Board Certification for the
Clinical Social Worker Psychoanalyst

This specialty credential offers a means for expert clinical social workers to be recognized for proficiency in the important area of Psychoanalysis. It is based on practice competences identified through a process of research and consultation with many experts in the field, drawing deeply on research and thoroughly referenced. From the position statement, The Practice of Psychoanalysis: A Specialty of Clinical Social Work (PDF), the standards for the credential are cast in a format by which the practitioner may demonstrate his/her capabilities as a specialist in this field.

Those interested in obtaining this specialty credential, need to meet the ABE criteria for board certification as an advanced clinical social worker. In addition, there are two variations to the application process: one for a clinical social worker who is a graduate of a psychoanalytic institute and the other for a non-institute graduate. The following are the eligibility criteria for both application offerings:

Institute graduate criteria:

• Training: a graduate of a psychoanalytic institute training program
• Personal analysis: by a training analyst or equivalent (PDF) (at least 5-years of post-graduate experience as a psychoanalyst), in-person, for a minimum of 40 weeks/300 hours during a year (at a frequency of 3-5 sessions per week, on separate days)
• Supervision:
  1) Supervised in practice for a minimum of 150-200 hours by a training analyst or equivalent (PDF)
  2) Supervised in conducting two adult psychoanalysis cases, at least one was supervised to completion—lasting at least two years in one instance, and at least one year in the other
• Specialty Practice Experience:
  1) Within the past year a minimum of 300 hours of clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory and formal psychoanalysis (PDF) with at least two analysand’s
  2) Within three years or more, 4,500 hours of post-master’s clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory
• Continuing Education: within the past three years, 40 clock hours of clinical continuing education, of which 50% can be identified as psychoanalytically oriented
• Evaluation of Practice: two successful evaluations by colleagues/supervisors/ consultants who are clinical social worker psychoanalysts or analysts who are clinical psychologists or psychiatrists

Non-institute graduate criteria:

• Training: in lieu of institute training, achieved equivalency of knowledge through other means in each of the following areas of study: history of psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic theory, psychoanalytic technique, normal & abnormal growth & development within the context of psychoanalytic models, and socio-cultural factors and gender issues
• Personal Analysis: by a training analyst or equivalent (PDF) (at least 5-years of post-graduate experience as a psychoanalyst), in-person, for a minimum of 450 hours, meeting at least twice a week
• Supervision:
  1) Supervised in practice for at least 150 hours by an analyst(s) whose qualifications are equivalent to those of a training analyst (PDF) and who, at the time of supervision, had five years post-graduate experience as a psychoanalyst
  2) Supervised in conducting two in-person adult psychoanalysis cases—at least one was supervised to completion—lasting at least two years in one instance, and at least one year in the other
• Clinical Consultation: in the past two years, a minimum of 20 hours as a consultee or consultant, in a formal or informal setting, in the clinical practice of psychoanalysis
• Continuing Education: within the past three years, 40 clock hours of clinical continuing education, of which 50% can be identified as psychoanalytically oriented
• Specialty Practice Experience:
  1) Within the past year, a minimum of 300 hours of clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory and formal psychoanalysis (PDF) with at least two analysand’s
  2) Within three years or more, 4,500 hours of post-master’s clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory
• Evaluation of Practice:
  1) Two successful evaluations by colleagues/supervisors/ consultants who are clinical social work psychoanalysts or analysts who are clinical psychologists or psychiatrists, and
  2) Provide information on two colleagues who consulted/supervised you, while you were obtaining your practice knowledge, one of whom submits a letter of assessment
  

APPLY for the Clinical Social Worker Psychoanalyst Board Certification,
email or call 1-800-694-5285 ext. 16.

Annual Recertification Requirements for this Specialty are:

• Currency of practice (minimum of 300 practice hours required) and active practice of psychoanalysis with at least one analysand;
  
• 20 hours of clinical continuing education, of which at least 25% must be identified as applying to this specialty practice area;
  
• Highest clinical-level state licensure in good standing; and
  Adherence to ABE’s Code of Ethics.

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