The Walter Katkovsky Scholarship (WKS)

Scholarship Description

Established through a generous donation to the ABPPF by Dr. Walter Katkovsky (WKS), this scholarship was created to encourage and to support health service psychologists in applying for and becoming ABPP specialty board certified in one of ABPP’s professional psychology specialties. These scholarships are provided to help to defray the costs (up to $1500) incurred by psychologists over the course of the certification process (including specialty board application/examination fees and travel expenses related to the examination).  Applicants may be at any point in their professional career and must not be already ABPP board certified.  Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to individuals applying for board certification in the following specialty areas: Addiction Psychology, Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Couple and Family Psychology, Geropsychology, Group Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology, Serious Mental Illness Psychology, and School Psychology.  Up to 15 scholarships may be awarded each year.

The WKS awards are for an amount up to $1500 to assist applicants by reimbursing them for expenses incurred in the process of becoming board certified. The scholarship funds may be used to reimburse expenses related to (a) application or examination fees and (b) travel to and lodging at the examination site (within parameters established by the ABPPF).

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a scholarship award, the individual must:

• Hold a PhD or PsyD in Psychology
• Be licensed in the state in which applicant practices (which also may include teaching, supervision and consulting, and conducting research in specialty-related topics)
• Hold membership in at least one professional psychology organization, such as APA or one of its divisions/societies, or a state or regional psychology organization or chapter
• Not be already certified in one of ABPP’s specialty areas
• Have applied to the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and successfully completed the ABPP credentials review process
• Have two letters of reference submitted from professionals familiar with the applicant’s current professional work and/or activities.  In the case of early career psychologists (ECPs—those less than 10 years beyond conferral of their doctorate), one letter can be from a former faculty member