Specialty Certifications for Mental Health Practitioners: A Cautionary Case Study

Mental health professionals typically represent their competencies by earning a diploma and obtaining a state license to practice. Some practitioners choose to further represent their expertise by acquiring specialty certifications. We review the broader landscape of these certifications and provide...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Professional psychology, research and practice research and practice, 2020-12, Vol.51 (6), p.545-549
Main Authors: Rosen, Gerald M., Washburn, Jason J., Lilienfeld, Scott O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Credentials
Criterion Validity
Educational Measures
Ethics
Experience Level
Health education
Human
Male
Medical personnel
Mental health
Mental Health Personnel
Mental health professionals
Pharmacists
Professional Certification
Professional Competence
Professional Specialization
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Summary:Mental health professionals typically represent their competencies by earning a diploma and obtaining a state license to practice. Some practitioners choose to further represent their expertise by acquiring specialty certifications. We review the broader landscape of these certifications and provide a case study of a program that illustrates current problems with specialty certifications. Specifically, we demonstrate that an 8th grader with no prior mental health education or training can pass a test intended to assess expert levels of knowledge obtained from a workshop. Implications of these findings on the validity of specialty credentials and the public's trust in them are considered. Public Significance Statement In addition to professional degrees and state licensure, psychologists and other mental health professionals can represent their expertise in specialties by completing any number of certification programs. This article demonstrates that the current standards for obtaining certification in mental health specialties are not sufficient to assure valid measures of competence that protect the public.
ISSN:0735-7028
1939-1323
DOI:10.1037/pro0000324