Board Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology

Abstract

Abstract A brief historical review is provided of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) regarding its relationship to the American Psychological Association (APA) and to examining boards in clinical neuropsychology. It is pointed out that while the APA originally sponsored ABPP, the two organizations are now independent. Furthermore, APA does not endorse or recognize any examining boards in psychology. of the two major examining boards in clinical neuropsychology, the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) is affiliated with ABPP, but the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology (ABPN) is not. It is pointed out that the ABCN affiliation with ABPP does not imply APA endorsement. Similarities and differences between the ABCN and ABPN with regard to policy, philosophy, and examination procedures are discussed, and a plea is made for unification of the boards, and for discouragement of the proliferation of “vanity boards.”