Postdoctoral Competencies

Proposed Specialty Postdoctoral Residency Competencies

Proposed Specialty Postdoctoral Residency Competencies submitted by CoS to APA-CoA

The specialty specific postdoctoral residency competency documents for 10 specialties below were submitted to the APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA) in 2017 by CoS as products of a project to assist the CoA in identifying the competencies that will populate Level 3 (specialty competencies described in the Standards of Accreditation) for all CoA-recognized specialties. The residency competencies and their essential elements developed by each specialty found in this section are proposed but not finalized. The CoA, through an iterative process, reviewed and revised the submitted competencies and solicited public comment in 2019. An implementation date for the specialty specific competencies will depend upon response to public comment. The description of the process used for development of the submitted competencies by each specialty is also found in this section. The competencies for SMI were submitted in 2020.

The draft of IR C-9 Postdoctoral Residency Competencies was posted for public comment by CoA in November, 2019. The draft of IR C-9 P can be accessed at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment. The public comment period closed on February 4, 2020. Comments were provided by several specialties that addressed concerns about the rework of the Level 3 speciality competencies by the CoA. The CoS also provided comments because the draft of IR-C-9 competencies for public comment raised some concerns that CoS requested be addressed.(See CoS Comments IR C-P). A second period of public comment on the specialty residency competencies closed on October 9, 2020 and CoS again provided comments on the revised draft. (See CoS Comments Revised IR C-9 P) See notations below for specialties whose competencies have not gone out for public comment.

The CoA has opened a third period for public comment on IR C-9 P which refers specifically to aspects if a program's curriculum or training relevant to acquisition and documentation of specific competencies at the postdoctoral level. This period of comment is from March 18,2021 through June 1, 2021. The postdoctoral competencies in IR C-9 P incorporate feedback provided in previous periods of public comment and first time public comment on the competencies for Serious Mental Illness Psychology. Both Police and Public Safety Psychology and Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy postdoctoral competencies will be opened for public comment soon after the April, 2021 CoA meeting. Information about the proposed standards and public comment available at http://apps.apa.org/accredcomment.

Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology*

Proposed Postdoctoral Residency Competencies

Process for Development of these Competencies

Clinical Child Psychology*
Proposed Postdoctoral Residency Competencies

Process for Development of these Competencies

Clinical Health Psychology*

Proposed Postdoctoral Residency Competencies

Process for Development of these Competencies

Clinical Neuropsychology*

Proposed Postdoctoral Residency Competencies

Process for Development of these Competencies

Couple and Family Psychology*