The American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology (ABRP) was incorporated as the certifying board for competence in Rehabilitation Psychology in 1995. It has been a member board of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) since 1997. ABPP was established in 1948 and serves as the parent board for all specialties of professional psychology (www.abpp.org).

Rehabilitation Psychology is a specialty area within professional psychology which assists the individual with an injury or illness which may be chronic, traumatic and/or congenital, including the family, in achieving optimal physical, psychological and interpersonal functioning. The focus of rehabilitation psychology is on the provision of services consistent with the level of impairment, disability and handicap relative to the personal preferences, needs and resources of the individual with a disability. The rehabilitation psychologist consistently involves interdisciplinary teamwork as a condition of practice and services within a network of biological, psychological, social, environmental and political considerations in order to achieve optimal rehabilitation goals.

The process of attaining board certification in Rehabilitation Psychology is similar to most other ABPP specialties, requiring submission of an applications and credentials to determine if eligibility criteria are met, submission and review of practice samples and successful completion of an Oral Examination. ABRP was one of the first ABPP Boards to employ a mentoring process to assist and guide candidates through the entire process of application, practice sample and Oral Examination.

Information about the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology Mitch Rosenthal Memorial Grant is available at www.abpp.org.

If you have questions about the ABRP, please contact the ABRP Secretary

Janet P. Niemeier, Ph.D., ABPP (Rp), Secretary
Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Psychiatry
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
1301 East Marshall Street
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0661
Office Phone: 804-828-9867
Fax Number: 804-828-5074
E-Mail: jniemeir@hsc.vcu.edu