2003 Annual Reports for Boards and Committees

Commission for Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology (CRSPPP) 2003 Annual Report

2004 CRSPPP Membership: Arthur Kovacs Elena Eisman (Chair), Elizabeth Almaier, Elena Eisman Raymond Folen, Patricia Hollander (Public Member), Sally Singer Horwatt, Nadine Lambert, Lisa Porche-Burke, Lynn Rehm, and Reiko True.

The following activities were conducted in 2003:

CRSPPP held its annual meeting on May 17-18, 2003, at which time it discussed and acted upon a petition for the continued recognition of a specialty in Clinical Neuropsychology. A motion for the continued recognition of Clinical Neuropsychology as a specialty was forwarded via the Board of Directors for approval by the Council of Representatives in August 2003. The Council approved the continued recognition of Clinical Neuropsychology at that time for a period of 7 years.

CRSPPP also reviewed and discussed revised drafts of the document that governs its procedures for the processing of petitions for specialty and proficiency recognition: Procedures for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology. A final revised copy was prepared and approved by CRSPPP during the August 2003 meeting held during the convention. At the December 2003 meeting the APA Board of Directors approved the revisions to the CRSPPP procedures. This document will be presented as information at the Council of Representatives meeting in February 2004.

CRSPPP representatives participated in January and September 2003 meetings of the Council of Credentialing Organizations in Professional Psychology (CCOPP). Discussions focused on developing a set of core principles that guide specialization in the health service psychology domain of professional psychology. CRSPPP plans to facilitate a review of this document in APA governance meetings during 2004.

CRSPPP held an Open Forum on its work during the 2003 APA Convention held in Toronto. The focus of the Open Forum centered on issues related to the impact of specialty recognition in psychology.

Lastly, CRSPPP has received petitions for continued recognition by APA of a proficiency in Biofeedback: Applied Psychophysiology, for the recognition of a proficiency in Clinical Hypnosis, and for the recognition of a specialty in Geropsychology (in lieu of its prior recognition as a proficiency). A period of public notice and opportunity for comment of 60 days for both petitions will be available beginning February 1, 2004. In addition, CRSPPP has received a petition for the continued recognition of Clinical Health as a specialty. A period of public notice and opportunity for comment of 60 days will begin on March 1, 2004.