Board Certification Internship Requirements, Post-Doctoral & Personal Training Goals
Information to include in Cover Letters

American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP):
- Minimum of 1500 hours of training experience
- APA Accredited
- Doctoral level staff psychologist in charge of internship training (clinical training director) who is actively licensed (certified or registered) by the State Board of Examiners in the jurisdiction where the program exists, and is at the training facility for a minimum of 20 hours per week.
- Internship site has at least 2 full-time equivalent doctoral level psychologists who serve as primary supervisors, who are actively licensed (certified or registered) as a psychologist by the Board of Examiners in the jurisdiction where the program exists.
- At least 2 hours/week of regularly scheduled individual supervision provided by 1 or more doctoral level psychologists (regardless of whether internship is completed in 1 or 2 years).
- Internship training includes range of assessment and intervention activities conducted directly with recipients of psychological services.
- 25% of trainee’s time is in face-to-face psychological services to clients/pts.
- At least 2 hours/week in didactic activities such as didactic activities such as conferences, seminars, in-service training, or grand rounds.
- Minimum of 2 full-time equivalent interns at the internship level of training during any period of training.
- Internship has a written statement or brochure which provides clear description of nature, goals, expectation, quality, and quantity of work.
- Internship programs have documented the due process procedures for interns (given at beginning of training).
- Minimum of 1500 hours completed in no less than 9 months and no more than 24 months.
- Internship programs are required to issue a certificate of internship completion which includes the word “Psychology” to all interns who have successfully completed the program.

American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP):
5 years of Post-Doc Experience:
- 1000 hours of qualifying experience in forensic psychology over a minimum of a 5 year period after the date of their doctoral degree
- 100 hours of specialized forensic training after the date of the doctoral degree in psychology (includes: direct supervision by a forensic professional, CEU’s, and/or formal didactic classroom activities beyond one’s doctoral studies)
OR Applicants with Post-Doc Fellow Training:
- The 5 years of post-doc training may be waived with 1 year of formal training in a qualified forensic psychology post-doctoral fellowship program.
“at least 100 hours of formal education, direct supervision or continuing education in forensic psychology; and at least 1000 hours of experience in forencis psychology obtained in either of 2 ways (i.e. completion of a full-time, at least 1 year, postdoctoral training program in forensic psychology, meeting curriculum requirements consistent with APA’s definition of forensic psychology as a specialty)”

Forensic Psychology Post-Doctoral Training Requirements:

- All doctoral degree classes/requirements completed prior to post-doc training
- Post-doc training must be formally identified as a post-doc training program in forensic psychology.
- Program must have an identifiable director of training who is either of the 3: ABPP with forensic specialization, at least 5 years experience in forensic practice, OR formal certification/sanctioning by the state in which they reside to conduct forensic psych practice.
- Program must offer a certificate of completion or diploma delineating the year(s) of fellowship training.
- TO QUALIFY FOR WAIVER: program must have a structured written curriculum with clearly defined goals and objectives overseen by the director of training.
- Programs must provide didactic training or seminars, as well as clinical experiences in forensic practice. Additionally, they must include a formal didactic course in case law, ethics, and socio-cultural/ethnic factors that affect persons with mental illness an other impairments in the context of forensic assessment and tx.
- Must complete 2000 hours of training in no less than 9 months and no more than 24 months (2 years ½ time).
- On site/face-to-face supervision is required and minimum of 2 hours/week. Supervision must be provided by licensed or state sanctioned psychologist.
- 25% of Fellow’s time must be spent administering direct provision of professional forensic psych services.
- Program must have a formal written evaluation process that outlines the Fellow’s progress during the post-doc year.
American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABNP):

- Doctorate from regionally accredited institution
- Equivalent of 3 years of experience in the specialty area, met by: o 3 years of experience, only one of which can be predoctoral, OR o 1 year of pre- or postdoctoral epxerienc and successful completion of an accredited postdoctoral program in the specialty.
- 2 years of supervison in the practice of specialty, met by: o 2 years of postdoctoral supervision, OR o 1 year of predoctoral and 1 year of postdoctoral supervision, OR o successful completion of an accredited postdoctoral program in specialty.
- Licensed for independent practice in the individual’s state or province, which practice must be ethical and professionally responsible within applicable laws.

Additional Criteria for Persons Receiving Doctoral Degree, or Respecialization, After 1/1/05:

- Training conforms to guidelines of The Houston Guidelines o Houston guidelines require that the residency be the equivalent of 2 years and completed on at-least a half-time basis. Minor deviations are permitted- see additional criteria.
- ABCN will not require that the faculty of the 2 year residency include a board certified neuropsychologist (as stipulated by the Houston Guidelines). However, supervisor eligibility criteria may be considered (see criteria) and submission of necessary documents (supervisors CV).

Bibliography: Lecture given at Argosy University, clinical training dept.