A Membership Organization Dedicated To The Training, Promotion and Advocacy of Medical Psychology

AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGY

4545 South 86^th 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 Accreditation Committee of the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) must accredit the program (AMP) or the ABMP Board of Directors must vote to accept the program as equivalent to the requirements for accreditation by the AMP.

or

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.

or

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 DoD Psychopharmacology Demonstration Project.

 

1. Completion of a fellowship/internship of at least 1,500 hours in Medical Psychology* or its equivalent. The ABMP Board of Directors must vote upon the acceptability of the experience in Medical Psychology of the applicant. 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 a written national examination in psychopharmacology, presentation of clinical work samples, and an oral examination in Medical Psychology.

4a. Achievement of a passing grade on any of the following written examinations 1) The American Board of Medical Psychology's Written Examination in Medical Psychology. 2) Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP), 3) the International College of Prescribing Psychologists (ICPP) 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.

and

4b. The applicant must submit two (2) work product samples, consisting of actual documentation (with identifying information deleted), demonstrating the applicant's clinical skills in the area of medical psychology. The Credentials Review Committee will review the work samples. All work samples will be reviewed by the committee without identification of the applicant. If the work samples are determined to reflect the degree of medical psychological complexity and competence required, the candidate will be notified that he/she has been approved for the scheduling of the oral examination. If the committee determines that the work samples submitted are not sufficiently complex to demonstrate the apropriate level of skill or, in the event that the conent or competence is questioned, the applicant will be notified. The applicant will then be requested to submit one or more additional work sample to the committee. The committee will notify the applicant of the committee's concerns in the event that the work samples are determined to be insufficient. Thus, the applicant will be made aware of the specific reasons for rejection and that information shall be taken into consideration by the candidate when submitting new samples. In the event that the second group of work samples is found to be unacceptable by the committee, the application will be denied. An applicant can reapply after one year, without prejudice.

and

4c. The 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 three hundred ($300.00) dollars which is to be submitted to ABMP. 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 three hundred ($300.00) dollars. If the candidate fails to pass the examination, 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 or voluntary surrender 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 as required by the Board. 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.

3. "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