Specialty Specific Requirements

ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

In addition to the generic foundation requirements delineated above, the Clinical Psychology specialty requires completion of an organized doctoral education and training program in Clinical Psychology, which includes an internship. The specialty also requires postdoctoral supervised practice and experience in the specialty. The specialty’s specific program requirements are met if:

• The doctoral degree program was in Clinical Psychology from a program accredited by the APA or CPA.
• The doctoral degree program qualifies as equivalent to an APA or CPA accredited program in clinical psychology as determined by the ABCP. This option is particularly applicable to degrees awarded throughout the U.S. or Canada.
• The doctoral degree is from a nonprofessional program in psychology, with an additional certification that the applicant has completed at least a two year doctoral level re-education program (including an internship) designed to meet APA or CPA accreditation requirements in Clinical Psychology.
• The doctoral degree program was in a counseling or school psychology program accredited by the APA or CPA (see additional experience requirements in the exam manual – E.2.)

INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS

A one year full-time or two year half-time internship program is required. The internship requirement is met if:

• Accredited by the APA or CPA
• Listed in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Directory for the year the internship was completed
• The applicant is listed in the NRHSPP or CRHSPP Directory or holds the CPQ

POSTDOCTORAL PRACTICE EXPERIENCE AND SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS

By its nature, the specialty of Clinical Psychology denotes a level of practice requiring preparation beyond doctoral requirements.
The postdoctoral requirements include the following for individuals whose degree is from an APA or CPA accredited program in Clinical Psychology:

• one year of post-doctoral supervision in Clinical Psychology in a successfully completed, post-doctoral training program in Professional Psychology that is accredited by the APA or CPA or from an APPIC member program
OR
• one year of postdoctoral practice experience consistent with that ordinarily associated with Clinical Psychology, of which a minimum of one hour per week of supervision was conducted face-to-face by a licensed psychologist, plus an additional one year of postdoctoral practice. In other words, the individual must have 2 years total of postdoctoral experience, one of which was supervised. Any variance from this requirement will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
The postdoctoral requirements include the following for individuals whose degree is from an APA or CPA accredited program in Counseling or School Psychology or a Combined Program or have a doctoral degree in professional psychology from a program listed as a designated doctoral program in psychology by ASPPB/NRSPP:
• have had five years post-doctoral experience as a Clinical Psychologist. One of the five years must have been supervised
by a Clinical Psychologist,
AND
• demonstrate self-identification as a Clinical Psychologist and an expected continued identification with the specialty
OR
• successful completion of an APA or CPA accredited or APPIC member postdoctoral residency/fellowship program in professional psychology

SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST OPTION

Psychologists who meet the above degree, internship, and postdoctoral criterion, AND have 15 years or more of postdoctoral experience following licensure are eligible for the Senior Psychologist option. The aim of this program is to bring into ABCP senior colleagues who have made a contribution to our field.