Washington State Psychological Association Named Inaugural National Register SPTA Advocacy Award Winner

The National Register of Health Service Psychologists is proud to present the inaugural SPTA Advocacy Award to the Washington State Psychological Association.

This award will be presented annually to two State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Associations (SPTAs) to honor excellence in advocacy. 

April D. Fernando, PhD, member of the National Register Board of Directors and Chair of the National Register’s SPTA Advocacy Award Committee, said of the Washington State Psychological Association: “The Committee was incredibly impressed with the results of WSPA’s advocacy work to create a regulatory framework for interns to bill Medicaid. We were also delighted that the WSPA showed a commitment to working collaboratively with external organizations and regulatory bodies to get the results they had been seeking over several years. Congratulations to WSPA!”

After receiving notice of the award, London Breedlove, PsyD, Director of Professional Affairs and Policy at WSPA, stated, “We are deeply honored to receive the inaugural SPTA Advocacy Award from the National Register. This recognition affirms the power of advocacy to turn member priorities into meaningful change. The Licensed Psychological Associate credential is just one example—and we’re just getting started. As our latest survey shows, reimbursement, access to care, and equity remain urgent concerns. This award fuels our commitment to elevating the voices of Washington psychologists and drive lasting, systemic change.”

The National Register looks forward to the 2026 cycle of this inaugural award. Learn more on our SPTA Advocacy Award page.

About the National Register of Health Service Psychologists  

The National Register of Health Service Psychologists was established in 1974 and is the largest nonprofit credentialing organization for psychologists and psychology doctoral students. The National Register is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare by identifying psychologists who meet specific education and training standards, and by verifying these professionals to consumers, healthcare organizations, and regulatory bodies. The National Register currently credentials 10,000 Health Service Psychologists and has approximately 5,000 psychology doctoral student and postdoctoral trainee members in its Associate Program. For more information, visit www.nationalregister.org.  

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For more information about this announcement, contact the National Register at 202.783.7663.