Laura Hokkanen1, Sandra Lettner2, Fernando Barbosa3, Marios Constantinou4, Lauren Harper5, Erich Kasten6, Sara Mondini7, Bengt Persson8, Nataliya Varako9, Erik Hessen10,11. 1. a Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland. 2. b Clinical Neuropsychology Unit , Hospital of the Sisters of Charity , Ried , Austria. 3. c Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal. 4. d Department of Social Sciences , University of Nicosia , Nicosia , Cyprus. 5. e Western Health and Social Care Trust, Rivendell, Tyrone & Fermanagh Hospital , Omagh , UK. 6. f Department of Psychology , MSH University of Applied Sciences & Medical University , Hamburg , Germany. 7. g Department of General Psychology , University of Padova , Padova , Italy. 8. h Department of Psychology , Linnaeus University , Växjö , Sweden. 9. i Research Center of Neurology, Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow , Russia. 10. j Department of Psychology , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway. 11. k Department of Neurology , Akershus University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study were to analyze the current European situation of specialist education and training within clinical neuropsychology, and the legal and professional status of clinical neuropsychologists in different European countries. METHOD: An online survey was prepared in 2016 by a Task Force established by the European Federation of Psychological Associations, and representatives of 30 countries gave their responses. Response rate was 76%. RESULTS: Only three countries were reported to regulate the title of clinical neuropsychologist as well as the education and practice of clinical neuropsychologists by law. The most common university degree required to practice clinical neuropsychology was the master's degree; a doctoral degree was required in two countries. The length of the specialist education after the master's degree varied between 12 and 60 months. In one third of the countries, no commonly agreed upon model for specialist education existed. A more systematic training model and a longer duration of training were associated with independence in the work of clinical neuropsychologists. CONCLUSIONS: As legal regulation is mostly absent and training models differ, those actively practicing clinical neuropsychology in Europe have a very heterogeneous educational background and skill level. There is a need for a European standardization of specialist training in clinical neuropsychology. Guiding principles for establishing the common core requirements are presented.
OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study were to analyze the current European situation of specialist education and training within clinical neuropsychology, and the legal and professional status of clinical neuropsychologists in different European countries. METHOD: An online survey was prepared in 2016 by a Task Force established by the European Federation of Psychological Associations, and representatives of 30 countries gave their responses. Response rate was 76%. RESULTS: Only three countries were reported to regulate the title of clinical neuropsychologist as well as the education and practice of clinical neuropsychologists by law. The most common university degree required to practice clinical neuropsychology was the master's degree; a doctoral degree was required in two countries. The length of the specialist education after the master's degree varied between 12 and 60 months. In one third of the countries, no commonly agreed upon model for specialist education existed. A more systematic training model and a longer duration of training were associated with independence in the work of clinical neuropsychologists. CONCLUSIONS: As legal regulation is mostly absent and training models differ, those actively practicing clinical neuropsychology in Europe have a very heterogeneous educational background and skill level. There is a need for a European standardization of specialist training in clinical neuropsychology. Guiding principles for establishing the common core requirements are presented.
Keywords:
Clinical neuropsychology; Europe; legal regulation; specialist education; training
Authors: Mary H Kosmidis; Sandra Lettner; Laura Hokkanen; Fernando Barbosa; Bengt A Persson; Gus Baker; Erich Kasten; Amélie Ponchel; Sara Mondini; Nataliya Varako; Tomas Nikolai; María K Jónsdóttir; Aiste Pranckeviciene; Erik Hessen; Marios Constantinou Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-03-31