Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology (CRSSPP)

The commission:

• Facilitates the development, implementation and review of effective and coordinated policies and procedures to improve quality and process in recognition of specialties and subspecialties in professional psychology.

• Reviews petitions from organizations requesting the Association's recognition of a professional specialty or subspecialty.

• Establishes mechanisms for the periodic evaluation and renewal of such recognition.

• Makes recommendations regarding consistency in the use of the terms “specialty” and “subspecialty” by the APA.

Subject to review by the Board of Directors, the commission has the authority to adopt procedures for reviewing specialty and subspecialty petitions. The commission may make proposals to the Council of Representatives regarding:

• The principles that define specialties and subspecialties and the criteria for their recognition.

• The processes by which the association confers and maintains its recognition of specialties and subspecialties.

The commission reports to the Council of Representatives through the Board of Directors.

• Jennifer Taylor, PhD (email)
• Kristen Knight-Griffin, MPS (email)

• 2025 Chair: Trista A. Perez Crawford, PhD (2023–25)
• 2025 Vice chair: Adeidre Stribling Riley, PhD (2024–26)
• Linda Berg-Cross, PhD, ABPP (2023–25)
• Sharon Bowman, PhD, ABPP (2023–25)
• Jennifer Ho, PhD (2023–25)
• Lindsay Phillips, PsyD, ABPP (2024–26)
• Steven Smith, JD (2024–26)
• Kathleen Brown, PhD (2025-27)
• Samuel Song, PhD (2025-27)
• Lenore Walker, EdD (2025-27)

• Open Session Minutes: March 21, 2024 (PDF, 969KB)

CRSSPP has received the following petitions for recognition: 

Addiction Psychology Specialty Petition (New) (PDF, 2MB)
CRSSPP is accepting comments for the new addiction psychology petition online.

Clinical Health Psychology Specialty Petition (Renewal) (PDF, 3.1MB)
CRSSPP is accepting comments for the clinical health psychology renewal petition online.

Couple and Family Psychology Specialty Petition (Renewal) (PDF, 20MB)
CRSSPP is accepting comments for the couple and family psychology renewal petition online.

Group Psychology and Psychotherapy Specialty Petition (Renewal) (PDF, 1.7MB)
CRSSPP is accepting comments for the group psychology and psychotherapy renewal petition online.

The closing deadline for comments is 5 p.m. ET on March 10, 2025. Questions may directed to Kristen Knight-Griffin.

Organizations that provide certifications in APA-recognized specialties and subspecialties may apply to be recognized by APA so that individuals with a certification from the organization can have that credential listed in the APA membership directory.

• History
  Until recent years, recognition of specialties in professional psychology was done on a de facto basis. APA thereby established CRSSPP as its organizational agent to implement the recognition of specialties and subspecialties in professional psychology.

• Recognition for Specialties and Subspecialties
  These procedures describe the process by which APA and CRSSPP will consider petitions for initial and renewed recognition of specialties and subspecialties in professional psychology.

• Recognized Specialties, Subspecialties, and Proficiencies
  Public descriptions of recognized specialties, subspecialties, and proficiencies.