North American Perspectives on Education, Training, Licensing, and Credentialing

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter addresses the broad realm of education, training, licensing and credentialing in professional psychology in the largest countries on the North American continent.Particular attention is paid to the development and implementation of similar mechanisms in both the United States and Canada due to similar developmental histories and strong cross‐border interchanges and influences. Information obtained on Mexico from the series of Tri‐Lateral Forum meetings on Professional Psychology is also included. After addressing the definition of clinical (small c) psychology, professional training (practica, internship, and postdoctoral components) and certification mechanisms in professional psychology (licensure and credentialing) are used to help define competence in professional psychology. The role of each credential is described in the United States and Canada and to some degree in Mexico. Then the structures established to educate, train, accredit, identify, and certify programs and individuals are presented. Influences from external forces that have shaped, and continue to shape these developments, are included and an historical addendum on the national conferences in the United States and Canada that have shaped health service psychology are provided. This chapter is oriented toward an individual student or professional looking for a single source on education, training, licensing, and credentialing in professional psychology.