FindaPsychologist.org is an online consumer resource featuring psychology-related videos, articles, and in-depth topics, as well as, an extensive, freely available directory of 11,000 credentialed psychologists. FindaPsychologist.org is a product of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.

National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology

The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (abbreviated National Register) is the largest credentialing organization for psychologists in the United States. Founded in 1974, the National Register was created to identify qualified Health Service Providers. Today, the National Register certifies 11,000 licensed psychologists as health service providers and reviews credentials for doctoral students. The National Register is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC.

Title of "Health Service Provider"

A Health Service Provider in psychology is a licensed/certified psychologist, at the independent practice level in his/her state, province, territory, or country, who is trained and experienced in the delivery of prevention, consultation, assessment, and treatment (rev. 2010).

Mission

The mission of the National Register is to credential psychologists, promote credentialed psychologists to consumers, provide distinction and value to its members, guide psychology students toward credentialing, enhance psychologists’ contributions to integrated healthcare, and facilitate identification of qualified psychologists in a global community.

Board of Directors

The nine-member Board of Directors, two of whom are non-psychologist public representatives, governs the National Register. Board members are solicited from among the Registrant population and elsewhere and are elected by the Board for a four-year term and are eligible to reapply for a second term. Each year, all Board members sign a confidentiality agreement that includes a conflict of interest agreement. In addition, the National Register has written policies of whistleblower protection and document retention. The Executive Officer of the National Register is Judy E. Hall, PhD.

Founding

The National Register was established in 1974 to meet the need for a system by which various insurers, governmental agencies, health services, and other organizations, as well as individual consumers, could identify licensed psychologists who have specific education, training and supervised experience in health services. Both the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and the American Psychological Association (APA) played a role in its establishment.

• October 1, 1973 The American Psychological Association (APA) Board of Professional Affairs formally voted to recommend that APA request the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) to establish a National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.

• November 30, 1973 The APA Board of Directors "voted to request the Board of Directors of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) to establish a National Registry Council as outlined in the recommendations of the ad hoc Coordinating Committee for the National Registry of Health Service Providers in Psychology…."

• March 1, 1974 ABPP Board of Trustees voted to implement the project.

• June 1, 1974 Initial meeting of the twelve-member Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology; "Health Service Provider in Psychology" defined; Criteria for credentialing established.

• June 28, 1974 APA Board of Directors "was informed of the progress of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in establishing the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. It expressed its appreciation to ABPP for undertaking this important task and urged all eligible psychologists to support this endeavor."

• September 1, 1974 Joint letter from APA President Bandura and National Register Chairman Zimet sent to all psychologists soliciting applications to the National Register.

• December 20, 1974 Incorporation of the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology in the District of Columbia as a 501(c)(3) (charitable, educational) organization.

• August 1, 1975 First edition of the National Register published listing 6,877 credentialed Health Service Providers in Psychology.