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PETITION FOR THE RECOGNITION OF A PROFICIENCY IN PSYCHOLOGY
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
750 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
(202) 336-5500
PETITION PACKAGE
Criterion L Petitioning Organization, Endorsement, and Support. A petition must be submitted by the board of at least one national organization of psychologists willing to undertake the administrative and professional management of such matters as recognition, training, and evaluation of providers.
1. Proposed title of new proficiency:
2. Provide a brief description of the proficiency (e.g., one or two
sentences that would adequately describe the proficiency for the public.)
3. Name and address of the organization petitioning for proficiency
recognition.
Name:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
FAX:
4. Contact person:
Name:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
FAX:
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5. Signatures of officials submitting the petition:
name title date
name title date
6. Year this organization founded? 19 _
7. Is this organization incorporated? Yes _ No _In what state?
If so, please provide a copy of charter and articles of incorporation.
8. Please enclose by-laws.
9. Please provide the following information for all officials in the organization, including the ExecutiveOfficer or responsible petitioning staff person.
I
Name:
Title:
APA membership status:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
II
Name:
Title:
Address:
FAX:
APA membership status:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
FAX:
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III
Name:
Title:
APA membership status:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
FAX:
10. Describe the purpose and objectives of the petitioning organization.
11. Outline the structure and functions of the petitioning organization (frequency of meetings, number of meetings per year, membership size, functions performed, how decisions are made, types of committees, dues structure, publications [provide samples], etc.).
12. What was its annual budget for the previous three fiscal years? Please attach a copy of annual reports and tax returns for the last three years.
13. List other organizations that are associated with, that promote, or that certify practitioners in this psychological proficiency. Please provide letters of support from these other organizations supporting your petition.
14. Please present a rationale that defends your organization as nationally representative of the practice of your proposed proficiency.
15. What organizations representing specialties in psychology relevant to this proficiency could provide information on the utility and/or support for the recognition of this proficiency.
16. Describe how the administrative and professional management of such matters as recognition, training, and evaluation of providers will be undertaken.
Criterion II. Public Need for Proficiency Practice. A proficiency shall be recognized if it is clearly responsive to public need.
1. What public need does this psychological proficiency serve?
2. Describe any legal, regulatory, professional privileging, and/or educational statute or regulation of this proficiency.
3. Describe how the recognition of this proficiency will increase the availability and quality of services that professional psychologists provide without reducing access to needed services.
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Criterion III. Parameters of Practice. A petition identifies the substantial, specific, and distinctive psychological knowledge and skills that provide the bases for service with respect to at least two of the essential parameters of practice. The parameters to be considered include: a) specific population, b) psychological, biological, or social problem, c) procedure and technology, and d) the specific setting or organizational arrangement in which practice occurs.
1. Identify at least two of the following parameters of practice that define the proficiency. For each one identified, describe how the proficiency applies to the parameter:
a. specific population(s):
b. problem (psychological, biological, or social):
C. particular procedure or technology:
d. specific setting(s) or organizational arrangement(s):
Criterion IV. Acquisition of Knowledge and Skills. The petition presents a description of the array of psychological knowledge and skills that comprise the proficiency, and specifies how these are acquired.
1. For each of the parameters of practice identified above (see Criterion III. 1.) provide a brief description of the content of the didactic experience (course descriptions, learning objectives, teaching methods, syllabi, books, or articles) and supervised practice experiences required to assure competency in the proficiency and how psychology's scientific substrate provides a foundation for the proposed proficiency.
2. In what kinds of settings are education and training for the proficiency acquired (e.g., residency, postdoctoral training experience, continuing education, didactic and experiential sequence in a doctoral program)?
Criterion V. Effectiveness. The petition for the recognition of the proficiency presents evidence of the proficiency's effectiveness.
1. For the parameters of practice that have been identified as defining the proficiency (see Criterion III. 1.) provide examples of evidence of the effectiveness of the proficiency utilizing the published literature, manuscripts published in refereed journals (or equivalent), outcome studies, practice guidelines, consumer satisfaction surveys, etc., that demonstrate the efficacy of the proficiency.
