The Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology (CoS) is a non-profit joint venture, initially sponsored by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), to represent and support the development and functioning of recognized specialties in Professional Psychology.
CoS Working Definition of a Specialty in Professional Psychology
A specialty is a defined area of professional psychology characterized by a distinctive pattern or configuration of competent services to specified problems and populations. Practice in a specialty is based upon broad and general education and training in scientific psychology and the foundations of practice. Practice in a specialty requires advanced knowledge and advanced skills acquired through an accredited doctoral program and/or organized sequence of education and training in postdoctoral programs.
CoS Policy on Specialty Synarchies
A Synarchy, as concerning the specialty councils in professional psychology, is a process of governance through joint sovereignty, and consists of the professional groups and organizations that represent the major educational, training, and professional constituencies and stakeholders relevant to the particular specialty in professional psychology.
- Each Specialty Synarchy holds at least one meeting each year.
- Each Specialty Synarchy elects a representative to attend all CoS meetings.
- Each Specialty Synarchy representative is responsible for communicating the issues and concerns of the CoS meetings to their Specialty Synarchy and the issues and concerns of their Specialty Synarchy to the CoS.
- Each Council Member is responsible for communicating the issues and concerns of the Council to their respective organizations in the form of an annual report to be included on the agenda of those organizations' meeting, and shall include any action items required for the agenda of that meeting.
