GENERIC DEGREE AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

 

• A doctoral degree from a program in professional psychology which at the time the degree was granted, was accredited by the APA or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), OR

• A doctoral degree, which at the time the degree was granted, was from a program listed in the publication: Doctoral Psychology Programs Meeting Designated Criteria

 

OR THE DEGREE REQUIREMENT CAN BE MET IF:

 

• The applicant holds a current Certificate of Professional Qualifications in Psychology(CPQ) from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), OR

• The applicant holds a doctoral degree in psychology and has subsequently completed the requirements of a formal, doctoral level, professional program that meets the APA accreditation requirements in clinical, counseling, or school psychology (re-training, often referred to as re-specialization); OR

• The applicant qualifies for an individualized exception review. Individualized exception reviews are available for degrees granted outside the U.S. or Canada, doctoral degrees granted prior to 1983, or for applicants claiming equivalent doctoral degree and program requirements. Such exceptions are coordinated through the ABPP Executive Office and the appropriate specialty board.

​

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• All ABPP candidates in the U.S., its territories or Canada must be licensed as a psychologist for independent practice at the doctoral level in a jurisdiction in the U.S., its territories or Canada.

 

SPECIALTY SPECIFIC PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• In addition to the generic foundation requirements delineated above, the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology specialty requires completion of an organized doctoral education and training program with specialized experience in Clinical Child and Adolescent 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, either a child/adolescent track or a specialized child/adolescent program, or includes sufficient clinical child training, from a program accredited by the APA or CPA OR

  • The doctoral degree program qualifies as equivalent to an APA or CPA accredited programin Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology as determined by the ABCCAP. This option is particularly applicable to degrees awarded throughout the U.S. or Canada OR

  • The original doctoral degree is from a non-professional program in psychology, but the applicant has completed at least a two year doctoral level retraining program designed to meet APA or CPA accreditation requirements in professional psychology (clinical, school, or counseling) with significant child and adolescent focus (as noted above) OR

  • The doctoral degree program was in a counseling or school psychology program accredited by the APA or CPA (see additional experience requirements in the post-doctoral section below).

​

​

INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• A one-year full-time or two-year half-time internship program is required. At least fifty percent of this training should focus on child/adolescent populations. The internship requirement is met if:

  • Accredited by the APA or CPA OR

  • Listed in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Directory for the year the internship was completed

 

POSTDOCTORAL PRACTICE EXPERIENCE AND SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS

By its nature, the specialty of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology denotes a level of practice requiring preparation beyond doctoral requirements. Specifically, a minimum of THREE years of post-degree experience is required.

​

The postdoctoral requirements include the following for individuals whose degree is from an APA or CPA accredited program in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology:

• one year of supervised postdoctoral practice experience in Clinical Child/Adolescent or Pediatric Psychology, of which a minimum of one hour per week of supervision was conducted face-to-face by a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in clinical child/adolescent psychology, plustwoadditional years of work in the field.

• Any variance from the above scenario will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Credentials Reviewer in consultation with the Board

 

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:

​

• Five years postdoctoral experience as a Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist. One of the five years must have been supervised for a minimum of one hour per week (preferably two hours, one of which can be group supervision) by a Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist

​

OR

 

• successful completion of two-years in an APA accredited or APPIC member postdoctoral residency/fellowship program in clinical child/adolescent psychology

 

AND

 

• demonstrates self-identification as a Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist and an expected continued identification with the specialty.

​

​

SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST OPTION

Psychologists who meet the above degree, internship, and postdoctoral criterion, AND have been licensed at the independent doctoral level 15+ years are eligible for the Senior Psychologist option. The aim of this program is to bring into ABCCAP senior colleagues who have made a contribution to our field.

​

​