* Page Header: A running head (a shortened title of your paper, 50 characters or less) appears in the upper left-hand corner of every page, including the first. The full title appears on the first page only, as a header, and it should be in all caps.
* Page Numbers: Page numbers are in the upper right-hand corner of every page, with the running head appearing on the left.
* Margins: One-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
* Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.
* Spacing: Double-spaced throughout the entire paper, including the abstract, headings, references, etc.
* Paragraph Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph 0.5 inches.
* Title: The full title of your paper appears at the top of the first page, centered. Below the title, your name, your institution's name, and any relevant course information (if applicable) are centered. This section will essentially replace the information found on a title page. It should all be double-spaced, and only on the first page. There should be additional space (a blank line) before the abstract.
* Abstract: If required, the abstract should be on its own page, immediately after the title page information.
* Headings and Subheadings: Follow APA's guidelines for levels of headings.
* References: A correctly formatted references page (on a separate page) remains mandatory.
* Tables and Figures: Numbered and captioned appropriately.
In short: Omitting the cover page means you start directly with the title information at the top of page one, while still adhering to all other APA formatting rules. However, always confirm with your instructor or institution if a cover page is truly optional before proceeding. It's far better to err on the side of caution and include it unless explicitly told otherwise.