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Criterion VI. Distinctiveness. The petition for a proficiency demonstrates how it is different from other proficiencies.
1. Provide a detailed description of how this proposed proficiency differs from and is similar to existing proficiency practices. The comparison and differentiation must cover the parameters of practice that have been identified as defining the proficiency (see Criterion III. 1.)
Criterion VII. Continuing Professional Development and Education. The petition describes how the practitioners of the proficiency are provided a broad range of regularly offered opportunities for continuing professional development in the proficiency practice and mechanisms to assess the acquisition of knowledge and skills.
1. Describe proficiency. the formal requirements for continuing professional development in the
2. Describe practice. the opportunities for continuing professional development in the proficiency
3. Describe how is the assessment of an individual's professional development is accomplished inthe proficiency.
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PROCEDURES FOR RECOGNITION OF SPECIALTIES AND PROFICIENCIES IN PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Figure 1 presents an outline of the major procedural steps in the process by which the American Psychological Association and its Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology (CRSPPP) will consider petitions for formal recognition of specialties or proficiencies in professional psychology. The process contains six identifiable stages: initiation, petition, evaluation, decision, appeal, and review (see Figure 1).
STAGE I - INITIATION
Step 1 - Notification of Potential Petitioning Organizations
APA periodically notifies its membership about its specialty and proficiency recognition program. The primary vehicle for this notification will be the APA Monitor although other mechanisms may also be used.It is the responsibility of potential petitioning organizations to be aware of these notices and to assess their relevance for their constituencies.
Step 2 - Request for Information
Potential petitioners interested in recognition seek additional information from CRSPPP. CRSPPP staff log all such requests. Further requests for information, etc., also are logged by CRSPPP staff.
Step 3 - CRSPPP Sends Information and Petition Materials
CRSPPP staff send all requested materials and are available for informal consultation to potential petitioning organizations as to the petitioning process.
STAGE II - PETlTION
Step 4 - Petitioning Organization Conducts Self-Analysis
The petitioning organization reviews the petition materials and performs
a self-analysis that requires it to specify the basis on which it should
be the designated petitioning organization and its ability to meet the
criteria. The petition materials form the basis for this analysis which
covers such matters as organizational characteristics, education and training,
definition of practice, self-regulation, and public information components.
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Step 5 - Petitioning Organization Submits Materials and Requests Recognition
The petitioning organization completes petition forms and submits them in triplicate to CRSPPP, along with requisite fees, thereby requesting recognition.
STAGE III - EVALUATION
Step 6 - CRSPPP Acknowledges Receipt
During this step, the formal decision making process begins. CRSPPP staff and an assigned commissioner review the submitted materials to insure that all copies have been received and all questions have been answered.CRSPPP staff logs the receipt of materials and informs the petitioning organization if any additional information is required. When the petition is complete, the next step is initiated.
Step 7 - CRSPPP Verifies Data
CRSPPP initiates a review of written documents, checking references, catalogues, etc., for accuracy and consistency. Training programs and their graduates may be contacted and the credentials of the petitioning organization are reviewed with respect to their status as the representative for the specialty or proficiency for which recognition is sought, based upon but not limited to documents detailing bylaws, governance, and fiscal integrity. Collateral information is sought on the contents of the petition and the credentials of the organization from a variety of sources.
Members of the Council of Representatives and Presidents of APA Divisions will be informed of the receipt of a petition.Notice of receipt of a petition will be published in the Monitor in two successive issues. Comment will be accepted from all relevant and interested organizations and individuals. The public notice and time for comment will extend for 90 days from the date of the second public notice in the Monitor. At this stage of the petition, notification will be forwarded to the petitioning organization as to the completeness of its petition.
Step 8 - CRSPPP Evaluates Materials
At a scheduled meeting, CRSPPP evaluates the materials and decides whether
to recommend recognition of the specialty or proficiency to the Council
of Representatives.
