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FAQs About CRSSPP

Learn more about the Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology (CRSSPP), the consultation process, petitions and applications, and more.

The role of CRSSPP is to evaluate areas of psychology to determine if they are appropriate for designation as specialties or subspecialties. Additionally, CRSSPP evaluates applications of entities to be recognized as credentialing organizations so that they may have their credential listed in the APA membership directory.

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Groups should expect technical assistance, particularly with regard to the commission’s definition of “specialty” and “subspecialty” and the criteria applied by the commission regarding recognition as a specialty, subspecialty, or credentialing organization.

Groups seeking consultation on their petitions or applications should not expect:

  • Advice on the content or the specific language of the petition or application.
  • Editing of the petition or application.

Any specialty or subspecialty petition that has gone through the approval process and been formally recognized by the Council of Representatives is a matter of public record.

However, any Recognition of Organizations that Provide Certifications in Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology (ROPCSSPP) application is not a matter of public record due to the confidential information provided in these applications. Please contact the senior APA staff liaison for further inquiries.

During the term of his/her appointment to CRSSPP, and for a period of three years thereafter, no member of CRSSPP can offer any consultation service or individual guidance to anyone in a petitioning group (reimbursed or non-reimbursed) for the purpose of assisting that group in seeking or renewing recognition status.

However, any assistance after the three-year moratorium is at the discretion of the former commissioner (see: Procedures for the Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology (PDF,209KB)opens in new window).

No. The APA staff is restricted to providing technical assistance as previously noted.

No. Similar to the process of submitting manuscripts for publication, neither editors nor manuscript reviewers are involved in the development of the manuscript. However, similar to ‘revise and resubmit’ decisions on manuscripts, petitioners/applicants can expect to receive feedback on areas that need to be addressed after a petition for recognition has been submitted to CRSSPP.

There are several steps groups should take to prepare for the petition or application process, including:

  • Carefully review the relevant definitions and criteria.
  • Address separately each component of each criterion.
  • Provide focused and complete responses to each criterion.
  • Identify a single individual who will serve as the point of contact and editor for the overall petition or application.
  • Ensure sufficient time for the development of your petition or application to meet the relevant deadlines.

 (see: Procedures for the Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology (PDF,209KB)opens in new window).

These are fixed deadlines.

Some of the most common mistakes include:

  • Failing to specifically and clearly address each component of each of the criteria in the petition.
  • Submitting a “petition by committee” that results in a document that is not integrated and includes contradictions and other inconsistencies.
  • Using language that may be understood by individuals within a specialty area but that may be vague or ambiguous to others.
Date created: 2015