ABPP Board Certificatio i Cliical Neuropsychology What You Should Kow (For the Graduate Studet)
Ackowledgemets Armstrog, K., Beebe, D.W., Hilsabeck, R.C., & Kirkwood, M.W. (2008). Board Certificatio i Cliical Neuropsychology: A Guide to Becomig ABPP/ABCN Certified Without Sacrificig Your Saity. New York: Oxford Uiversity Press. * Note: AACN ad the authors receive fiacial compesatio from the sale of this book.
Overview of Presetatio 1) The ABC s of ABPP Board Certificatio 2) The beefits of Board Certificatio i Neuropsychology 3) Demystifyig the ABPP board certificatio process 4) Advice, strategies, ad recommedatios to help make ABPP doable for YOU
The ABC s of ABPP Board Certificatio APA - America Psychological Associatio (1892) Primary professioal membership ad advocacy associatio for professioal psychology ABPP America Board of Professioal Psychology Created (1947) Comprised of a uitary goverig body ad 15 affiliated specialty boards each liked to specific sub-disciplies
ABPP s 15 Member Specialty Boards Cliical Child & Adolescet Psychology Cliical Health Psychology Cliical Neuropsychology Cliical Psychology Cogitive & Behavioral Psychology Couselig Psychology Couple & Family Psychology Foresic Psychology Group Psychology Orgaizatioal & Busiess Cosultig Psychology Police ad Public Safety Psychology Psychoaalysis i Psychology Rehabilitatio Psychology School Psychology Geropsychology
The ABC s of ABPP Board Certificatio (cot.) ABCN America Board of Cliical Neuropsychology (1981) The ABPP specialty board resposible for developig ad implemetig the assessmet procedures specific to cliical europsychology AACN America Academy of Cliical Neuropsychology (1996) Membership orgaizatio comprised of ABPP/ABCN board certified europsychologists Legally separate from ABCN Focuses o advocacy ad educatio BRAIN Be Ready for ABPP i Neuropsychology Group of europsychologists (500+) whose sole goal is to support europsychologists through process of becomig board certified through ABPP/ABCN Has website, listserv, study groups, outlies, etc. Affiliated with AACN
The ABC s of ABPP Board Certificatio (cot.) APPCN Associatio of Postdoctoral Programs i Cliical Neuropsychology (1992) Federatio of postdoctoral fellowship programs that share commo missio. All APPCN programs are led by a ABPP/ABCN-certified europsychologist. Other Boards ABN (aka ABPN) America Board of Professioal Neuropsychology Separate board ot affiliated with ABPP or ABCN ABPdN America Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology Separate board ot affiliated with ABPP or ABCN
Beefits of Board Certificatio i Neuropsychology ABPP/ABCN board certificatio beefits: The practitioer The public The professio
Potetial Beefits to the Practitioer 1. Credibility i the eyes of colleagues, referral sources, traiees, ad patiets Board certificatio is cosidered the orm i medical specialties ad is also used icreasigly i allied health professios, e.g., i pharmacy. ABPP-CN is the oldest credetialig stadard for europsychologists, ad AACN has the largest umber of board certified europsychologists (i 2014, 1000+).
