Board Certified Specialist in Forensic Psychology
Credential: Board Certified Specialist in Forensic Psychology
Credentialing Agency: American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
Renewal Period: 10 years
The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), Board Certified Specialist in Forensic Psychology credential is an advanced-level certification for Forensic Psychologists. Forensic Psychologists apply the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system, legislative bodies, and administrative agencies; often forensic psychologists provide professional psychological expertise to courts. Forensic Psychologists conduct psychological evaluations, offer treatment, and provide research in anticipation of future legal, contractual, or administrative proceedings; offering expert psychological opinions in the form of testimony or amicus briefs; and, trial consultation. While many psychologists may testify in Court about their patients or research from time to time, such activities would not be considered the specialized practice of forensic psychology. Candidates for the Board Certified Specialist in Forensic Psychology credential must meet educational, experiential, training and other requirements, and must also pass the exam.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Board Certified Specialist in Forensic Psychology
The following DOD Civilian Occupations provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:
The following Federal Occupations provide training and/or experience that contribute to attaining this credential:
| Federal Occupation | Related As | |
|---|---|---|
| 0180 Psychology Series |  Other |
|
| 0602 Physician |  Some |
The following civilian occupations are related to this credential:
| Civilian Job | Bright Outlook | Registered Apprenticeship | Local Salary Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychologists |  Bright Outlook |
 find local salary |
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| Counseling Psychologists | Bright Outlook |
find local salary |
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| School Psychologists | Bright Outlook |
find local salary |
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite: Psychology license/certificate requisite for the candidate's locale of practice
- Experience: 1000 hours
- Education: Doctoral
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 10 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
514 East Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 634-5607
Email: ambra@abpp.org
Credential Pre-requisite REQUIREMENTS
Candidates are required to have a license or certificate in psychology at the independent practice level by the State, Province, or Territory of the U.S. or Canada in which the psychologist practices. Exceptions to the residency requirement are made for active duty federal uniformed service psychologists when practicing in those roles.
Education and/or Training REQUIREMENTS
ABFP requires 100 hours of qualifying specialized training in forensic psychology after the date of the doctoral degree in psychology. This may consist of the accumulated hours of one-on-one supervision by a qualified forensic professional, continuing education activities, and formal didactic classroom activities (beyond one’s doctoral studies). When workshops presented by the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) are used to satisfy all or part of this 100-hour requirement, each hour of AAFP credit counts for two hours.
Education and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS
Candidates are required to have 1,000 hours of qualifying experience in forensic psychology over a minimum of a five-year period after the date of their doctoral degree in psychology. An earned LL.B. or J.D. degree may be substituted for two of the five years of experience; however, the requirement of 1,000 hours of experience must still be met.
The requirement of five years of post-doctoral experience may be waived for applicants who have successfully completed one of the postdoctoral fellowship programs that have been determined by ABFP to meet specific training standards. A current list of these programs may be found in the document library. Instructions for fellowship training directors regarding how to apply to be added to the list may be found in the same location.
Written Exam
- Ethics, Guidelines, and Professional Issues
- Law, Precedents, Court Rules, Civil and Criminal Procedures, and Judicial Practices
- Testing and Assessment, Examination Issues, and Application of Scientific Knowledge to Legal Procedure (e.g., eyewitness accuracy, reliability of memory, jury behavior, and factors influencing confession)
- Civil Competence, Individual Rights and Liberties, Workplace Discrimination, and Employment Rights
- Juvenile, Parenting, and Family/Domestic/Matrimonial Matters
- Civil Damages, Personal Injury, Disability, and Workers Compensation
- Criminal Competence, Criminal Responsibility, and Sentencing
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Board Certified Specialist in Forensic Psychology examination:
- Best Sources
- General References
RECERTIFICATION
Board Certified Specialist in Forensic Psychology
Renewal Period: 10 years
MOST
Registered Apprenticeship