Group Psychology
In addition to the generic foundation requirements, the specialty requires completion of an organized doctoral education and training program in professional psychology that includes an internship. The specialty also requires postdoctoral supervised practice and experience in the field.
The specialty’s specific program requirements are met if one of the following applies:
- The applicant holds a doctoral degree from a program in professional psychology that, at the time the degree was granted, was accredited by the American Psychological Association or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA);
- The applicant holds a doctoral degree from a program listed in Doctoral Psychology Programs Meeting Designated Criteria at the time the degree was granted; or
- The degree requirement is met if the applicant:
- Holds current ABPP board certification in another specialty;
- Holds a current Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB);
- Is credentialed as a health service provider in the current Directory of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP) or the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (CRHSPP); or
- Holds a doctoral degree in psychology and has subsequently been certified as completing a formal doctoral-level professional program that meets APA accreditation requirements.
Individual exception reviews are available for degrees granted outside the United States or Canada, doctoral degrees granted before 1983, or applicants claiming equivalent doctoral degree and program requirements. These exceptions are coordinated through the ABPP Executive Office and the appropriate specialty board.
Internship Requirements
A one-year full-time or two-year half-time internship program is required. This requirement is met if the internship was:
- 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;
- Determined to meet APPIC equivalency guidelines; or
- Completed by an applicant listed in the NRHSPP or CRHSPP Directory, or holding the CPQ.
Postdoctoral Practice Experience and Supervision Requirements
The specialty of group psychology denotes a level of practice requiring preparation beyond doctoral requirements. The postdoctoral requirement includes:
- Three years of group experience;
- One of these years may be predoctoral (internship level); or
- Two or three years may be postdoctoral experience.
The Senior Option
The Senior Option is available to applicants whose licensure was obtained fifteen (15) or more years before the date of application and who have substantial experience in group psychology as clinicians, teachers, and/or supervisors.
The purpose of this option is to demonstrate the accumulation of knowledge and expertise in group psychology. Professional samples may include, but are not limited to:
- Professional writing (books, chapters, articles);
- Demonstrations of didactic expertise in group theory and practice, including course outlines and syllabi;
- Audio/video materials developed to teach or demonstrate group theory and technique;
- Previously prepared professional products demonstrating mastery of group theory and application of group techniques.
All submissions must relate either to direct provision of client services in groups or supervision of individuals providing direct group services.
Directions for Satisfying Specialty Requirements for the Senior Option
- Once an applicant passes ABPP’s generic requirements, they become a candidate, and required materials are sent to the National ABGP Exam Coordinator. At that time, the candidate’s specialty credentials and experience will be evaluated. Although a CV is submitted to the Central Office with the generic application, a second copy must also be submitted to the Exam Coordinator.
- A list of graduate and postgraduate courses in group psychology is required. All graduate and postgraduate training, workshops, and independent study must be clearly listed for the examiner’s review.
- The candidate must document 400 hours of direct group contact, 100 of which must be supervised. Candidates should include all current and past groups, indicating the number of practice hours per year for each group. All supervisors must be listed, even those who can no longer be contacted.
- The senior applicant must also submit two references to ABPP’s Central Office from professionals familiar with their work. One letter of endorsement must be submitted by a practicing group psychologist who can attest to the applicant’s experience and competence in group psychology. In addition, copies of all letters of endorsement must be sent to the Exam Coordinator.
- Finally, an electronic copy of both the practice samples and the professional statement must be sent to the Exam Coordinator. Please see the Form E checklist.
Candidates with fifteen (15) or more years of post-licensure experience may demonstrate their expertise in groups by submitting a Professional Self-Statement and two practice samples selected from the categories below. These submissions must relate either to the direct provision of client services in groups or to the supervision of individuals providing direct group services.
The categories are:
- A first-authored or co-authored (not edited) book relevant to the practice of group psychology;
- First-authored or co-authored substantive, peer-reviewed articles (not brief reports) directly relevant to the practice of group psychology;
- First-authored or co-authored book chapters covering topics relevant to the practice of group psychology;
- Documentation of relevant approaches to the education, training, or supervision of group psychologists, or the delivery of group psychology services, including workshops or courses at regional or national meetings.
Please see the Form D-2 checklist.