Geometric models of competency development in specialty areas of professional psychology.

Abstract

Trainees aspiring to enter specialty areas of practice in professional psychology need to acquire both corecompetencies in professional psychology and focused and advanced level competences associated with theirarea of specialty practice. The Cube Model of competency development has served the field well in definingcompetencies in professional psychology. Building on the Cube Model, there is a need for additional modelsto illustrate the structure and process of acquiring competencies in specialty areas of professional psychology.We describe 2 new models of competency development, the Interlocking Rings Model and the PyramidModel, which account for the fluid and flexible approach to developing competencies in specialty areas atdifferent levels of training, as well as illustrate the various pathways to obtaining competence in a specialtyarea. These models may prove useful for professional organizations involved in specialty training and trainingprograms that offer training in specialty areas at various levels.Keywords: competencies, competency models, education and training, specialty training