The most responsible way for a psychologist to represent him or herself as a specialist to the public, third-party payers, legislative jurisdictions, and the profession, is to be certified through an organized peer process. The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) has been awarding certification in 13 specialty areas of psychology for over 60 years. Specialty board certification by ABPP is a valuable credential that has long been a gold standard for competency in the profession. Because the process of board certification involves several stages of candidacy and culminates with a face-to-face examination of specialty competencies, certification can be a daunting task. This user-friendly guide is written by board-certified psychologists and helps to demystify the certification process. Each chapter addresses an important topic and offers practical guidance for those psychologists who wish to learn more about becoming certified. Chapters deal with such issues as deciding when to seek certification and what certification to seek first. Test-taking tips and strategies are provided, along with advice on how to best prepare a practice sample.

Information on working with a board-certified mentor in your specialty of choice and lists of pitfalls and how to manage them will help you successfully navigate the journey from initial application to the oral exam. This comprehensive guidebook, set against the backdrop of ABPP's history, is the first of its kind to dissect the certification process and provide insight into all that it involves. A necessary tool as you tackle the certification process, this book offers invaluable advice from experts in all fields of psychology applicable to all 13 areas of ABPP specialization. Book jacket.