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ABMP Requirements

 
AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGY
815 Ash
Nevada, MO 64772

 

BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR DIPLOMATE STATUS
 

I. SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

A. Initial Application Requirements. To be accepted as an applicant for diplomate status with the American Board of Medical Psychology (ABMP), an applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of a doctorate in psychology which was clinically-based in its emphasis and was awarded by an institution that was fully accredited by the American Psychological Association or is equivalent to accreditation criteria  and accredited by one of the recognized US regional accrediting bodies of the Commission of Higher Education or an education institution approved and adopted by the Board of the Academy of Medical Psychology as a quality edication institution and program for the training of clinical psychologists or Medical Psychologists.

2. Completion of a post-doctoral master's degree or certificate program in Clinical Psychopharmacology approved by the Board. The Accreditation Committee of the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) must accredit the program (AMP) or the ABMP Board of Directors must vote to accept the program as equivalent to the requirements for accreditation by the AMP.

or

2a. Completion of a medical doctorate (MD), awarded by a medical school from which graduates have been licensed to practice in at least one of the United States or at least one of the provinces of Canada. Psychologists with MD degrees are eligible for ABMP certification after they are one year post MD assuming they had their doctoral degree in psychology first, or the completion of a post doctorate two year graduate program in Medical Psychology approved by the board.

or

2b. Possession of a license to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.  Psychologists with MSN (APN) degrees are eligible for ABMP certification after they are one year post APN training and licensure assuming they had their doctoral degree in psychology first, or the completion of a post doctorate two year graduate program in Medical Psychology approved by the board.

or

2c. Possession of a license to prescribe medication as a "Prescribing Psychologist" or as a "Medical Psychologist" or as otherwise allowed by law and as overseen by a State or Provincial Board of Psychology.

or

2d. Graduation from the DoD Psychopharmacology Demonstration Project.


1. Completion of a fellowship/internship of at least 1,500 hours in Medical Psychology* or its equivalent. The ABMP Board of Directors must vote upon the acceptability of the experience in Medical Psychology of the applicant. The training experience in Medical Psychology shall be considered to be acceptable for purposes of eligibility for ABMP Diplomate status if the fellowship/internship was completed under the auspices of a program accredited by the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) Board. The submission of a letter by a physician or other prescribing healthcare professional documenting collaboration on patient care of at least one year that includes collaboration on the recommendation of medications shall meet the requirements of the completion of a fellowship.

or

3a. Has completed a 1500 hour, minimum of 300 cases, supervised Preceptorship/Residency in Medical Psychology involving providing psychological diagnoses of mental disorders, substance use disorders, and the psychological and life-style aspects of chronic and psychologically related physical disorders; the treatment planning and treatment and case management of these disorders, and collaboration with other heathcare professionals. The requirement for completion of a 1,500 hour fellowship/internship/residency may be waived at the discretion of the board for those applicants who meet the criteria for 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d above.

4. Achievement of a passing grade on a written national examination in psychopharmacology, presentation of clinical work samples, and an oral examination in Medical Psychology.

4a. Achievement of a passing grade on any of the following written examinations 1) The American Board of Medical Psychology's Written Examination in Medical Psychology. 2) Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP), 3) the International College of Prescribing Psychologists (ICPP) Exam in Psychopharmacology, until such time as the ABMP Board of Directors determines that this examination is no longer acceptable as an alternative. The ABMP Board of Directors will give at least a one year notice of this vote, if taken and passed.

and

4b. The applicant must submit two (2) work product samples, consisting of actual documentation (with identifying information deleted), demonstrating the applicant's clinical skills in the area of medical psychology. These "case studies and treatment plans" should generally contain a "brief history", "diagnostic formulation", "treatment plan" containing psychological, pharmacological, and case management interventions relative to the diagnoses or multiple diagnoses, and summary of collaboration with other healthcare professionals and healthcare institutions and course in treatment.  The Credentials Review Committee will review the work samples. All work samples will be reviewed by the committee. If the work samples are determined to reflect the degree of medical psychological complexity and competence required, the candidate will be notified that he/she has been approved for the scheduling of the oral examination. If the committee determines that the work samples submitted are not sufficiently complex to demonstrate the apropriate level of skill or, in the event that the conent or competence is questioned, the applicant will be notified. The applicant will then be requested to submit one or more additional work sample to the committee. The committee will notify the applicant of the committee's concerns in the event that the work samples are determined to be insufficient. Thus, the applicant will be made aware of the specific reasons for rejection and that information shall be taken into consideration by the candidate when submitting new samples. In the event that the second group of work samples is found to be unacceptable by the committee, the application will be denied. An applicant can reapply after one year, without prejudice.

and

4c. The oral examination administered by the American Board of Medical Psychology. A mutually convenient time and location will be determined. The format of the examination will be that of a "professional inquiry," collegial in nature, and designed to demonstrate fundamental medical psychological knowledge, clinical problem-solving issues, ethical considerations, cultural/ethnic/gender factors affecting patient care and similar content. The applicant will need to receive a passing score by two of three ABMP reviewers. The fee for the oral examination is five hundred ($500.00) dollars which is to be submitted to ABMP prior to taking the Oral Examination and progressing to the Written Examination. If a candidate fails to pass the oral examination, he/she will be allowed to take it again, one time, at an additional cost of five hundred ($500.00) dollars. If the candidate fails to pass the examination, they will be allowed to re-apply for Diplomate status in no less than one (1) year, without prejudice.  The Five Hundred ($500) dollar examination fee covers both the Oral and Written Examination, but the Oral Examination must be passed prior to receiving permission to take the Written Examination.  Upon passing the oral examination, the Candidate may either show proof of passage of one of the approved external written examinations (VERITAS or PEP), or take the ABMP Written Examination to complete board certification in the specialty.  Upon completion of the Oral Examination, the Candidate wishing to take the ABMP written examination will be provided with an ID and Password to go to the appropriate section of the www.amphome.org web site and enter the CE Center and take the online written examination.  Upon completion of both the Oral and Written Examinations the board will vote on conferring the Diploma as a Specialist in Medical Psychology.

