Board Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology

Pursuit of board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) has become a standard expectation for clinical neuropsychologists. At the time this book was published, the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) was the fastest growing specialty board of ABPP with over 1,000 active members. However, the board certification process is challenging and can be intimidating. The objectives of this book are to demystify the process and provide practical advice for achieving board certification through ABPP/ABCN. To start, benefits of board certification are summarized and common myths debunked. Next, individual chapters for each step in the process, as well as a chapter devoted to pursuit of the pediatric subspecialty, provide details about essential elements of the task, the process, the timeline, strategies for success, common pitfalls, and what happens behind the scenes at ABPP/ABCN. Each of these chapters also has tips for trainees and supervisors who want to get a jump on preparing for board certification. Finally, encouragement and guidance for individuals who encounter setbacks at any step along the way are offered.

Kira Armstrong earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Victoria in 1999, with a specialization in neuropsychology. She completed an internship in neuropsychology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Columbus Children's Hospital. Dr. Armstrong previously worked in the pediatric department of Lutheran Hospital (outside Chicago) and as the lead pediatric neuropsychologist at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). She managed the pediatric neuropsychology fellowship program at CHA between 2005 - 2008 prior to transitioning to her private practice setting. She became board certified in clinical neuropsychology in 2003 and in the pediatric subspecialty in 2014. Dean W. Beebe earned his PhD in clinical psychology from Loyola University in Chicago in 1998. He completed an internship at the University of Chicago Medical Center and a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Beebe is currently a professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He directs the Neuropsychology Program at Cincinnati Children's. He has been training postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in pediatric neuropsychology since 2000. He became board certified in clinical neuropsychology in 2005 and earned pediatric subspecialty certification in 2014. Robin C. Hilsabeck earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University in 1999, with a specialty focus in neuropsychology. She completed an internship in neuropsychology at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at University of California, San Diego. Dr. Hilsabeck is currently Associate Professor of Neurology at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas (UT) at Austin and lead neuropsychologist in the Cognitive Disorders Center of the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences at UT Health Austin. Prior to her current position, she was Senior Clinical Scientist at a contract research organization for 5 years, and prior to that she worked for 13 years in clinical, administrative, and academic research positions, including Associate Professor of Psychiatry (with tenure) at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and Director of the Neuropsychology Residency Program and Neuropsychology Service at South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio. Dr. Hilsabeck became board certified in clinical neuropsychology in 2003. Michael W. Kirkwood earned his PhD in child clinical psychology from DePaul University in Chicago in 1998. He completed an internship at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Kirkwood is the Director of the Rehabilitation Psychology & Neuropsychology Program at Children's Hospital Colorado and founder and Co-Director of the hospital's interdisciplinary Concussion Program. He has been training fellows, interns, and graduate students since 2001. He became board certified in clinical neuropsychology in 2003 and in the pediatric subspecialty in 2014.

Chapter 1 Introduction The Whos, the Whys, and (Some of) the Whats
Chapter 2 The Written Application and Credential Review Taking the Plunge
Chapter 3 The Written Examination Less Painful Than You Think
Chapter 4 The Practice Sample Showcasing Your Clinical Talents
Chapter 5 The Oral Examination One More Hurdle to Go
Chapter 6 Pediatric Subspecialization Staking Your Claim
Chapter 7 Staying Motivated Surviving Bumps in the Road
Epilogue
References
Index
About the Authors