Potetial Beefits to the Practitioer (cot.) 2. Better Pay ad Job Security Salary survey data (Sweet, 2006) idicate that ABCN-certified europsychologists ear 1/3 more o average ad are more satisfied Some istitutios specifically lik bouses, promotios, hospital privileges to board certificatio Some (albeit very few) istitutios are begiig to require board certificatio as a coditio of employmet Associated with pay differetials i the armed services ad pay differetial i the VA systems May SAVE you moey as well
Potetial Beefits to the Practitioer (cot.) 3. Simplified credetialig/licese ad practice mobility Ca streamlie licesig process i some states Ca help whe joiig isurace paels 4. Persoal ad professioal developmet
Beefits to the Public - Oe missio of ABPP/ABCN is to protect the public by: Ehacig Quality of Services/Quality assurace through: I most states, term europsychologist has little legal protectio Verifyig the competecy ad expertise of psychologists providig cosultatio regardig cliical europsychology to the public ad its istitutios Credible self-regulatio via meaigful examiatio ad peer review process
Beefits to the Professio 1. Establishes clear stadards for competece 2. Icreased breadth ad depth of kowledge base of credetialed practitioers
Commo Questios & Myths Regardig Board Certificatio 1) My supervisors ad may of the europsychologists I work with ad respect are ot board certified - why should I be? Relative to medical field, board certificatio i psychology is relatively ew ABPP, ad particularly ABCN has bee growig very rapidly The umber of ew certificatios i ABCN has either exceeded ay other ABPP subspecialty, or bee a close secod to the cliical psychology subspecialty
Commo Questios & Myths Regardig Board Certificatio (cot.) 2) I have heard that ABCN is a old boys etwork. ABCN has worked diligetly ad carefully to help assure a fair evaluatio process. For 50% of the ABPP process your evaluators are blided to ay idetifyig iformatio about the examiees. Approximately half of ABCN certified europsychologists are wome.
Commo Questios & Myths Regardig Board Certificatio (cot.) 3) ABCN is biased agaist pediatric/child cliical europsychologists. Just uder half of ABPP/ABCN certified cliicias work exclusively with childre or with both adults ad childre (Sweet et al., 2006) The writte examiatio covers the etire age spectrum ad icludes specialized pediatric kowledge: May adult questios are actually geeral kowledge questios regardig brai-behavior relatioships There are also questios regardig child developmet The rest of the examiatio process will focus o your preferred populatio (adult or pediatric)
Commo Questios & Myths Regardig Board Certificatio (cot.) 4) You eed to be i the field for X years to be board eligible (i.e., ready to sit for the writte examiatio). Historically there was a period post licesure that applicats had to wait prior to beig board eligible. This is o loger the case. Oce a cadidate has completed the ecessary traiig ad licesure requisites, he or she is cosidered board eligible.
Commo Questios & Myths Regardig Board Certificatio (cot.) 5. The preparatio process for seekig board certificatio is hugely time-cosumig. ABCN s goal is to facilitate this process ad make it as easy as possible for studets/traiees. Early Etry Applicatio: Allows graduate studets to apply for ABPP while i traiig. A umber of web resources for this process are available.
ABPP Early Etry Applicatio Submissio of the applicatio ad a $25 fee allows you to start the process ad ABPP will bak your credetials as you complete your traiig ad credetials You ca submit each credetial/licese as they are completed ad ABPP will simply update your file Saves you $100
Resources To Guide Your ABPP Preparatio 1) ABPP (www.abpp.org) A overview of ABPP ad what board certificatio meas to psychology ad to the public A summary descriptio of the ABPP ad ABCN requiremets Importat forms that you will eed at each step of the ABPP/ABCN certificatio process.
Resources To Guide Your ABPP Preparatio (cot.) 2) ABCN (www.theabc.org) A descriptio of ABCN ad advatages to board certificatio A detailed descriptio of the ABCN requiremets A overview of the examiatio process A listig of examiatio dates ad deadlies Aswers to frequetly asked questios Liks to the applicatio materials at the ABPP site ad study materials at the AACN site
Resources To Guide Your ABPP Preparatio (cot). 3) AACN (www.theaac.org) A descriptio of the AACN ad its missio Iformatio o relevat educatioal programs Iformatio re: the AACN metorship program A study guide AACN-sposored semiars o the ABPP/ABCN certificatio process at the major europsychology cofereces AACN Oxford Workshop Book: Board Certificatio i Cliical Neuropsychology: A guide to becomig ABPP/ABCN certified without sacrificig your saity * Note: AACN ad the authors receive fiacial compesatio from the sale of this book.
