Subspecialty Candidate Manual

Clinical Neuropsychologists have specialized knowledge and training in the applied science of brain-behavior relationships and use this knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients across the lifespan who have known or suspected developmental, neurological, medical, or psychiatric conditions.

Pediatric neuropsychology is a subspecialty within the field of clinical neuropsychology that is concerned with the study and understanding of brain-behavior relationships in children and adolescents with known or suspected brain injury or disease, neurodevelopmental disorder, learning disorder, or other congenital or acquired disorder affecting brain development and function. It is essential that subspecialists in the field of pediatric clinical neuropsychology demonstrate firm grounding and appropriate working knowledge of the general principles and practices of the specialty field, in addition to more focused knowledge and skill required of the subspecialty. As such, subspecialty certification in Pediatric Clinical Neuropsychology is only conferred to individuals who have also demonstrated competence in the parent specialty of Clinical Neuropsychology.

Pediatric neuropsychologists engage in assessment, intervention, program development, and cross-disciplinary consultation, and also contribute to definitions of standard of care for appropriate clinical practice in the profession. Pediatric neuropsychologists are also often involved in teaching and mentoring, research, supervision, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and resident education and training.

Pediatric neuropsychologists serve a steadily growing and diverse range of populations in various practice settings. The role of a pediatric neuropsychologist has expanded along with advances in medicine. These advances have contributed to increased rates of survival and improved outcome for many children with specific brain insults or diseases that, in prior decades, would have resulted in these children’s death or severe disability. Thus, increasing numbers of pediatric neuropsychologists participate in research, theoretical formulation, assessment, intervention (including educational planning), and outcome evaluation. Pediatric neuropsychologists are integral to research and clinical teams applying new and emerging biomedical technologies to brain-behavior relationships in children.