The candidate will be able to demonstrate competency in the following Foundational and Functional Competency areas as defined below:
FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES
Relationships (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates sensitivity to the welfare, rights, and dignity of others and an ability to relate to individuals, groups and communities in ways that enhance the effectiveness of services provided. Successful Candidates must be aware of their own impact on others and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of clients, recipients of service, colleagues, and the public.
Individual and Cultural Diversity (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates knowledge, sensitivity and skill in working with individuals, groups and communities representative of all aspects of individual and cultural diversity (e.g., ethnicity, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability status, and special populations). A successful Candidate articulates how interactions between and among individuals and communities are shaped by diversity variables.
Ethical and Legal Standards/Policy (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate is aware of: (1) current ethical principles and practice standards of the APA; (2) current statutory and regulatory provisions applicable to professional practice; and (3) implications of these principles to protect clients/patients, the profession, and society.
Professionalism (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates professional values, attitudes and behaviors that represent integrity, personal responsibility, and adherence to professional standards, including written communication standards.
Reflective Practice/Self-Assessment/Self Care (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate engages in ongoing professional self-reflection and routine assessment of professional practice outcomes. A successful candidate practices with personal and professional self-awareness, practices within the boundaries of professional and clinical competencies, demonstrates evidence of continued development based on self-reflection and self-assessment, and engages in appropriate self-care.
Science, Knowledge and Methods (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate is aware of and conversant with scientific and scholarly developments in Psychology and applies them in professional practice. A successful Candidate demonstrates an understanding of and ability to critically discuss research methodology and findings and scientifically derived constructs that inform his/her clinical practice.
Interdisciplinary Systems (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates awareness of relevant issues and constructs within related disciplines and organizations. A successful Candidate possesses an understanding of key interactions with other agencies, settings, disciplines, and professionals.
Evidence-Based Practice (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates the capacity to integrate current research literature into clinical practice, research/evaluation, and other functional competency domains where applicable.
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
Assessment/Diagnosis/Conceptualization (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates case conceptualization and diagnostic assessment that is grounded in science-based theory, research and practice. The Candidate conducts assessments that may range from the administration and interpretation of standardized tests to behavioral observations and clinical interviews. Assessment cases may be from any developmental level across the lifespan. In some forms of professional practice, assessment and intervention are integral parts of the same process.
Intervention (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates knowledge of evidence-based practice and the scientific and theoretical basis of intervention. A successful Candidate performs interventions that take the form of an evidence-based modality of psychotherapy or environmental modification, appropriate to the understanding of the issues. Intervention cases may be from any developmental level across the lifespan.
Consultation (Required of all Candidates): A successful Candidate demonstrates knowledge of the literature and science base relevant to specific consultative methods and processes. A successful Candidate demonstrates the ability to serve as a consultant and communicate and apply his/her knowledge in consultation with others, such as other professionals who provide psychological services, health care professionals from other disciplines, educational personnel, individuals in other institutions and settings, such as social service agencies, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, industry, and legal systems and public policy makers.
Research and/or Evaluation: This optional competency domain will only be addressed for those Candidates who engage in research and/or evaluation. Each of these domains can be scored independently for individuals who engage in one activity, but not the other. A successful Candidate engages in research designed to systematically improve the knowledge base of the profession and/or engages in professional practice that evaluates the effectiveness of programs and activities. If applicable, attention is paid to the Candidate’s own scholarly contributions as they inform the practice of clinical psychology.
Supervision: This optional competency domain will only be addressed for those Candidates who engage in supervision. Specialists who engage in supervision demonstrate the ability to communicate and apply knowledge of the purpose, roles, and procedures in the practice of supervision.
Teaching: This optional competency domain will only be addressed for those Candidates who engage in teaching. A successful Candidate demonstrates the capacity to effectively provide instruction to others based on the most current research related to the subject matter and to the method of instruction.
Management/Administration: This optional competency domain will only be addressed for those Candidates who engage in management/administration. A successful Candidate engages in effective management and administrative activities of organizations, programs, and/or agencies.
Advocacy: This optional competency domain will only be addressed for those Candidates who engage in systemic advocacy designed to impact policy, law, and public reform activities. The successful Candidate engages in activities that publicly promote change at the level of institutions, communities or society. Clinical psychologists engage in activities that advocate for or empower the individual recipients of the services they provide.