Board Certification in Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology: Separating the Chaff from the Wheat
Psychiatrists and psychologists are under increasing pressure to obtain board certification in their areas of specialization. While this has been the norm for psychiatrists, it is less true for psychologists as of this writing. Regardless, both professionals have been permitted to testify in court without board certification, particularly since the Federal Rules of Evidence 702 tend to be somewhat broad-based in their definition of what constitutes an expert. This article reviews the basic need for board certification and reasons why it should become a requirement for those who practice forensic psychiatry and psychology. The article considers some of the reasons why individuals in both professions may have been reluctant to pursue board certification in the past, as well as some of the pitfalls encountered in the process of becoming certified. Further discussion illuminates the need for psychiatrists and psychologists to adhere to rigid requirements for credentialing and to avoid dubious alternatives such as so-called “vanity” boards that offer ongoing grandfathering periods without rigorous credentials reviews and examination. The impact of such questionable credentials on the forensic field is also discussed.