Abstract
For physicians board certification is an accepted tradition that research suggests improves services and outcomes. In contrast,
relatively few psychologists pursue board certification suggesting ambivalence or limited contingencies reinforcing it. The
authors report on medical school and hospital-based psychologists’ attitudes toward board certification and current certification
status. About one-fifth (21.7%) of the sample were certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology, a greater proportion
than psychologists generally: Highest rates were seen in neuropsychology (7.5%), clinical psychology (6.4%), clinical child
and adolescent psychology (3.2%) and clinical health psychology (2.8%). Few (<2%) reported their hospitals required board
certification. Half recognized benefits to the profession for psychologists pursuing board certification, yet 70% opposed
requiring it for their hospital-based practice. Forces seeking to promote healthcare quality ultimately may increase expectations
for board certification. If consumers, employers, hospitals and managed care organizations demand board certification for
health professionals, greater numbers of psychologists would likely seek it.
relatively few psychologists pursue board certification suggesting ambivalence or limited contingencies reinforcing it. The
authors report on medical school and hospital-based psychologists’ attitudes toward board certification and current certification
status. About one-fifth (21.7%) of the sample were certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology, a greater proportion
than psychologists generally: Highest rates were seen in neuropsychology (7.5%), clinical psychology (6.4%), clinical child
and adolescent psychology (3.2%) and clinical health psychology (2.8%). Few (<2%) reported their hospitals required board
certification. Half recognized benefits to the profession for psychologists pursuing board certification, yet 70% opposed
requiring it for their hospital-based practice. Forces seeking to promote healthcare quality ultimately may increase expectations
for board certification. If consumers, employers, hospitals and managed care organizations demand board certification for
health professionals, greater numbers of psychologists would likely seek it.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10880-011-9280-1
- Authors
- William N. Robiner, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Mayo Mail Code 741, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Kim E. Dixon, Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
- Jacob L. Miner, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Barry A. Hong, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Journal Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
- Online ISSN 1573-3572
- Print ISSN 1068-9583