5. Submission of an application to ABMP, accompanied by an initial, non-refundable payment of one hundred twenty five ($150.00) dollars, which shall be considered to be payment for review and verification of the facts presented in the application.  Upon acceptance of the application fee, required documentation of all the training and requirements related to qualifications noted above, the credentials committee will either approve the applicant for progression to "Candidacy" status which qualifies them to pay the $500 Oral and Written Examination fee and set up their examination committee and examination dates, or requires them to do specific remediation necessary to achieve Candidacy Status.

6. ABMP will verify the representations made in the individual's application and act upon the application within a period of one hundred twenty (120) days. If verification of representations is not obtained by ABMP within one hundred twenty (120) days, the applicant will be notified of the deficiencies in the application and will be given an additional one hundred twenty (120) days to arrange for such verification to be provided to ABMP.  All applicants are encouraged to contact central office if they have not had notification within 120 days.  No applicant is qualified for Board Certification who has not been cleared regarding basic training qualification after payment of their $150 application fee by The Credentials Committee of the Board, paid their $500 Oral and Written Examination fee and been advanced to Candidacy Status and successfully pass their Oral and Written Examinations, and had final review and approval of their qualifying process by the Board.

B. Maintenance of "Good Standing". A Diplomate of ABMP will be required to maintain "good standing" in order to advertise his/her status to the public. The requirements for maintenance of "good standing" will be determined from time to time by the ABMP Board of Directors. In general, the following will be required:

1. An unrestricted license to practice psychology in the state, province or other relevant jurisdiction where the Diplomate practices. Diplomate status will terminate immediately upon loss of license or voluntary surrender of license. However, a Diplomate may change their license designation to "retired," or some similar status with no effect on his/her status as a Diplomate.

2. Completion of the ABMP Recertification Examination as required by the Board. The ABMP Board of Directors will periodically issue specific requirements, such as those relating to cost of the recertification process, the form of the examination, etc.

3. Maintain membership as a Fellow in the Academy of Medical Psychology and continuous payment of annual membership dues supporting the specialty (If a diplomate is arrears in any year's annual dues, they may attain reinstatement by paying/catching up all years arrears dues and the current year's dues).

A."Retired or Inactive Status" (half-price dues for diplomates over 65 year of age, and no longer practicing, teaching, or consulting in psychology, and having achieved an honorary or retired licenses status with their state licensing board). 


B. A Diplomate may retain his/her status, without the need for meeting any Board established recertification, once he/she has represented  to the ABMP Board of Directors that he/she is providing clinical services to patients or teaching in a medical psychology-related area less than ten (10) hours/week.  Such specialists must pay annual dues.

Here is a short outline of how the application process proceeds:

1. We receive your packet with our forms (see this web site) and $150 check and transfer a copy the Executive Director-Dr. Morris, and a copy to Dr. McClure's Credentials Committee, and we put the Originals and a copy of the check in central office file for the applicant.  

2. When Dr. McClure's committee reviews and approves the applicant for candidacy, we will ask for a check ($500 oral and written examination) and the background check, and you will be alerted by central office staff (Bethany Nevins) that there will be a cost and function relative to a national background check ($12.50) if you are passed out of credentials committee.

3. When Credentials Committee and clearance of the $150 application fee, and a good background check, is on file, we will advance you to "CANDIDATE" status (or notify you about remedial work or training required to qualify) which qualifies you to pay the $500 application fee (noted above) and take the Oral (Usually people choose the Skype Option, and sit for examination by 3 Diplomates using our approved essay questions and related queries) and Written Examination by issued password on our web site (or substitute the PEP or VERITAS) exams.  

4.  If the Candidate pays the exam fee, successfully passes a writen and oral exam, they will have their application and Candidacy reviewed by the Board.  

5. If the board finds them approved and qualified they can notify the Candidate that they are being advanced to Diplomat Status and that they have all the standing, status, and privileges of a Specialist in Medical Psychology as long as they are current in their annual dues of $85.

 

Application Academy of Medical Psychology

Upon receipt of your dues ($85 per year for Diplomates and Members), you will be officially added to the Academy of Medical Psychology at the appropriate membership level.

For those who are applying for designation as Fellow/Specialist/Board Certified Medical Psychologist, please send a copy of your active license and either diploma or transcripts from your psychopharmocology training program, a photo ID, proof of membership or request we verify membership in The Academy of Medical Psychology, and all forms supplied in the application section of this web site and the Specialist Application Fee (see the application) by mail or email:

* Medical Psychology as defined on the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) website at HERE and HERE
 

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