Neuropsychology Central

[Linley]

Hello, everyone!

I just graduated with a degree in psychology and am currently researching grad schools to which to apply for Fall 2005 (yes, 2 long years from now!). My career aspirations are to both practice and conduct research in the field of neuropsychology. I'm not sure exactly what clinical population I want to focus on, although I've been reading about neuropsychological aspects of people affected by AIDS, head injury, and strokes, and diabetes. I'm also kicking around the idea of a pediatric/child focus.

Anyway, my questions concern APA accreditation of grad school programs. I know that I want to attend a grad school with an APA accredited program, to make it easier to meet state regulations for licensing. However, since the APA doesn't accredit Neuropsychology PhD programs I'm not sure how that applies to me. Does that mean that I have to enter a APA-accredited Clinical PhD program and do a concentration/emphasis/specialty in neuropsychology?

Any information or insight anyone has on this is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

~ Linley

[lash]

Yup!

(Boy, that was easy!)

There aren't a whole lot of neuropsychology PhD programs--most neuropsych training tends to be within clinical or cognitive programs in psychology, where the subspecialty is neuropsych. There are some programs with entire neuropsych "tracks," but the idea there too is for the whole psych program to be accredited.
_________________
Lee Ashendorf, Ph.D.
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA
Co-Webmaster, Neuropsychology Central

[Manko7]

Hi Linley,

Lash's answer was pretty sufficient. But I'd like to add thatif you decide to practice you would probably be best suited to go into a clinical program. When you apply to the schools you are interested in, make sure you make it clear that you are interested in all areas of psychology andd in gaining a holistic perspective in the field. You'll look more appealing as a candidate and you will soften yourself against those who, how shall I say, are a bit less tolerant of the psychobiological perspective of neuropsychology!

[Linley]

Thank you for the replies! With the heavy competition for clinical PhD programs (and the little info that seems to out there for neuropsych), I appreciate any advice.

Best wishes ~~ Linley