ABN Specialty Specific Requirements

ABN Specialty Specific Requirements Requirements of All Applicants: The following is a brief summary of minimum necessary criteria for a successful application. This summary is intended to answer some of the most common questions posed by prospective applicants. See the Applicant Handbook and the Application itself for more information. 1. Doctoral education: A doctoral degree from a program in professional psychology which, at the time the degree was granted, was accredited by the American Psychological Association or Canadian Psychological Association, or was listed in the publication Doctoral Psychology Programs Meeting Designation Criteria (ASPPB/National Register Designation Project; http://www.nationalregister.org/resources-links/doctoral-programs/approved-doctoralprograms-by-jurisdiction/). Applicants credentialed in the most recent directory of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, the Canadian Register of Health Service Psychologists, or who hold the Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology granted by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB CPQ) qualify as meeting the doctoral training requirements. 2. Internship training: Completion of an APA, CPA or APPIC approved internship program, or equivalent year of supervised experience as recognized by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, the Canadian Register of Health Service Psychologists, or the Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology. Alternatively, internship experiences verified by the internship site supervisor to be equivalent to National Register Guidelines may be submitted for consideration by the examination committee. 3. Postdoctoral or Residency education and training in clinical neuropsychology: Completion of postgraduate training in Clinical Neuropsychology, as approved by the ABN Application Committee. Detailed postdoctoral requirements, as are adjusted according to date of doctoral program graduation, are outlined below. 4. Professional Experience: Minimum of 3 years professional experience in neuropsychology of which 1 year may be a supervised neuropsychology internship, (i.e., with 1 year APA or National Register approved internship required). Minimum of 500 hours per year during the last 3 years providing neuropsychological services. 5. Continuing education: Involvement in continuing education in neuropsychology through having taken and/or taught in a continuing education program equivalent to one approved by the American Psychological Association or a state, province or territory. 6. Licensure: Current licensure/certification to practice psychology in a state/territory. 7. Competencies: Systematic didactic and experiential training in neuropsychology and neuroscience must include knowledge and skill base competencies outlined below. Although individual neuropsychologists can meet these requirements through a variety of experiences, at no time are so-called "weekend" CE programs an acceptable method of satisfying didactic training criteria. However some CE programs (e.g., the NAN-sponsored distance course in Neuroanatomy and Physiology, or a university sponsored brain dissection laboratory) may be deemed by the examination committee to satisfy specific requirements or to remediate training 1 P a g e

deficiencies, as will courses taken independently in doctoral programs by Applicants as part of, prior to, or after their more traditional postdoctoral training time. ABN acknowledges that programs and training experiences may differ according to the program and the candidate s interests, such that the candidate s knowledge and skills may be greater in some areas than others. Regardless, basic competence requires broad familiarity. (Please see application for specific requirements) Knowledge Core knowledge may be acquired through varied training and experiences (e.g., didactics, research, clinical training). 1. General Psychology Core: Statistics and methodology; Learning, cognition and perception; Social psychology and personality; Biological bases of behavior; Life span development; History; Cultural and individual differences and diversity. 2. Generic Clinical Core: Psychopathology; Psychometric theory; Interview and assessment techniques; Intervention techniques; Professional ethics. 3. Foundations for the study of brain-behavior relationships: Functional neuroanatomy; Neurological and related disorders; Non-neurologic conditions affecting CNS functioning; Neuroimaging and other neurodiagnostic techniques; Neurochemistry of behavior (e.g., psychopharmacology); Neuropsychology of behavior. 4. Foundations for the practice of clinical neuropsychology: Specialized neuropsychological assessment techniques; Specialized neuropsychological intervention techniques; Research design and analysis in neuropsychology; Professional issues and ethics in neuropsychology; Practical implications of neuropsychological conditions. Skills Core skills in professional clinical neuropsychology may be acquired through varied training and experiences (e.g., didactics, research, rehabilitation, and service provision). Skill domains include: 1. Assessment: Information gathering; History taking; Tests and measures selection; Test administration and interpretation; Diagnostic formulation; Treatment planning; Report writing; Feedback; Recognition of multicultural and individual differences issues. 2. Treatment and Interventions: Identification and specification of intervention needs; Formulation of intervention plan; Plan implementation; Plan monitoring and adjustment; Outcome assessment; Recognition of multicultural and individual differences issues. 3. Consultation (patients, families, colleagues, agencies, etc.): Effective communication; Identifying referral issues; Educating referral sources about neuropsychological services; Communicating evaluation findings and recommendations; Educating patients and families about services and findings. 2 P a g e

