Provisional S-NACs in Clinical Neuropsychology

The piloting countries in 2022-2025 are Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Portugal, and Spain. This information will help in the work of the Provisional Specialist National Awarding Committee (P-SNAC) in Clinical Neuropsychology in those countries. After the pilot phase is over and accepted as ongoing process, other EFPA member associations can apply to establish a SNAC in their country.

All P-SNACs in Clinical Neuropsychology operate under the guidance of the Provisional Specialist European Awarding Committee (P-SEAC) in Clinical Neuropsychology as well as the European Awarding Committee (EAC). They work in collaboration with the EFPA member association in their country.

Each P-SNAC in Clinical Neuropsychology comprises of a chairperson and 4 to 6 members. During the pilot phase one of them should also be a member of the National Awarding Committee in that country, and one of them should be a member of the P-SEAC. The members should be representative of the community of neuropsychologists in that country. The national EFPA member association confirms the committee members.

Tasks and responsibilities of a Provisional SNAC in Clinical Neuropsychology

1. Read and discuss the EuroPsy regulations, in particular the regulations pertaining both the EuroPsy certificate at a basic level and the EuroPsy specialist certificate
2. Consider the route to specialisation in your country. Is it regulated, mixed or open (see Table 1)? If regulated or mixed, prepare a list of national accreditation systems or accredited postgraduate programmes that provide the advanced level of education and training that would meet the specialist certificate criteria (regular route). Prepare a table comparing the accreditation system/programme and the criteria. Consult the P-SEAC by the end of February 2024 on these comparisons.
3. Consider the requirements and professional standards for practising Clinical Neuropsychology that have been in place in your country during the past 10 years (transitional route).
4. Establish national application forms following the existing guidelines and forms provided by the P-SEAC, to be used in the pilot phase. Procedure will depend on the type of route (see Table 1): regulated, mixed or open, in your country. The call should preferably be opened in March 2024.
5. Inform your national colleagues about the pilot project and seek 20 psychologists who are willing to apply for the Provisional Specialist Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology. 
6. Evaluate the applications (regular route and transitional route) preferably by October 2024
7. Report to the P-SEAC for Clinical Neuropsychology of the progress
8. Prepare and submit a final report of the results of the national pilot project by the end of 2024 (date to be confirmed).

How to evaluate applications for the Specialist certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology in the pilot phase

1. The candidate submits an application (paper or electronic with uploaded documents) to the P-SNAC
   • the required attachments will depend on the type of route (see Table 1): regulated, mixed or open, in your country. 
   • a copy of the Basic European Certificate in Psychology (or the identification number of his/her Europsy certificate) is required; if the applicant has no basic certificate, it will have to be applied for at the same time (see national instructions)
   • The national EFPA member association is the holder of the applicant documentation
2. The P-SNAC confirms the receipt of the application and asks for supplementary information in case this is not complete or up to date.
3. The evaluation of the application for the regular route is carried out by assessing all the required elements developed by the P-SEAC in Clinical Neuropsychology.
   • The theoretical programme or list of courses the applicant has completed
   • The supervision the applicant has received
   • The applicant’s work experience 
   • The acquired competencies against the competence requirements
   • If additional clarification is needed, the P-SNAC may invite the applicant for a Competence Assessment Interview online.
4. The evaluation of the application for the transitional route is carried out by evaluating the competencies gained during a period of at least 5 full time years within the last 10 years of independent practice as a Clinical Neuropsychologist.
   • During this time, the applicant needs to have completed all the education and training typically required by the professional standards of the country where they apply, and needs to provide evidence for the education and training.
   • If additional clarification is needed, the P-SNAC may invite the applicant for a Competence Assessment Interview online.
5. P-SNAC integrates the results of the evaluations and makes a decision on each individual application either awarding the Provisional Specialist Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology or informing the applicant of the reasons why the application cannot be approved. If the certificate is not awarded the applicant can appeal and ask for a review of the decision from the P-SEAC.

Awarding of the Provisional Certificate

Psychologists who take part in the pilot and fulfil the requirements of the Provisional Specialist Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology will receive a Provisional Certificate. There are no costs involved for the applicant during the pilot. After the pilot phase, when the Specialist Certificate proposal is approved by EFPA and the regular bodies (Specialist National Awarding Committees) are in place, the Provisional Specialist Certificate will be exchanged for a Specialist Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology without a new application. At this point individuals who are awarded the Specialist Certificate are also entered into the Europsy registry. The Europsy Basic and the Specialist Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology are subject to a fee paid to the National Awarding Committee. This fee varies from country to country.

Table 1. Routes for implementing the Pilot project of Specialist Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology