Motivators and barriers to pursuing board certification: Survey results and future directions

This article reports survey results from the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology (ABRP) on motivators and barriers to pursuing board certification and identifies ways the ABRP can reduce barriers.

An electronic survey was sent to Division 22 and Academy of Rehabilitation Psychology listservs. Participants (N = 113) were primarily early career (37%), not board-certified (62%), and did not identify as a member of an underrepresented group (70%). Two independent coders conducted thematic analysis of qualitative data, identifying key themes. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion; final themes were agreed upon by consensus.

Most nonboard-certified participants had considered specialty certification (93%). Of those reporting barriers (n = 64), primary barriers included work/time constraints (30%), lack of benefit (18%) and institutional support (15%), personal obstacles (14%), and financial considerations (13%). Motivational factors included professional reputation (42%), mentorship (38%), and institutional support (14%). Responses from those who identified as participants from diverse professional backgrounds emphasized the importance of mentorship, institutional and financial support, and elucidation of alternative pathways to certification.

Despite strong interest in board certification, many individuals either do not initiate the process or begin but do not complete it. There also remains a lack of clarity regarding requirements and the process. The ABRP has implemented initiatives to address these concerns, including outlining alternative pathways, clarifying candidacy requirements, transitioning mentorship to the Academy of Rehabilitation Psychology, implementing educational outreach programs, providing individualized encouragement to candidates, increasing awareness of scholarship opportunities, and promoting nontraditional pathways to board certification. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).