Clinical Health Psychology
In addition to the generic foundation requirements, the Clinical Health Psychology specialty requires completion of an organized doctoral education and training program in Professional 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 Professional Psychology 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 professional psychology as determined by the ABCHP. This option is particularly applicable to degrees awarded throughout the U.S. or Canada.
Internship Requirements
A one-year full-time or two-year half-time internship program is required. The internship requirement is met if:
A one-year full-time or two-year half-time internship program is required. The internship requirement is met if:
- Accredited by the APA or CPA OR
- Listed in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Directory for the year the internship was completed, OR
- The applicant is listed in the NRHSPP or CRHSPP Directory or holds the CPQ
Postdoctoral Practice Experience and Supervision Requirements
By its nature, the specialty of Clinical Health Psychology denotes a level of practice requiring preparation beyond doctoral requirements. An individual whose degree is from an APA or CPA accredited program in Professional Psychology must have completed one of the three following training experiences:
By its nature, the specialty of Clinical Health Psychology denotes a level of practice requiring preparation beyond doctoral requirements. An individual whose degree is from an APA or CPA accredited program in Professional Psychology must have completed one of the three following training experiences:
- The applicant can apply for certification after one postdoctoral year upon successful completion of at least one year of an APA/CPA accredited Clinical Health Psychology postdoctoral fellowship OR
- The applicant can apply for certification after two postdoctoral years upon successful completion of either:
- An APA/CPA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in an area other than clinical health psychology if at least 50% of the training was in clinical health psychology, and one additional postdoctoral year of clinical health psychology experience OR
- A non-accredited but APPIC listed clinical health psychology fellowship and one additional postdoctoral year of clinical health psychology experience.
- The applicant can apply for certification after three postdoctoral years with evidence of continued education including a one-year postdoctoral supervised experience in professional psychology, and two additional years of post doctoral experience in clinical health psychology. To qualify for this option the applicant must demonstrate an emphasis in clinical health psychology by attesting to at least 50 continued education credits in clinical health psychology and/or two clinical health psychology courses. Additionally, the applicant must have a supervisor, who has at least 5 years clinical health psychology experience or an ABCHP certification, attest to have provided supervision for at least 480 hours of post doctoral clinical health psychology practice.