Commentary from the Education Committee of the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology on: facilitating best practices in practicum training in clinical Neuropsychology: introducing the North American Association of Practicum Sites in Neuropsychology (NAPSN) organizational training guidelines.

Abstract

This commentary examines the newly developed guidelines for clinical practicum training from The North American Association of Practicum Sites in Neuropsychology (NAPSN). NAPSN was formed in 2023 in order to support practicum level training in neuropsychology, adding to existing organizations supporting pre-doctoral and doctoral education, internship, and postdoctoral level training. The NAPSN training guidelines represent an important step toward ensuring consistent and high-quality clinical training for neuropsychologists at all professional stages in core areas including clinical training, didactics and educational programming, professionalism, and research. We outline anticipated benefits for trainees, impact on clinical supervisors, practical implications for clinical supervision, and areas for ongoing consideration. In particular, next steps may include delineating training goals and benchmarks for practicum students at different stages in their doctoral training, developing strategies to provide consistency in evaluation and supervision practices across practicum sites and doctoral programs, and including forensic neuropsychology training at the practicum level.