up to. In my current practice, I’m constantly reminded by my patients of how difficult it is to find an Asian American mental health provider, though this reminder constantly informs me that more needs to be done for my community. Day after day, I read stories of Asian American people who die by suicide as a consequence of our culture’s avoidance of mental health topics. As a DBH, my biggest goal is to use my expertise in whole–person care to amplify the conversation around mental health and help my community understand that mental healthcare is not a privilege that we are not entitled to, it is a crucial part of our healthcare that will manifest differently in us than what many Western psychology or psychiatry textbooks will describe, and that our unique experience of mental health issues are valid, important, and is time to be part of the larger conversation.”
Willam Chum, LMHCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 16, 2022

“The Doctor in Behavioral Health (DBH) program has changed my understanding of the subject and career path. Before this academic journey, my knowledge of behavioral health was primarily theoretical, including essential ideas and methods. However, the DBH curriculum combined intense academic research with practical application, helping me understand behavioral health from multiple angles. Recognizing mental health as part of total health changed my perspective. The biopsychosocial model, which showed how biological, psychological, and social variables affect mental health, was stressed in the DBH curriculum. This comprehensive approach made me realize how complex human behavior is and how important it is to address mental health issues. Effective interventions must target the individual’s surroundings, relationships, and life experiences, not just symptoms. The curriculum also gave me enhanced evidence-based practice training to execute successful solutions. Studies methods and data analysis classes improved my critical thinking and allowed me to evaluate and apply behavioral health studies. This gave me the confidence to contribute to the field’s knowledge base through practice and research.”
Dr. Rhea Hill, DBH, LPCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 17, 2025

“This program will change how you present to the world, not just as a professional but as an individual. Understand this is work but the work is worth it and the journey is undeniably transformative. If you are seeking a doctorate for the title, this is not the program for you. If you are seeking a doctorate to interrupt and disrupt the course of healthcare, then this is the program for you. You won’t find a more supportive program with professors who are dedicated to your success and your education. This program is not about the regurgitation of information. It is about the appropriate applied application of knowledge and information to push forward and become an advocate for equitable and quality care for all.”
Brandy K. Biglow LMHC, CCTP, QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 5, 2024

“The Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program has definitely transformed my understanding of behavioral health. Understanding the links between physical and mental health has taught how to make better treatment decisions. The DBH program has also given me insights that otherwise would not be possible and allows me to view individuals through a lens that I was previously ignorant of. This program has helped me grow into a more confident individual, provider, and parent.”
Cory H. Cannady, BCBA, LBADBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 13, 2024

“The DBH program has reinforced my vision of viewing behavioral health (BH) as an integrated component of the healthcare system rather than a siloed service. As a practitioner in the focused BH realm of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, I observe on a regular basis how identifying and serving SUD patients is often missed, ignored and stigmatized in primary healthcare, despite the fact that early intervention at these check-points often has the potential to intervene earlier and lessen the negative SUD outcomes frequently seen by the time a patient reaches specialty SUD services. Reinforcement received in my DBH program has motivated me to promote integration as a leader in my workplace and is a primary factor in considering the long-term trajectory of my individual career path.”
Kenneth L. Roberts, MPS, LPCC, LADCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 5, 2024

“Graduating from the DBH program has influenced and enhanced my approach to addressing behavioral health challenges and making a difference in the field by preparing me to become a serious business owner. Through the DBH program, I understand now that becoming a business owner not only assists me in reaping the financial benefits of working for myself, but the program also offers me a sense of freedom to make a difference in an individual’s life.”
Dr. Rebecca K. Wright, DBH, LBA, BCBA, QBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 18, 2024

“I have always wanted to pursue a higher degree but never found a program that met my needs. When I investigated the DBH program, I can honestly say I was excited. It was a program that would expand my knowledge in behavioral health but also how it relates to physical health. The philosophy of treating the whole person was exactly what I was looking for.”
Elizabeth Nekoloff, M.Ed., LPCC-S, NCCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 16, 2025

“Prior to obtaining my DBH, I practiced behavioral health within the boundaries of behavior analysis. The DBH degree has given me the ability to broaden my scope of competence allowing me to provide a higher quality of care to my clients through a person-centered approach, while still staying within my scope of practice. I was in the beginning stages of opening my business when I enrolled in the DBH program which set my trajectory towards being a stronger leader. The program equipped me with essential healthcare leadership and entrepreneurial skills, allowing me to ensure high-quality services for my clients and foster a supportive work environment for our staff. It has also given me the confidence to expand my business and pursue other healthcare ventures, reaching a broader range of patients in need.”
Dr. Pauline Tolentino Pablo, DBH, BCBA, IBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 21, 2025

“Although I have worked with many patients who have mental health diagnoses, or behaviors which make managing their medical diagnoses and day to day life difficult, the DBH program at CGI is broadening that knowledge and providing a deeper understanding of behavioral health and how best to help these individuals manage their health and improve their quality of life. This will allow me to provide and advocate for more meaningful and seamless integrated care, providing new tools for my intervention toolbox, and the confidence and skills to collaborate within and lead whole person focused interdisciplinary teams. I also anticipate building upon my knowledge as a nurse case manager and long time caregiver, as well as my personal passions and professional vision, learning about processes and operations, to be in position to start up and lead my own company one day, offering the services and care I know every person should have access to.”
Hollie Wilson, MSN, RN, CCMDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 11, 2025

“The DBH program will open opportunities for me to contribute to healthcare system innovation, particularly through trauma-informed care and integrated behavioral health settings. I will be better positioned to advocate for and implement holistic care models that improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Ultimately, this program will help me transition into higher-level roles, such as a director or consultant in behavioral health, where I can influence broader system changes and contribute to the future of healthcare delivery.”
DeKyn Rashad Peters, MPH-CHES,BSW/BA,APCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 4, 2025