The competency movement within psychology: An historical perspective.

Abstract

The authors provide a recitation of events in recent years that document an increased focus oncompetency-based models of education, training, and assessment in professional psychology, particularlyclinical, counseling, and school psychology, based on the work of the American Psychological Associ-ation’s (APA’s) Task Force on Assessment of Competence in Professional Psychology. The articlebegins with the inclusion of competencies as part of the “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Codeof Conduct” (APA, 2002). Next, accreditation practices in the United States and Canada are summarized.Competency-based education, training, and credentialing efforts in professional psychology are re-viewed, including graduate, practicum, internship, and postdoctoral levels; licensure; postlicensureN