ABPdN Bylaws

- ARTICLE I: Name and Composition of the Corporation
- ARTICLE II: Purpose
- ARTICLE III: Composition and Responsibilities of the BOEO
- ARTICLE IV: Officers
- ARTICLE V: Committees
- ARTICLE VI: Board Certification
- ARTICLE VII: Meetings
- ARTICLE VIII: Income and Properties
- ARTICLE IX: Liabilities of the Board of Elected Officers
- ARTICLE X: Amendments
- ARTICLE XI: Seal

ARTICLE I: Name and Composition of the Corporation [back to top]

The name of the Corporation shall be the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology (ABPdN), as stated in the articles of Incorporation filed with the State of Indiana. The Corporation shall be not-for-profit. Certificates authorized by the Corporation shall be issued and holders of such certificates shall be considered as having been awarded a diploma by both ABPdN.

The members of the Corporation shall be known as "Members of the Board of Elected Officers" and be duly elected by the current voting members of ABPdN.

For convention, the entire voting membership of the ABPdN will simply be referred to as “The Board" without the added designation of "of Elected Officer." Members of the Board shall be those fully independently licensed psychologists who have completed certification by the Board.

ARTICLE II: Purpose [back to top]

Section 1

To arrange and conduct investigations and examinations to determine the qualifications of individuals who apply for the certificates issued by the Corporation.

Section 2

To award such certificates in the field of pediatric neuropsychology to qualified applicants, and to maintain a registry of holders of such certificates.

Section 3

To serve the public welfare by preparing and furnishing lists of its members to proper persons and agencies.

ARTICLE III: Composition and Responsibilities of the Board of Elected Officers [back to top]

Section 1

The Board of Elected Officers shall consist of four (4) Board-Certified Pediatric Neuropsychologists, certified by the Corporation and two members-at-large (also certified by the Corporation) or a public member. The membership of the Board shall reflect interests in pediatric neuropsychology.

Section 2

Members of the Board of Executive Council shall be elected to a term of 2 years by a vote of the members of the ABPdN. A term of office shall commence at the annual meeting following the member's election.

Section 3

The Nomination and Election Committee shall carry out the nomination and election of members of the Board as specified in Article V., Section 4.

Section 4

In case of death or resignation from the Board before the expiration of a member's term, the President of the Board of Elected Officers shall choose a successor for the unfilled portion of the term from membership of the Corporation.

Section 5

Responsibilities of the Board of Elected Officers

A. The Board shall have authority to issue from time to time, and thereafter to amend, rules and regulations relating to the issuance or revocation by the Corporation of certificates of competence in the practice of pediatric neuropsychology.

B. The Board shall have the authority to establish one or more regional committees on examination in pediatric neuropsychology."

C. The Board of Directors shall have authority to revoke any certificate issued by it or to place a certificate holder on probation for a fixed or indefinite time if:

i. such certificate was issued contrary to or in violation of the bylaws or any rule of the Board;

ii. the person to whom the certificate was issued entered a misstatement or omission of fact to the Board in his/her application;

iii. the person to whom the certificate was issued is convicted of a crime which involves moral turpitude;

iv. the person to whom the certificate was issued has been found in violation of the code of ethics of a national or regional organization or credentialing board;

v. The person to whom the certificate was issued fails with to respond within 30 days to a formal request for clarification of any issue regarding their behavior, licensure status, etc., when so queried by the Board of directors or its agent.

D. The Board shall be vested with the management and control of the property, business, and affairs of the Corporation

E. Members of the board can vote on issues pertaining to Article III, Section A, B, or C via electronic means or in person.

ARTICLE IV: Officers [back to top]

Section 1

The officers of the Board of Elected Officers shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Treasurer, a Secretary, two Members-at-Large, and other officers and agents as may from time to time be elected from the Board. One individual may hold up to two offices. Each of the offices named above shall be Directors of the Corporation.

Section 2

The President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, and Members-at-Large shall each be elected to serve for a term of two years and until their successors are elected and qualify. The President and President-Elect can serve no more than 1 consecutive term, and the Secretary, Treasurer and Member-at-large can be elected to no more than two successive terms. By mail or electronic means, the voting membership of the entire Board shall elect a person to fill each of the offices named above whose term expires at the annual meeting, and other officers as may be deemed advisable.

Section 3

Any officer may be removed from his/her office, with cause, by a three-fourths vote of the entire Board. If there be a vacancy among the officers of the Board by reason of death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, that vacancy may be filled for the unexpired term by the Board.

Section 4

The President shall preside at all meetings of the members of the Board. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and see that all directions of the Board are carried out; shall, with the approval of the Board, appoint members of all committees other than the Executive Committee (Section V., 2.), of which he or she shall be a voting member; shall direct the preparation and submission to the annual meeting of the Board a report of the Board's business, activities, and affairs during the year; shall have other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board.

Section 5

The President-Elect shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President during the absence or disability of the President. He or she shall have other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board or the President.

Section 6

The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept records of all the financial affairs of the Corporation. He or she shall deposit all receipts of the Corporation to its accounts and have the power to sign checks on the Corporation's accounts; shall cause to be prepared annual audits of the Corporation's books; shall render from time to time and upon demand by the Board or the President reports of all matters within his or her jurisdiction.

Section 7

The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept minutes and records of all Board proceedings, of all meetings of the members, of all examinations, and of all certificates issued, and shall have custody of the Corporation's seal and shall affix it when and wherever proper.

Section 8

The Member-at-Large shall be responsible to attend all meetings of the Board, represent the interests of the members at such meetings

Section 9

The Board shall have authority to appoint from time to time an Executive Director who need not be a member of the Corporation. If any Executive Director be appointed, the Board may delegate to him or her any or all of the duties conferred upon the Treasurer and Secretary by these bylaws, or such other duties as the Board may determine. The Executive Director may be compensated for services in an amount established from time to time by resolution of the Board and shall furnish a bond to the Corporation in an amount and with terms established by the Board.

