AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGY

4545 South 86th Street

Lincoln, NE 68526

BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR DIPLOMATE STATUS

I. SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

A. Initial Application Requirements. To be accepted as an applicant for diplomate status with the American Board of Medical Psychology (ABMP), an applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of a doctorate in psychology which was clinically-based in its emphasis and was awarded by an institution that was fully accredited by the American Psychological Association or is equivalent to accreditation criteria adopted by the Board of the Academy of Medical Psychology.

2. Completion of a post-doctoral master’s degree or certificate program in Clinical Psychopharmacology. The program must be accredited by the Accreditation Committee of the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) or the ABMP Board of Directors must vote to accept the program as equivalent to the requirements for accreditation by the AMP.

2a. Completion of a medical doctorate (MD), awarded by a medical school from which graduates have been licensed to practice in at least one of the United States or at least one of the provinces of Canada. Psychologists with MD degrees are eligible for ABMP certification after they are one year post MD assuming they had their doctoral degree in psychology first.

2b. Possession of a license to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

or

2c. Possession of a license to prescribe medication as a "Prescribing Psychologist" or as a "Medical Psychologist" or as otherwise allowed by law and as overseen by a State or Provincial Board of Psychology.

or

2d. Graduation from the Psychopharmacology Demonstration Project.

 

3. Completion of a fellowship/internship of at least 1,500 hours in Medical Psychology* or its equivalent. The acceptability of the experience in Medical Psychology of the applicant must be voted upon by the ABMP Board of Directors. The training experience in Medical Psychology shall be considered to be acceptable for purposes of eligibility for ABMP Diplomate status if the fellowship/internship was completed under the auspices of a program accredited by the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) Board. The submission of a letter by a physician or other prescribing healthcare professional documenting collaboration on patient care of at least one year that includes collaboration on the recommendation of medications shall meet the requirements of the completion of a fellowship.

or

3a. The requirement for completion of a 1,500 hour fellowship/ internship is waived for those applicants who meet the criteria for 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d above.

4. Achievement of a passing grade on the (PEP) examination.

or

4a. Achievement of a passing grade on the International College of Prescribing Psychologists Exam in Psychopharmacology, until such time as the ABMP Board of Directors determines that this examination is no longer acceptable as an alternative. The ABMP Board of Directors will give at least a one year notice of this vote, if taken and passed.

4b. An oral examination administered by the American Board of Medical Psychology. A mutually convenient time and location will be determined. The format of the examination will be that of a "professional inquiry," collegial in nature, and designed to demonstrate fundamental medical psychological knowledge, clinical problem-solving issues, ethical considerations, cultural/ethnic/gender factors affecting patient care and similar content. The applicant will need to receive a passing score by two of three ABMP reviewers. The fee for the oral examination is five hundred ($500.00) dollars which is to be submitted to ABMP if an applicant chooses this form of examination. If a candidate fails to pass the oral examination, he/she will be allowed to take it again, one time, at an additional cost of five hundred ($500.00). If the candidate fails to pass the examination, (and if they have neither taken nor passed one of the written exams above) they will be allowed to re-apply for Diplomate status in no less than one (1) year, without prejudice.

5. Submission of an application to ABMP, accompanied by an initial, non-refundable payment of one hundred twenty five ($125.00) dollars, which shall be considered to be payment for review and verification of the facts presented in the application.

6. ABMP will verify the representations made in the individual’s application and act upon the application within a period of one hundred twenty (120) days. If verification of representations is not obtained by ABMP within one hundred twenty (120) days, the applicant will be notified of the deficiencies in the application and will be given an additional one hundred twenty (120) days to arrange for such verification to be provided to ABMP.

B. Maintenance of "Good Standing". A Diplomate of ABMP will be required to maintain "good standing" in order to advertise his/her status to the public. The requirements for maintenance of "good standing" will be determined from time to time by the ABMP Board of Directors. In general, the following will be required:

1. An unrestricted license to practice psychology in the state, province or other relevant jurisdiction where the Diplomate practices. Diplomate status will terminate immediately upon loss of license, however, a Diplomate may change their license designation to "retired," or some similar status with no effect on his/her status as a Diplomate.

2. Completion of the ABMP Recertification Examination every five (5) years. The ABMP Board of Directors will periodically issue specific requirements, such as those relating to cost of the recertification process, the form of the examination, etc.

3. Maintain membership as a Fellow in the Academy of Medical Psychology.

  1. "Retired or Inactive Status". A Diplomate may retain his/her status, without the need for recertification, once he/she has represented to the ABMP Board of Directors that he/she is providing clinical services to patients or teaching in a medical psychology-related area less than ten (10) hours/week.

* Medical Psychology as defined on the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) website at HERE