Glossary / Lexicon

Certification refers to a professional regulation that prohibits people from calling themselves Psychologists while offering services to the public for a fee unless they have been certified by a state board of examiners.

In the field of psychology, certification refers to the process of obtaining recognition or official endorsement of one's professional qualifications or skills. Certification is often used to demonstrate that an individual has met certain standards or criteria in their field of expertise and is competent to practice in that area.

There are several different types of certification that may be relevant in the field of psychology, depending on an individual's specific area of practice or focus. Some examples of certification in psychology might include:

• Board certification in a specific area of psychology, such as clinical psychology or counseling psychology, which is granted by professional organizations such as the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
• Certification as a school psychologist, which is granted by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• Certification as a health service psychologist, which is granted by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP)

Obtaining certification in psychology typically involves meeting certain educational and training requirements, as well as passing a written exam or other assessment of knowledge and skills. Certification is often voluntary, but it can be helpful for individuals who want to demonstrate their expertise or for those who are seeking employment in certain settings.