The importance of board certification in psychology: A 25 year retrospective

• Published in: Professional psychology, research and practice research and practice, 2024-08
• Main Authors: Barnett, Jeffrey E, Dattilio, Frank M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Education; Human; Professional Certification; Professional Competence; Psychologists; Training
• ISSN: 0735-7028; 1939-1323
• DOI: 10.1037/pro0000590

In 2002, Dattilio published the article “Board Certification in Psychology: Is it Really Necessary?” The present article provides a follow-up almost 25 years later on the status of board certification in psychology highlighting updates on how this process has evolved, its role and importance in professional psychology at present and in the future, and ongoing challenges that remain and need to be addressed for the profession to continue moving forward. Board certification is discussed in the context of the competencies movement, with a focus on the need for psychologists to demonstrate essential foundational and functional competencies in various specialty areas. Further, standards for legitimate board certifying organizations and for a legitimate board certification process are reviewed, and cautions are offered concerning “vanity boards” that do not meet these standards and that are not consistent with the interests of psychologists and the public they serve. The role and acceptance of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) as the gold standard for board certification in psychology is articulated, developments in the ABPP board certification process over the past 25 years are explained, and both opportunities and challenges for further developing ABPP board certification as an expectation for all licensed psychologists are addressed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)