ABEPP Status.

This letter is in reference to the article "The Meaning of the ABEPP Diploma" (see record 1962-02007-001) and the comment, "ABEPP Standard Too High?" (American Psychologist, 1961, 16, 655). In response to the Board of Trustees of ABEPP who state that "the ABEPP process has not caught hold," the author of this comment proposes the possibility that psychologists do not desire the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology (ABEPP) because it appears that only a small percentage of the Amercan Psychological Association (APA) membership voted on the issue of ABEPP and there has never been any clear endorsement from the majority of the APA membership. The author also discusses the implications of ABEPP and APA's tax exempt status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The meaning of the ABEPP diploma.

Sample remarks of American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology (ABEPP) examiners regarding ABEPP applicants are presented under the following headings: Field Situation and Examination on Diagnosis, Therapy Examination, Research Examination, and Ethics and Professional Relations. "ABEPP status is, at best, only slowly coming to have direct and immediate effects on salaries and professional rank." As of May 31, 1960, of 812 applicants, 348 were awarded the diploma, 359 are in process, and 105 have been terminated. Historical development of the ABEPP and its operation are described. Various comments, recommendations, criticisms, and commendations directed to the ABEPP Board of Trustees are considered. From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2AL32K. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

ABEPP Standard Too High?

Commends the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology (ABEPP) for their report "The Meaning of the ABEPP Diploma" (see record 1962-02007-001.) The current author discusses the high standards of the ABEPP and the resulting relative paucity of applicants for the diploma. The author suggests the board continue their efforts to make the examination more realistic, less difficult, and less time consuming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment: ABEPP "Neurosis."

Letter comments that the author, as someone who has recently completed the examinations for the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology (ABEPP), would like to discuss what he calls the "ABEPP Neurosis" with the view to delineating some of the facts and fictions of the ABEPP situation. The author hopes his experience will help to minimize the paranoia that a future candidate may encounter if he too, in his innocence, asks what ABEPP is all about. The advice he would give to such a person is this: Ask someone who has taken the examination; stay away from those who are afraid of ghosts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology, Inc., after twenty years: 1967 Annual Report.

Presents the 1967 Annual Report of the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology, Inc. Topics covered in the report include the autonomy of the agency, social responsibility, the utilization of research findings, psychologist evaluation criteria, ABEPP certificate categories, and evolving examination procedures. A salute is offered to the Executive Officer and other ABEPP-linked psychologists, and statistical summaries are provided, as is a listing of ABEPP officers and trustees. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Professionalization in Psychology.

This column comments on an article by Drevdahl in the January, 1956 issue of the "American Psychologist". In his article, Drevdahl offers an analysis of ABEPP in its relationship to graduate training programs in clinical psychology. His basic point seems to be that if ABEPP claims for itself the ability to judge what is "good" and "competent" in psychological practice then it ought to use this knowledge to improve professional training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The work of the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology; 1956 Annual Report.

ABEPP presents its ninth annual report. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

1959 annual report.

Summary of ABEPP activity since its incorporation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology, Inc.: 1963 annual report.

Summary of ABEPP activity since its incorporation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Committee on Professional Liability Insurance. Professional liability insurance for psychologists.

Professional liability insurance for psychologists is obtainable through the Smith-Hoggatt-Dawson Insurance Agency of Champaign, Illinois. Coverage is described and premiums specified. Insurance is granted automatically to an APA member if he is an ABEPP diplomate "… or if he is a regular member of the staff of a recognized college, university, school or school system, firm of industrial or clinical practitioners' clinic, hospital, or church" and to others. Non-ABEPP diplomates "… in completely independent private practice… " must be sponsored in writing by two ABEPP diplomates. The "… insurance now available is written in such a way as to cover research workers as well as… " practitioners. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Standards for APA Directory listings of private practice.

"Two sets of standards have been proposed. One for the guidance of APA members who have been elected to the association since 1958, the other for the guidance of those who were Fellows or Members of the APA as of January 1, 1958." Those elected since January 1, 1958 must have an American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology (ABEPP) or PhD degree and 3 years of paid fulltime experience; those who were Fellows or Members of APA on or before January 1, 1958 must have the ABEPP or PhD or certain specified combinations of graduate training and paid full-time experience. From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2AK27A. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The work of the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology.

