APA Association Rule 90-5: Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology

Approved by Council of Representatives February 2008

90-5. Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology

There shall be a Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology. The Commission shall: (a) facilitate the development, implementation and review of effective and coordinated policies and procedures to improve quality and process in recognition of specialties and proficiencies in professional psychology; (b) review petitions from organizations requesting the Association's recognition of a professional specialty or proficiency; (c) establish mechanisms for the periodic evaluation and renewal of such recognition; and (d) make recommendations regarding consistency in the use of the terms “specialty” and “proficiency” by the Association. The Commission shall select from among recognition petitions it reviews those deemed appropriate to recommend to the Council of Representatives as meriting formal confirmation. Council shall confirm the recognition of a specialty or proficiency in professional psychology only when such recommendation for recognition shall have been placed before it by the Commission following the completion of an evaluation conducted according to the Commission's procedures.

Subject to review by the Board of Directors, the Commission shall have the authority for adopting procedures for reviewing specialty and proficiency petitions. The Commission may make proposals to the Council of Representatives regarding: (a) the principles that define specialties and proficiencies and the criteria for their recognition; and (b) the processes by which the Association confers and maintains its recognition of specialties and proficiencies. 

The Commission shall consist of nine Commissioners serving staggered terms of three years each. Commissioners shall be limited to two successive full terms of service and may not further succeed themselves without a break in such service. With the exception of a Public Commissioner, all Commissioners must be licensed psychologists and members of the Association. Commissioners shall be nominated also in such a fashion that insures representation among them of (a) the broad scope of the practice of professional psychology, its scientific bases, and the Association's commitment to diversity and the public interest, and (b) an array of expertise in such matters as professional education, practitioner credentialing, program accreditation, continuing professional development, the identification of emerging patterns of practice, and legal and regulatory affairs.

Eight of the Commissioners shall be elected by the Council of Representatives from slates prepared by the following: BSA and BAPPI shall prepare nominations for one Commissioner seat each; BEA shall prepare nominations for three Commissioner seats; BPA and CAPP shall jointly prepare nominations for three Commissioner seats. In preparing slates for a vacancy in its reserved seat or seats and following solicitation from the general membership of the Association, each nominating board or committee shall forward to the Commission for transmission to the Board of Directors the names of five qualified and appropriate candidates per vacancy. The Board of Directors shall then compose a final slate of three of the five nominees for that vacancy from each nominating unit to be submitted to the Council of Representatives for election.

The ninth Commission seat shall be reserved for a Public Member who shall not be a psychologist. The Public Member shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

The Commission shall report to the Council of Representatives through the Board of Directors.