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STABE IV - DECISION
Step 9 - CRSPPP Decision
The petitioning organization is provided with a letter stating the decision of CRSPPP and specifying the reasons for that decision as well as the requirements for annual reports and the renewal review period. The two decision options are:
1. Recommendation for Recognition The petitioning organization has successfully met all of the criteria and CRSPPP recommends to the Council of Representatives recognition as a specialty or proficiency until the next scheduled review.
2. Denial of Petition for Recognition The petitioning organization has not met all of the criteria and CRSPPP denies a recommendation for recognition.The petitioning organization has the option of appealing the adverse decision or of repetitioning for recognition.
STAGE V - APPEAL
Step 10 - CRSPPP Appeals Process
The petitioning organization has 30 days after receipt of formal written notice of the decision to notify CRSPPP of its intent to appeal the decision. The petitioning organization must prepare and submit documentation supporting its appeal within 60 days after receiving the initial adverse decision letter. Appeal can be made only on the following procedural grounds:
1. the CRSPPP disregarded its published criteria in its evaluation; and/or
2. the CRSPPP failed to follow its established procedures.
For the first three years of the Commission's existence, the Appeals Panel will consist of the Chairs of CAPP, BPA, BSA, BAPPI, and BEA or their designee from their Boards. No member of the Appeals Panel will be serving currently on CRSPPP, nor be associated with the petitioning organization seeking appeal. Beginning with year four of the Commission's existence, the Appeals Panel will consist of five former members of CRSPPP not involved with the decision being appealed. This panel will be appointed by the Board of Directors of APA; the petitioning organization shall bear a portion of the cost of the appeal.In its deliberations, the Appeals Panel will:
1. evaluate whether established procedures were followed,
2. make specific judgements as to the grounds (noted above) on which an appeal may be brought; and
3. will forward its written decision to CRSPPP which will notify the
petitioning
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organization of the decision;
Depending upon the decision by the Appeals Panel:
4. if the Appeals Panel finds CRSPPP in violation of procedures, the petition will be remanded to CRSPPP for re-review;
5. if the action of CRSPPP is upheld, the petitioning organization may re-apply for recognition; m-petition may be initiated no sooner than one full year following the adverse decision;
6.a repetition following denial must be accompanied by all requisite petition fees.
STAGE VI - REVIEW
Step 11 - Periodic Review Process
Each recognized specialty or proficiency will submit a brief annual
report and must also conduct a seven-year review and submit a petition
for continued recognition.The specialty or proficiency organization is
sent copies of the renewal petition and is requested to submit materials
reflecting the current status of the specialty or proficiency. The renewal/m-review
will include but not be limited to such information as 1) the number of
programs that have been accredited; 2) the number of psychologists entering
practice in the specialty or proficiency; 3) recognition of the petitioning
organization by outside bodies; and, 4) professional development opportunities
that have been promoted. CRSPPP will review these materials and make a
decision as the continued recognition of the specialty or proficiency.
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FIGURE 1
PETITIONING PROCESS FOR RECOGNITION OF SPECIALTY OR PROFICIENCY
STAGE I - INITIATION
Step 1 - Notification of Potential Petitioning Organizations
Step 2 - Request for Information
Step 3 - CRSPPP Sends Information and Petition Materials
STAGE II - PETITION
Step 4 - Petitioning Organization Conducts Self-Analysis
Step 5 - Petitioning Organization Submits Materials and Reuuests Recomition
STAGE III - EVALUATION
Step 6 - CRSPPP Acknowledges Receipt
Step 7 - CRSPPP Verifies Data
Step 8 - CRSPPP Evaluates Materials
STAGE IV - DECISION
Step 9 - CRSPPP Decision
Recommendation for Recognition
Denial of Petition for Recognition
STAGE V - APPEAL
Step 10 - CRSPPP Appeals Process
STAGE VI - REVIEW
Step 11 - Periodic Review Process
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