Resolution on Psychology as a Multi-Tiered Profession

National Register of Health Service Psychologists
Adopted by the Board of Directors June 2025

Whereas the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis (Mental Health America, 2024; Centers for Disease Control, 2024);

Whereas there is a need for more health service psychologists (APA, 2018) as well as for other competent mental health providers (Health Resources and Services Administration National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, 2024) to help meet the demand for services;    

Whereas the doctoral degree is, and should remain, the minimum requirement for entry into professional practice as a psychologist (American Psychological Association, 2011);

Whereas it is critical for the profession to identify distinctive competencies and scope of practice for health service psychologists and Master’s trained providers in psychology (Buckman et al., 2018);

Whereas Master’s trained providers in psychology should have a title that identifies their role as part of the psychology community but distinct from the title of psychologist (Buckman et al., 2018; ASPPB, 2018);

Whereas individuals trained in Master’s degree programs in psychology benefit from a curriculum that is derived from the scientific emphasis of the discipline (American Psychological Association, APA, 2021) and that distinguishes Master’s degree holders in psychology from other mental health providers (Eisman et al., 2018);

Whereas the number of Master’s degree graduates in psychology is considerably greater than doctoral degree graduates and thus represents a large sector of the psychologically trained practitioner workforce (APA, 2024; Worrell et al., 2018); and

Whereas the profession of psychology has a responsibility to regulate those who seek to engage in the practice of psychology in order to  protect consumers by ensuring psychologists and Master’s trained providers in psychology are appropriately trained, competent and vetted through the licensure process and retain distinctive titles (Buckman et al., 2018; DeMers et al., 2014);

Now, THERFORE, BE IT:

RESOLVED, that the National Register of Health Service Psychologists supports the responsible implementation of actions to facilitate the evolution of psychology as a multi-tiered profession for the benefit of the profession and society; and

RESOLVED, that a doctoral degree should remain the minimum requirement for entry into professional practice as a health service psychologist. 

References

American Psychological Association (2024).  Degrees in Psychology [Interactive data tool]. https://www.apa.org/workforce/data-tools/degrees-psychology.

American Psychological Association (2021). Standards of accreditation for health service psychology: Master’s programs. https://irp.cdn-website.com/a14f9462/files/uploaded/SoA-M.pdf

American Psychological Association (2018).  An overview of psychologist supply and demand projection, 2015-2030 [Interactive Data Tool] https://www.apa.org/workforce/data-tools/supply-demand-projections.

American Psychological Association. (2011). Model act for state licensure of psychologists. American Psychologist, 66(3), 214–226. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022655

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (2018).  Model regulations for licensure and registration of psychologists. https://asppb.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/model_regulations_2020.pdf  

Buckman, L. R., Nordal, K. C., & DeMers, S. T. (2018). Regulatory and licensure issues derived from the summit on master’s training in psychological practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 49(5-6), 321–326. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000214

Centers for Disease Control (2024).  Protecting the nation’s mental health.  https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about/what-cdc-is-doing.html

DeMers, S. T., Webb, C., & Horn, J. B. (2014). Psychology licensure and credentialing in the United States and Canada. In W.B. Johnson & N.J. Kaslow (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Education and Training in Professional Psychology (pp 201-213). Oxford University Press.

Eisman, E. J., Brown, K. S., & Martin, J. N. (2018). Marketplace and workforce issues. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 49(5-6), 314–320. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000215

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (2024). Health workforce projections. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/data-research/projecting-healthworkforce-supply-demand

Mental Health America (2024).  The state of mental health in America.  https://mhanational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-State-of-Mental-Health-in-America-Report.pdf