Brief History of the Practice Assessment
by Practice Directorate Staff
During the 1980s, grassroots practitioners and APA leaders recognized the fact that, to be successful in confronting the challenges of the health care delivery system, organized psychology needed more practice advocacy resources than were available through regular APA dues revenue. These psychologists concluded that the advocacy needs of practitioners were important enough to justify “taxing” themselves in order to advocate for their professional goals. They ultimately convinced the APA Council of Representatives to adopt the Practice Assessment in 1985 to help provide necessary resources.
Many years later, the health care delivery system is even more complex, and advocacy on behalf of practice is more important than ever before. The Practice Assessment continues to provide critical resources for a wide variety of advocacy initiatives on behalf of professional psychology.
