Specialty Specific Requirements

Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

The Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology specialty requires completion of an organized doctoral education and training program in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, which includes an internship. The specialty also requires postdoctoral supervised practice and experience in the specialty. Please refer to the Document Library for more detailed information.

The specialty’s specific program requirements are met if:

• The doctoral degree program was in Clinical Psychology, either a child/adolescent track, or a specialized child/adolescent program, from a program accredited by the APA or CPA OR

• The doctoral degree program qualifies as equivalent to an APA or CPA accredited program in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology as determined by the ABCCAP. This option is particularly applicable to degrees awarded throughout the U.S. or Canada OR

• The original doctoral degree is from a nonprofessional program in psychology, but the applicant has completed at least a two year doctoral level retraining program designed to meet APA or CPA accreditation requirements in professional psychology (clinical, school, or counseling) with significant child and adolescent focus (as noted above) OR

• The doctoral degree program was in a counseling or school psychology program accredited by the APA or CPA (see additional experience requirements in the post-doctoral section below).

The internship requirements are met if:

• A one-year full-time or two-year half-time internship program is required. Two-thirds of this training should focus on child/adolescent populations. The internship requirement is met if: 
  • Accredited by the APA or CPA
  • Listed in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Directory for the year the internship was completed

• two years of supervised post doctoral experience in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology in a formal post doctoral training program in Professional Psychology that is accredited by the APA or CPA or from an APPIC member program, plus one additional year of work in the field OR
• one year of supervised postdoctoral practice experience consistent with that ordinarily associated with Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, of which a minimum of one hour per week of supervision as conducted face - to - face by a licensed psychologist, plus two additional years of work in the field
• Any variance from the above two scenarios will be decided on a case -by - case basis by the Credentials Reviewer in consultation with the Board

The postdoctoral requirements include the following for individuals whose degree is from an APA or CPA accredited program in Counseling or School Psychology or a Combined Program, or have a doctoral degree in professional psychology from a program listed as a designated doctoral program in psychology by ASPPB/NRSPP:

• five years post doctoral experience as a Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist. One of the five years must have been supervised for a minimum of one hour per week (preferably two hours, one of which can be group supervision) by a Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist, OR

• successful completion of two - ears in an APA accredited or APPIC member postdoctoral residency/fellowship program in clinical child/adolescent psychology

AND

• demonstrates self - identification as a Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist and an expected continued identification with the specialty.