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According to the American Board of Professional Psychology's website, "The ABPP serves the public need by providing oversight certifying psychologists competent to deliver high quality services in various specialty areas of psychology. Board certification (awarding a certificate in a specialty) assures the public that specialists designated by the ABPP have successfully completed the educational, training, and experience requirements of the specialty, including an examination designed to assess the competencies required to provide quality services in that specialty."
The ABPP defines a specialty as "a defined area in the practice of psychology that connotes special competency acquired through an organized sequence of formal education, training, and experience. In order to qualify as a specialty affiliated with the ABPP, a specialty must be represented by an examining board which is stable, national in scope, and reflects the current development of the specialty. A specialty board is accepted for affiliation following an intensive self-study and a favorable review by the ABPP affirming that the standards for affiliation have been met. These standards include a thorough description of the area of practice and the pattern of competencies required therein as well as requirements for education, training, experience, research bases of the specialty, practice guidelines, and a demonstrated capacity to examine candidates for the specialty on a national level." |
ABPP SPECIALTIES
CLINICAL CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY
CLINICAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY COGNITIVE & BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGY COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY COUPLE & FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY GEROPSYCHOLOGY GROUP PSYCHOLOGY ORGANIZATIONAL & BUSINESS CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGY POLICE & PUBLIC SAFETY PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOANALYSIS REHABILITATION PSYCHOLOGY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY |
WHY CONSIDER BOARD CERTIFICATION?
There are many reasons to consider board certification, at the personal and professional level.:
Personal Benefits:
- Heightened credibility with colleagues/referrals.
- Improved employment possibilities and job security. - Emphasis on life-long learning and professional development. - Affirmation of one’s professional identity. - Confirmation by your colleagues and peers. - Sense of personal achievement and satisfaction. - Streamlined credentialing process . |
Benefits for the Profession:
- Establishes standards for competence.
- Helps guide training models for areas of competence. - Increases breadth/depth of knowledge, skills and attitudes. - Ensures intra-professional regulation. - Allows for public recognition of the specialty. |
FOR TRAINEES IN INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH-SERVICE PSYCHOLOGY
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Trainees in the areas of rehabilitation psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and health psychology are especially encouraged to pursue board certification, as these three specialization areas are increasingly recognized in professional and academic settings. Many interdisciplinary teams, particularly in medical center settings, are comprised of clinical neuropsychologists, health psychologists, and rehabilitation psychologists. Becoming an integrated member of these teams requires advanced knowledge and training in the specialty. For more information, visit our board certification resource page.
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