Society for Personality Assessment

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Membership - Member Categories

Member
Persons whose work and interests lie in the study or treatment of human behavior and its development or dysfunction, and who are recognized by virtue of professional training, experience, and membership in professional associations, as qualified psychologists, psychiatrists, or research workers in these fields, may be elected as Members provided their qualifications conform to the following standards: Doctorate in psychology, medicine, or related field and involved in personality assessment at a level of supervised experience acceptable to the Membership Committee. The requirement of a doctorate may be waived for applicants from countries in which it is not the standard degree relevant to the practice of personality assessment if applicants have the advanced degree and training necessary for independent practice as determined by the Membership Committee.

Fellow
1. Psychologists or individuals in the behavioral sciences who have demonstrated particular competence in methods of personality assessment in two of the following ways:

• A history of successful teaching in the area of personality assessment demonstrated by the attainment of the rank of Associate Professor or higher; or
• Made theoretical or research contributions of high quality in the area of personality assessment; or
• Have demonstrated professional leadership through supervision, administration or consultation in the use of methods of personality assessment within an institution or agency; or
• Have demonstrated other high attainments such as acquisition of the ABPP diploma.
• Have made a unique and outstanding contribution to the Society.

2. Doctor’s degree with special training in methods of personality assessment and a minimum of five years of acceptable experience following the attainment of the degree. The requirement of a doctorate may be waived in the case of applicants from countries in which it is not the standard degree relevant to the practice of personality assessment if they have a minimum of five years of acceptable experience after attaining the degree necessary for independent practice as determined by the Membership Committee.

3. Each applicant for Fellow shall be endorsed as to competence, personal soundness and integrity by at least one Fellow and one Member of the Society.

Associate
Persons who are graduate students in psychology or professionals or paraprofessionals who are working in supervised positions may be elected as Associates provided their qualifications conform to the following standards:

• Completion of one full year of graduate study in psychology plus one year of supervised experience, or completion of two years of graduate study with at least one semester of study in a full academic university course in methods of personality assessment; or
• Two years of experience in the particular professional or paraprofessional field of the applicant who holds at least an Associate of Arts degree. Note: After five years, associates may apply for full membership.
  

Student Affiliate
Graduate students enrolled in a regionally accredited program in psychology or a related field may be elected as Student Affiliates. Graduate students may be enrolled in this membership category for a maximum of five years. Persons enrolled in a post graduate or fellowship program can maintain the Student Affiliate classification.

New Doctoral Graduate/Second-Year Doctoral Graduate
To ease the financial transition from Student Affiliate to Member, the Board has added two more classes of membership. New doctoral graduates pay one-half and second-year doctoral graduates pay three-quarters of the full Member fee. The third year after receipt of their doctoral degree, these members will be expected to pay the full annual dues.

Honorary Member
Persons of outstanding distinction or who have done much to promote the objectives of the Society may be elected to Honorary Membership status.

Life Member
Attainment of age 65 and a Member/Fellow for 20 years; or attainment of age 65, retired, and Member/Fellow for at least ten years.

Downloadable Forms:

• Member Application
• Fellow Application
• Status Change Application

 

Online Applications:

• Membership Application