Resources To Guide Your ABPP Preparatio (cot). 3) BRAIN (http://brai.aacwiki.org; ayoe ca access) Study outlies, flash cards, sample tests, ad sample study schedules A listserv comprised of peer europsychologists who are already boarded or who are workig through the process (eed to be licesed to joi) Advice o how to approach each step of the certificatio process (both via the website ad the listserv) For listserv members, coordiated study ad support groups for the ABPP/ABCN writte ad oral examiatios
The 4 Steps to Board Certificatio through ABPP/ABCN (1) Applicatio (2) Writte Examiatio (3) Practice Samples (4) Oral Examiatio
Geeral Iformatio about the ABPP Process Fees (1) Applicatio - $125* (2) Writte Examiatio - $300 (3) Practice Samples - $250 (4) Oral Examiatio - $450 * ABPP Early Etry Applicatio ($25)
The Applicatio ad Credetial Review Basic Eligibility Criteria All Applicats must have: 1. A doctorate i Psychology (specialty ca iclude cliical, couselig, educatioal, etc.) 2. A state/provicial licese to practice psychology 3. *Specialty traiig i Neuropsychology (specifics deped o whe you completed your degree) *Specific traiig criteria for Caadia Applicats are available at the ABCN website
The Applicatio ad Credetial Review Basic Eligibility Criteria (cot.) For all cadidates who complete traiig o or after 1/1/2005: q Your backgroud eeds to coform to the traiig model of the Housto coferece. q Equivalet of a 2-year full-time supervised postdoctoral residecy/fellowship i cliical europsychology.
The Applicatio ad Credetial Review Basic Eligibility Criteria (cot.) Basic Traiig Areas (see also applicatio) 1. Basic euroscieces (microarchitecture of the brai, eurochemistry, etc) 2. Basic euroscieces Cliical Neurology 3. Neuroaatomy 4. Neuropathology 5. Cliical Neuropsychological Assessmet 6. Psychological Assessmet 7. Psychological Itervetio 8. Psychopathology
The Writte Examiatio What is the Process? 100 Questio Test 2 hour time limit + 25 uscored questios that are used for beta testig psychometric purposes 70 or higher score passes Admiistered at Prometric Ceters across the coutry durig 4 (2-week) time periods each year The test is developed ad ormed with PES the same compay who writes the EPPP
The Writte Examiatio Dos ad Do ts for Your Preparatio Do: Brush up o applied europsychology cocepts Study diseases, disorders, ad sydromes affectig the CNS Kow your gross ad fuctioal euroaatomy well Review behavioral eurology topics Revisit DSM ad psychiatric disorders Remember to look over relevat psychometric ad statistical topics Cosider takig practice exams available through BRAIN ad the APPCN Traiig Programs
The Writte Examiatio Dos ad Do ts for Your Preparatio (cot.) DON T: Overfocus o ay oe specific topic Lose the forest for the euroaatomical trees Worry about esoteric research methods or stats cocepts Sped much time o ethics at this stage of the process
The Writte Examiatio Importat Resources BRAIN website study otes, flashcards, sample tests BRAIN listserv peer support, help fidig study groups, etc. Peer Study groups AACN Study Guide AACN Metor
The Practice Sample Review The Process You submit to ABCN (olie via ScholarOe) two of your ORIGINAL europsychological evaluatio reports, as well as: All raw data Test score summary sheets Professioal data sheet Cover letter (optioal) Fee
The Practice Sample Review How to Pick Your Cases Do NOT try to fid the perfect case there is o such thig Istead: Pick cases that are moderately complex, reflect your patiet populatio, ad demostrate your uderstadig of europsychological priciples
The Practice Sample Review How to Pick Your Cases (cot.) Have colleagues critique your cases icludig at least oe ABPP/ABCN europsychologist Neuropsychologists who review practice samples will be the oes decidig whether you actually pass DON T have colleagues or metors help you rewrite a report but Do have them help you to determie if your case(s) are good choices for submittig
The Oral Examiatio The last hurdle! 3 Sectios of the Oral Examiatio Review of Professioal ad Ethical Issues Practice Sample Review Fact-Fidig
The Oral Examiatio What is the Process? Held twice a year i Chicago (i May & October/November) 3 1-hour blocks completed back-to-back Results are typically provided withi 10 days
The Review of Professioal ad Ethical Issues What is Beig Assessed? 1. Your kowledge of curret APA/CPA ethical codes; 2. Your uderstadig of HIPAA ad its relevace to your practice; ad 3. Your educatioal history, professioal practice ad cotributios to the field.