ABEPP presents "… a cumulative record of its work to July 15, 1955, in the certification of advanced specialists in fields of professional psychology." Candidacies received, written and oral examinations, policies and procedures concerning candidacy, candidacy fees, directory of diplomates, and personnel changes are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

1960 Annual Report.

Presents the 1960 Annual Report of the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology (ABEPP) to the American Psychological Association and to the membership of the Canadian Psychological Association. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology: 1958 annual report.

The American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology (ABEPP) has now completed its eleventh year of service to American psychology. This article is its eleventh Annual Report to the American Psychological Association and to the membership of the Canadian Psychological Association. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

ABEPP Diplomas for Researchers.

Notes that, at last count, there were 1,152 diplomates of the ABEPP, and an estimated 2,000 more psychologists who are, or will be, eligible for one of the three diplomacies. More than 10,000 psychologists are ineligible for any diplomacy at any time, a situation which strikes the author as unfortunate. An increase in the eligible population could be accomplished either by lowering present standards, or by creating a new diplomate area. The former solution is obviously objectionable. The latter, however, is a real possibility which ought to be explored. Indeed, ABEPP itself, at the time of its incorporation, pointedly left the way open for this expansion. A rough analysis of the current occupations of psychologists suggests that a new diplomacy would be most useful in research, or evaluation and measurement in its broadest sense. The author goes on to explain how the two new diplomate areas would function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA officers, division officers, editors, committees, representatives, and related organizations: 1956-1957.

APA officers, division officers, editors, committee members, representatives, and officers in related organizations (e.g., affiliated regional associations, affiliated state psychological associations, ABEPP, American Psychological Foundation, and the American Board for Psychological Services) are named. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology, Incorporated: 1965 Annual Report.

Presents the 1965 Annual Report of the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology, Incorporated. The following sub-headings are listed: Candidacies Received; Candidacies Received under the Provision of Mandatory Examination; 1964 Written Examinations; 1965 Oral Examinations; Second Candidacies; Continuing Review of Policies and Procedures; ABEPP Officers and Trustees; and Information on Procedures for Candidacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Professionalization in Psychology.

The problems of professionalization in psychology have received a good deal of attention in the past few years, and a great many issues have been aired, clarified, and resolved. Despite this fact, several problems and inconsistencies remain, and deserve somewhat more consideration than they seem to have been given in the past. There are two related points to which the author draws attention. First, there seems to be a tendency, on the part of some, to insure the ethical behavior of their colleagues by removing all temptation to unethical behavior. For instance, the board of directors suggested that membership certificates should not be issued because members might use them to indicate qualifications not actually possessed. This comment was made despite the fact that the code of ethics specifically forbids such behavior. This should not be necessary when one is dealing with mature and responsible persons, and the author is under the impression that, by and large, the APA membership fulfils these qualifications. The second point concerns the ABEPP. This board was established primarily for the protection of the public. This is most certainly an important obligation on the part of professional psychology, but the author is somewhat at a loss to understand why these standards should apply particularly to private practitioners and not, in the same degree, to all psychologists. While the ABEPP procedures presently fulfil, in some degree, the obligations to the public, they fulfil obligations to prospective psychologists deviously and indirectly, if at all. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Note.

The American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology, Inc., announces that beginning steps have been taken to establish a diploma in the specialty of school psychology. At its meeting on September 5, 1967, the Board of Trustees responded favorably to a proposal submitted by the Division of School Psychologists, in which group of 15 to 20 Fellows will be selected by Division 16 to prepare forms and procedures for a trial-run oral examination of approximately five school psychologists in the spring of 1968. ABEPP Board of Trustees responds positively to the expressed and required needs of the profession of school psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

1962 annual report.

Since its incorporation in 1947, "2,568 candidates have applied for the Diploma of ABEPP." 1557 applications were received and 1116 awards were made under a "grandfather" provision; 1011 other candidates have been received under the mandatory examination provision. Of 852 candidates who have taken the written examination, 706 (83%) passed on the 1st attempt, 66 passed on a 2nd examination, and 33 are awaiting re-examination. Of those passing written examination, 757 have taken the oral examination and 749 of these have been evaluated: 449 (60%) passed on the 1st attempt, 149 qualified on the 2nd examination. Under the provision of mandatory examination diplomates have been granted to 521 in clinical, 37 in counseling, and 40 in industrial to date. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)