Become Board Certified (ABPP) in Addiction Psychology

Great News: On May 6, 2020, the American Board of Professional Psychology’s (ABPP) Board of Trustees (BOT) gave provisional approval to Addiction Psychology (AP) as a specialty board. Now licensed psychologists specializing in addictions can apply for Board Certification in AP.

Brief Overview: How Addiction Psychology Became an ABPP Specialty Board

• The growth of Addiction Psychology over the past 40 years has made it clear that a credential was needed that would differentiate doctoral level psychologists from other addiction professionals, many of whom do not have comprehensive mental health training. 

• Not only have psychologists developed the majority of the evidence-based addiction treatments, but we also know that many substance abusers also have mental health problems. Psychologists are well-positioned and have the foundational skills to provide wide-ranging evidence-based care.

• Drug and alcohol problems are relatively common in primary care settings. Trained and certified addiction psychologists can play a critical role in collaborative health care teams. 

The Next Step: Implementation Phase

• Before any licensed psychologist can apply for board certification in Addiction Psychology all relevant manuals, requirements, and forms need to be developed.  

• Stay tuned, as we will send out listserv announcements when candidates can apply to become board certified in Addiction Psychology.

• We also hope that in a few months we will have a presence on the ABPP webpage for the American Board of Addiction Psychology (ABAP).

Lastly, a big hand to the four Division 50 members who have been working with me for 2 years to make the ABAP specialty a reality: Drs. Ray Hanbury, John Kelly, Bruce Liese, and Mark Sobell.