Eligibility Requirements

General Eligibility Requirements for Specialty Certification in Pediatric Neuropsychology

Pursuant to the language in the ABPdN bylaws (2003), a successful applicant for board certification in pediatric neuropsychology, must meet the following minimal eligibility criteria:

• Completed doctoral degree from a regionally accredited program in applied psychology that was, at the time the degree was granted, approved by the APA, CPA or was listed in the publication Doctoral Psychology Programs Meeting Designation Criteria. Membership in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers, or those holding the Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) qualify as meeting the doctoral requirements for membership (although membership in neither are required).
  
  
• Licensure or certification at the independent practice level as a psychologist in the State, Province, or Territory in which the psychologist actively practices. (United States and Canada)

Specific Eligibility Requirements for the ABPdN
Practicing as a pediatric neuropsychologist, licensed at the independent level, and:

1. An APPIC or APA approved internship

2. Two years of formal post-doctoral supervised experience, at least 50% of that being pediatric oriented.

Or

1. An APPIC or APA approved internship that includes a documented rotation of concentration in neuropsychology.

2. Organized training and experience in the neurosciences, pediatrics, assessment, rehabilitation, and psychopathology of no less than 2 years. Workshops and weekend conferences cannot meet this requirement.

Embracing of the Houston Conference Guidelines
In 2004, the ABPdN opted to support the Houston Conference Guidelines (HCG) as a means by which the field of neuropsychologist could most easily identify the proper training for neuropsychologists. For that reason, the ABPdN executive board announced their intent to fully require the guidelines for any persons graduating after December 31, 2005. However, there has been additional dialogue by the major professional organizations such as the APA, NAN and INS with regards to the current feasibility of implementation of the HCG.

Evidence for the field’s hesitancy in regard to the HCG can be found in the statement made by the Board of Directors, National Academy of Neuropsychology (2001):

"Be it resolved that the Executive Board of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, while meeting in open session and having been a sponsor of the Houston Conference, views the requirement for employment that a Neuropsychologist 'be trained in accordance with the principles of the Houston Conference' or similar statements to be premature. The Houston Conference Training Guidelines are properly considered as aspirational and should not be subject to rigid application."

Therefore, with these facts in mind, the ABPdN has determined that the HCG should be considered aspirational at this point. The ABPdN will continue to consider the training and experience of those applying on a case-by-case basis. ABPdN will routinely ask applicants to provide additional documentation (if necessary) to determine their qualifications and readiness for board certification. It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate the adequacy of their training in those instances where their training differs substantially from the HCG.