Competence in Psychology Board Certification: Unlike a Good Wine, It Does Not Get Better With Age

The purpose of this study was to examine the oral exam pass rate for Early Career Psychologist (ECP) applicants for board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) compared with non-ECP applicants. Available data from 2013 through 2017 were analyzed using χ ² statistics for all applicants as well as each specialty that had sufficient data for analysis. For specialty boards with insufficient data for χ ² statistics, Fisher's exact tests were conducted. Results showed the overall oral exam pass rate for ECPs (87%) was significantly different from non-ECPs (82%), with ECPs being certified at a higher rate. Analyses stratified by specialty board did not reveal a significant relationship between ECP status and pass rate, with the exception of Clinical Neuropsychology that showed ECPs passed the oral exam at a higher rate (86%) than non-ECPs (69%). These findings contribute to dispelling the myth that ABPP certification is only for psychologists with extensive experience.