HOUSTON GUIDELINES TO BE IMPLEMENTED
At our fall 2002 meeting, the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, affirmed that we would to apply the Houston Guidelines within the ABCN board certification process for applicants receiving their doctoral degree after December 31, 2004. Since then we have worked to incorporate these guidelines into our written and web-based materials and our examination process.

From the perspective of the candidate, the certification process is unchanged. The process remains credential review, followed by written examination, submission of work samples and oral examination. Importantly, candidates receiving their doctoral degrees after December 31, 2004 will be required to document completion of a 2-year post-doctoral residency. Specifically, completion of a neuropsychology-specialty internship, and a one-year post-doctoral residency will no longer be accepted as a path for entry into the board certification process.

From the perspective of the board, several changes are occurring. We are reformatting our application to allow candidates to document that their educational and professional experience covers the Knowledge Base and Skills specified in the Houston Conference Statement (PDF)*. We have reviewed our written examinations to assure they have content validity for this knowledge base and skill set. We will assure that the work sample review and oral examination assesses the skills and knowledge enumerated in the Guidelines.

We would ask you disseminate this information widely. Please be sure all trainees and any training directors with whom you interact are aware of this planned change.

The American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology Web-link to the Houston Conference Guidelines is listed above. Contact the ABCN at www.theabcn.org/about_us/contact_us.html or (734) 936-8269 with questions.

* Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® must installed on your computer to view and print PDF files. To download this free software, please click here.

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Page Last Updated: January 23, 2004