The Review of Professioal ad Ethical Issues What is the Task? Ethical Issues: You will be asked to idetify ethical breaches i a vigette You will be asked to provide a ethical dilemma that you have faced ad resolved Professioal Issues: You will provide a summary of your educatioal history, professioal practice, ad cotributios to the field of europsychology
DO: Dos ad Do ts for the Ethics Portio of the Oral Examiatio DON T: Review your ethical codes Memorize stadards ad stadards, ad pertiet umbers laws relatig to your daily practice (e.g., HIPAA) Review some articles/books Pla o wigig it based that cover ethics applied to o the 1 or 2 times you read europsychology the ethical codes whe they last came out
Practice Samples Review What is Beig Assessed? Your kowledge of your cases (pediatric or adult), icludig the diagosed disorder ad related coditios, as well as applied priciples of fuctioal euroaatomy Your kowledge of psychometric priciples, icludig your choice of test battery ad its appropriateess for your particular patiets
Practice Samples Review What is the Task? Your examier will ask you specific questios regardig the two cases you submitted Questios are developed by your examier ad by the 3 (or 4) reviewers who evaluated your Practice Samples
The Fact-Fidig What is the Task? After selectig your case (either a child or adult vigette) you will be expected to: 1) Gather all relevat case iformatio icludig: presetig cocers relevat history behavioral observatios testig results
The Fact-Fidig What is the Task? (cot.) 2) Summarize your impressios icludig your thoughts o: Differetial diagosis (& reasoig behid rulig diagoses out) Likely eurological localizatio (at least i terms of aterior/posterior ad left/right ad/or subcortical implicatig profiles) Possible etiologies Relevat social ad psychological issues ad their impact o the case ad/or europsychological data A cocise summary of thetestig results Recommedatios for treatmet ad possible progoses
The Fact-Fidig Other Importat Details You will have 50 miutes to collect the data ad summarize your fidigs. Time maagemet is oe of the biggest challeges for this task You will be examied usig real cliical cases
The Fact-Fidig Steps to Success (cot.) Thik about how to use your time (e.g.): 5 miutes to write out your template 20 miutes to collect the patiet s history 10 miutes to collect, review, ad discuss test data 5-10 miutes to summarize the history, data coceptualizatio, & preset dx coclusios 5-10 miutes to discuss other possible etiologies if the examier provides ew iformatio to you
The Fact-Fidig Other Importat Details The goal of the Fact-Fidig is ot simply to figure out the patiet s medical coditio. It is to show the examier how you approach europsychological evaluatios. You do NOT have to determie the diagosis or etiology of your case to pass!!! Coversely, gettig diagosis correct is ot sufficiet for you to pass
The ABPP/ABCN Process Fial Word of Ecouragemet ABPP/ABCN board certificatio is ot a elitist goal it is doable for ayoe who has traied to be a europsychologist The PROCESS itself makes you a better europsychologist which i ad of itself is worth pursuig.
The ABPP/ABCN Process Fial Words of Ecouragemet Cosider all of the thigs you have accomplished (or will!) : Graduated college Completed GRE Applied to graduate school Graduate course load Master s thesis proposal/defese Qualifyig examiatio Research requiremets Teachig assistatships Cliical practica Dissertatio proposal/defese Itership Postdoctoral fellowship Licesig examiatio ABPP Board Certificatio Yes the boardig process is challegig, but the shortterm ivestmet (like may of the other thigs you have accomplished) is well-worth the log-term beefit!