Lindsay A. Phillips, PsyD, ABPP
Greetings and a warm welcome to the website of the American Board of Clinical Psychology (ABCP)!
ABCP was one of the first specialty boards of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Psychologists with board certification in Clinical Psychology have met standards and exhibit competencies required in this specialty. Our website provides information about the science and practice of clinical psychology, the credentials required to qualify to apply for this specialty, and direction regarding the board certification process in the specialty of Clinical Psychology.
Our Aims
Our Board maintains standards, develops examination processes, and administers examinations for board certification. The merged Academy of the American Board of Clinical Psychology promotes the value of board certification in clinical psychology to the public and future specialists, and provides services to our current specialists.
For Members of the Public
If you are seeking professional services of a board certified clinical psychologist, please use the ABPP directory and indicate “Clinical” as the specialty to locate a board certified clinical psychologist practicing in your area.
For Psychologists Interested in Board Certification
If you are considering seeking board certification in Clinical Psychology, please visit our Document Library and take some time to review the latest version of our Clinical Examination Manual and other resources. The manual describes the application process by providing explicit instructions for each stage of the exam, from the initial qualifications to the written and oral phases. The exam process is comprehensive, but also collegial. We expect that most clinical psychologists can attain board certification and we believe you will find the examination process to be a valuable opportunity for evaluating your practice. We have a mentoring program to offer support through your journey as well (you can contact Leo Caraballo, PsyD, ABPP, our mentorship coordinator, for more information at Caraballoleo16@gmail.com).
There are numerous benefits to board certification, so we encourage you to begin your process. Explore the types of applications available and note that early career psychologists have a discount and training directors can apply at no cost. The ABPP Foundation also offers funds and grants. Board certification is applicable to practicing clinicians and clinical psychologists in academic, research, administrative, and other areas of practice.
For Students and Trainees in Clinical Psychology
You may be eligible to start the board certification process through the ABPP Early Entry Option, with application fees significantly discounted and access to mentoring. We collaborate with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) to process applications through their Credentials Bank. We also encourage university faculty and training directors of practicums, internships, and fellowships to share the benefits of this early entry option with their trainees.
For our Current Specialists
If you are already board certified in Clinical Psychology, we welcome your involvement! If you want to be more involved, there has never been a better time. The now-common use of virtual meetings allows all specialists to be involved in some capacity regardless of location. Your willingness to serve as an examiner in your region is one way to continue your commitment to the organization. We encourage you to volunteer as an examiner by contacting your Regional Coordinator. You can also learn more about our Academy Ambassador Program and become involved Board through committees, including our Academy outreach efforts through education, marketing, and membership services. You can contact our Academy Directors if you wish to learn more about ways you can be involved in these capacities. We are committed to being an inclusive board, welcoming specialists of all backgrounds and experiences to work together to support our aims.
Our board will stay in touch about more opportunities to join us and please feel free to reach out if you want to explore how you can be more involved. A sincere thank you to all specialists who are already involved with ABCP in a wide variety of ways. We would not meet our aims stated at the beginning of this letter without you.
Conclusion
It is my sincere honor to serve as the President of ABCP. I will continue to carry out our mission with diligence, care, and inclusivity. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly with input for the Board and/or if you have any questions about the board certification process in Clinical Psychology. We hope you will find us to be a welcoming, devoted, and responsive group of psychologists who do our best to promote both clinical excellence and collegiality.
Sincerely,
Lindsay A. Phillips, PsyD, ABPP
Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
President, American Board of Clinical Psychology