ARTICLE V: Committees [back to top]

Section 1

Executive Committee

There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the Officers of the Corporation. The duties of the Executive Committee will be to develop an agenda for the annual meeting, to make recommendations to the Board for action, and to act on matters that do not require the vote of the Board. This Executive Committee shall be composed of the President and President Elect.

Section 2

Committee on Eligibility

A. The Committee on Eligibility will consist of two members of the Board who are drawn from various professional backgrounds. This committee will have the authority to make an initial determination of an applicant's eligibility for examination and to report to the Board as to the applicant's eligibility.

B. The Committee on Eligibility will be appointed annually by the President, with the approval of the Board.

C. Replacement, in the event of death or resignation during the year, will be made by the President.

Section 3

Examination Committee

A. The Examination and Test Development Committee will consist of at least three members appointed annually by the President, with the approval of the Board.

B. The Committee will have the authority to develop, administer, and grade the examinations on behalf of the Corporation. The Committee will be empowered to organize one or more regional examination teams, headed by a Committee member and consisting of additional Board Certified Pediatric Neuropsychologists, as regional examiners.

Section 4

The Nominations and Elections Committee

The President, with the approval of the Board, will appoint annually a Chairman of the Nominations and Elections Committee, who will be a Board member. The Chairman will designate two members of the Corporation to serve for one year as members of the Committee. The Nominations and Elections Committee will present at least three candidates to the Board of Elected Officers to fill expiring terms at the annual winter meeting of the Board of Elected Officers. The Nominations and Elections Committee may receive recommendations for nomination from outside the Board of Elected Officers.

Section 1

Qualifications

A successful applicant for Board Certification in the specialty of pediatric neuropsychology must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:

A. A doctoral degree from a regionally accredited program in applied psychology. The program, at the time the degree was awarded, must be 1) approved by the APA and/ or the CPA or 2) be 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 qualify as meeting the doctoral requirements for membership.

B. Licensure or Certification at the independent practice level as a psychologist in the state, province or territory in which the psychologist actively practices.

C. An APPIC or APA approved internship that must include at least a 50% concentration in neuropsychology.

D. Two years of postdoctoral supervised experience, at least 50% of which is pediatric oriented OR at least two years of Organized training and experience in the neurosciences, pediatrics, assessment, rehabilitation, and psychopathology. This requirement is not satisfied by workshops and weekend conferences. (ABPdN has determined that the Houston Conference Guidelines (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.)

Section 2

Revocation of Board Certification.

Board certification may be revoked for:

A. Nonpayment of annual dues;

B. Falsification of credentials on the ABPdN Application or subsequent attestation;

C. Any violation of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct or any violation of the state laws governing psychologists and ethics in the state of licensure;

D. Any criminal violation demonstrating moral turpitude.

Section 3

Dues

Annual Dues will be determined by the Board and will be payable before the first day of the calendar year, with a grace period of two months.

ARTICLE VII: Meetings [back to top]

Section 1

Meetings of the Board of Elected Officers will be held annually at a time and place to be fixed by the Board of Elected Officers. The Board of Elected Officers may schedule such additional meetings as may be required to conduct its work.

Section 2

Special meetings of the Board of Elected Officers may be called by the President or upon the written request, made to the President, of at least one-third of the members of the Board of Elected Officers, provided that written notice of the time of the special meetings and that subjects to be discussed at such meetings shall have been sent to each member of the Board of Elected Officers not less than twenty days prior to such meeting. The President shall have the right to fix the place of such special meetings.

Section 3

A majority of the members of the Board of Elected Officers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Corporation. Except as herein may be specifically otherwise provided, the votes of a majority of the quorum shall be sufficient to pass upon any business of the Corporation. Voting by proxy shall be allowed only so long as the vote is for a specific issue and that the vote is clearly defined, in writing by the eligible board member.

Section 4

The Board of Elected Officers shall be authorized to carry on the business of the Corporation by mail ballot between meetings. In such instance, it shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members to pass upon any business of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VIII: Income and Properties [back to top]

The income and properties of the Corporation, whenever and however derived, shall be applied solely toward promoting the purposes of the Corporation as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. No portion of the income or properties shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus, or otherwise by way of profit to members of the Corporation, provided that nothing contained herein shall prevent proper remuneration to any officer or to any servant of the Corporation or to any member for any services actually rendered to the Corporation, nor prevent the payment of interest at prevailing bank interest rates or reasonable and proper rent for premises let by any member of the Corporation, nor repayment to any member for traveling expenses actually incurred in connection with the proper and necessary business of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IX: Liabilities of the Board of Elected Officers [back to top]

No member of the Board of Elected Officers or other officer or servant of the Corporation shall be liable for the accounts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of any other like members or agent, or for joining in any receipt or other act of conformity, or for any loss or expense happening to the Corporation through the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the money of the Corporation shall be invested or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities, or effects shall be deposited, or from any loss or damage occasioned by an error of judgment of oversight, or for any other loss, damage, or misfortune whatever which shall happen in the execution of the official duties or in the relation thereto, unless the same happened through dishonesty, willful neglect, or default.

ARTICLE X: Amendments [back to top]

Alterations of or amendments to these bylaws may be made by a two-thirds majority vote of the total voting members of the entire voting membership provided that all members have been notified in writing of proposed changes not less than twenty days prior to the date of action.

The seal of the Corporation shall bear words of the following or similar import, that is to say:

The American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology

Incorporated in the State of Indiana, 2004.