4. Research: Selection of appropriate research topics; Review of relevant literature; Research design; Research operations (e.g., initiation and oversight); Evaluation of outcome; Presenting results. 5. Teaching and Supervision: Methods of effective instruction; Curriculum design; Use of technology; Supervision methods. Requirements specific to date of graduation Standard Application: For candidates completing the doctoral degree on or after January 1, 2005: (applicants of this graduation era who completed their post doctoral training in Canada should refer to ABN Canadian Guidelines, below.) Applicants completing their doctoral degree on or after January 1, 2005 are required to have completed the equivalent of 2 years of full-time postdoctoral education and training, on at least a half-time basis that closely follows Houston Conference guidelines. Completion of a formal 2 year postdoctoral training fellowship, such as those offered by APPIC or AABN, is preferred. However, ABN recognizes that historically, there have been insufficient numbers and locations of these programs to meet the combined needs of practitioners and consumers of neuropsychological services. Accordingly, in order to be as inclusive as possible while still ensuring that candidates demonstrate advanced competence in the independent provision of clinical neuropsychology services, ABN Applicants are required to fulfill all content guidelines as defined by the Houston Conference, though they may be allowed specified areas of flexibility in methods and time frames of doing so. ABN Candidates are required to produce in the ABN Application and in responses to any corresponding inquiries from the Examination Committee, detailed evidence of their having satisfied these requirements. The required training experiences are to be confirmed by the program director or supervisor(s) whose correspondence must indicate: Successful completion of all requirements, and attainment of skills and knowledge base according to the Houston Conference Guidelines. The 2-year postdoctoral program or equivalent must be organized according to a structured set of experiential and didactic requirements, including supervision on all program casework. Supervisors are not required to be board certified in neuropsychology, though supervision by staff board certified by ABN, ABCN and/or ABPdN is strongly encouraged. Training program criteria are described above, with the following added descriptors: Supervision is by clinical neuropsychologist(s). If the primary supervisor is not boarded by ABN, ABPdN or ABCN, the supervisor may be asked to show evidence of his/her qualifications. A. Training and supervision occurs at specified sites, with supervision promptly available. B. Access is provided to training in medical, allied health, and rehabilitation services. C. Opportunities are provided for peer activity and collaboration with other specialty providers. 3 P a g e

D. Activities include: Clinical service provision, research activity, educational activities, other activities appropriate to developing core knowledge and skill development, professional identity, and professional practice competence and advocacy skills. E. Postdoctoral training should include but not be limited to: 1. Neuroanatomy 2. Neurological disorders 3. Psychiatric disorders 4. Neuroimaging 5. Neuropathology 6. Neuroscience 7. Neurochemistry 8. Psychometrics 9. Brain behavior relationships 10. Neuropsychological Assessment Exit criteria include: 1. Attainment of competency in neuropsychological evaluation, treatment and consultation at an independent level, as indicated by the professional references. 2. Formal documentation of training requirements, including satisfying ABN Application criteria. 3. Licensure for the independent practice of psychology. 4. Eligibility for board certification in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology, the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, or the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology. Standard Application - Canadian Guidelines: For Canadian-trained candidates completing the doctoral degree on or after January 1, 2005: In recognition of the fact that Canadians who completed their doctoral training on or after January 1, 2005 may face particular barriers in pursuing board certification in neuropsychology due to historical differences in Canadian and US training models, the ABN has developed interim standards, to better match advanced training models which are most typically available to Canadian applicants. These interim Canadian-specific standards will be periodically reviewed by the ABN Board of Directors until such time that it is determined that they are no longer required. Didactic, academic and clinical training requirements at the Doctoral and Internship level will continue to be the same for Canadian and US applicants, including requirements for Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills, as enumerated in the ABN Specialty Specific Requirements. With regard to post doctoral training, Canadian applicants are required to have completed the equivalent of two years of full-time post-doctoral education and training, completed on at least a halftime basis, supervised by a clinical neuropsychologist. Training achievements, including exit criteria, as enumerated above, remain the same as for US graduates, with the exception that postdoctoral training and supervision may be attained through combined formal training and/or peer supervision to address all core areas of requirement for the standard application, including: core knowledge, specialty skills, 4 P a g e

and specific neuropsychology experience. This process allows for some greater flexibility for achieving eligibility criteria. In summary, the only deviations from the ABN standard applicant criteria involve more flexibility for Canadian trainees to seek out comparable supervisory and training experiences where formal residency programs do not yet exist in sufficient numbers to meet training needs. Senior Application: For all candidates completing the doctoral degree prior to January 1, 2005: ABN understands that postdoctoral training standards and opportunities have changed over time. For candidates who received their doctoral degree prior to 2005, training achievements remain the same as for recent graduates, with the exception that postdoctoral training and supervision may be attained through combined formal training and/or peer supervision to address all core areas of requirement for the standard application, including: core knowledge, and specialty skills, and specific neuropsychology experience. This process allows for some greater flexibility for achieving eligibility criteria. Between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2004: two or more years of appropriate supervised training, in the application of clinical neuropsychological services with participation in specialty-specific didactics is required. A minimum of one year of training must be postdoctoral. Between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 1989: 1600 hours of clinical neuropsychological experience supervised by a clinical neuropsychologist at the predoctoral or postdoctoral level is required. Before 1982: 4800 hours of postdoctoral experience in a neuropsychological setting, involving a minimum of 2400 hours of direct clinical service is required. Notes: a) Limited exceptions to the intensity of training years (e.g., a hiatus during the training time, less than half time programming) may be submitted for review, as may occur with health or professional factors, etc. Applicants are encouraged to review eligibility questions with the Examination Committee prior to application. Contact the Applications Coordinator at http://abn-board.com/about-us-and-faqs/board-of-directors/. Where deficiencies in the Applicant s training and experience are identified, the Applicant may work with an assigned mentor to address those (e.g., specific additional coursework and/or training). b) Each applicant is required to complete and submit an application package that includes the names of at least 3 Endorsers, 2 of whom must be neuropsychologists. The Endorsers are supervisors or neuropsychological colleagues who can comment on your training and/or professional practice and abilities. They will be informed that their recommendations may be released in response to any inquiries regarding the applicant in the future. Applications are reviewed by the ABN Examination Committee for compliance with Licensure status, training history, as well as clinical practice experience and other items noted in the Application. c) Neuropsychologists who already hold a Diplomate from a neuropsychology specialty board that meets or exceeds the requirements proposed by the APA for recognition of specialty boards are deemed eligible as applicants for the ABN Diplomate. Revised 09-01-14 5 P a g e