Welcome - from the President
Christina Pietz, PhD, ABPP
The American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP) is one of the American Board of Professional Psychology’s (ABPP) specialty boards. We welcome you to this section of the website.
The mission of ABFP is to protect the consumer of forensic psychological services by: establishing, promoting, and revising, as necessary, standards and qualifications for those who practice forensic psychology; and, certifying as ABPP board certified forensic specialists those voluntary applicants who qualify under the standards established by the board.
The majority of ABPP board certified forensic psychologists are practitioners. Areas of forensic mental health assessment include: validity of Miranda rights waivers; trial competence; criminal responsibility; sentencing (including capital cases); child custody; termination of parental rights; risk assessment; personal injury; and civil commitment.
ABFP offers board certification to licensed psychologists who meet the qualifications required by ABPP and ABFP, who pass a written examination, who submit two practice samples that have been approved by our practice sample review committee, and who pass a three hour oral examination. Specific requirements for these components of the board certification process can be found at www.abpp.org.
If you are a psychologist visiting this site and are considering ABPP board certification in forensic psychology, there are many reasons to proceed with the process if you meet the application requirements.
ABPP board certification has more than a 50 year history ABPP board certified psychologists are identified in the American Psychological Association’s Directory. Board certification represents recognition by peers that your skills and knowledge represent the standard of practice in your areas of specialization. Your name, state, and areas of specialization appear on our website and can serve as a source of referrals from attorneys and other psychologists looking for a qualified forensic mental health evaluator. You may be eligible for pay increases if you obtain board certification; some organizations (i.e., US Public Health Service) may grant step increases if board certification is achieved. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards recognizes ABPP’s designation of board certification and many states and provinces will grant license reciprocity to those who are ABPP board certified. As an ABPP board certified forensic psychologist, you may join the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) and participate in their listserv, offering the opportunity to communicate with others who have achieved this distinguished certification. Most significantly, ABPP board certification in forensic psychology becomes part of your professional identity, representing your commitment to this area of specialized practice.
If you are an attorney visiting this area of the ABPP website, you can conduct a search to determine if an expert you are considering retaining or if an opposing expert is board certified in forensic psychology by ABPP. Board certification by ABPP is recognized by the American Psychological Association, by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, and by many states who accept this designation for license reciprocity. ABPP has never, in its long history, granted any psychologist, in any area of practice, board certification based upon “grandfathering.” All ABPP board certified psychologists have passed a series of qualifying procedures to earn this distinction. The ABFP website is www.abfp.com.
AAFP is an APA approved sponsor of professional continuing education workshops throughout the United States. CE hours count toward each state’s mandatory requirements for license renewal. AAFP’s continuing education workshops can be found at www.aafp.ws.
Please contact any member of the ABFP board if you have questions.