American Board of Professional Psychology

When established, ABEPP replaced a committee that was formed by the American Psychological Association (APA) to explore the development of a credentialing body for individual psychologists.

According to Bent, Goldberg & Packard,[2] APA had come to realize that a membership organization, such as itself, could not advocate for its members at the same time that it performed certification functions designed to protect the public.

In order to recognize those psychologists already working in applied and practice areas, persons deemed to have sufficient experience and training (and awarded Bachelor of Arts degrees prior to December 31, 1935) were allowed to be "grandfathered" without examination.

In 1974, the ABPP Board of Trustees (BOT) authorized the establishment of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.

Maintenance of Certification was implemented in 2015, requiring that psychologists board-certified on or after January 1, 2015 undergo a formal review, ensuring their commitment to lifelong learning.