ISSUES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN THE U.S.A.

All States in the U.S.A. license or certify psychologists. The basic degree for licensure/certification is a doctoral degree. Licensure/certification is usually generic but various other forms of specific credentialling in Clinical Psychology are possible. Most health insurance schemes provide payment for psychological services, though not invariably on a fully independent basis. The major instrument in achieving this recognition has been ‘freedom of choice’ legislation. It is maintained that the three issues of credentialling, licensure/certification, and receipt of third-party/insurance payments are highly interdependent.