Postdoctoral Training in Health Service Psychology: Current Perspectives in an Evolving Profession

Postdoctoral training in health service psychology has evolved significantly in the past 70 years as a reflection of our field's development. This article presents a contemporary perspective on postdoctoral training; its purpose in the sequence of training is conceptualized as advanced competency development in either recognized specialty practice areas or a specific focus area. We discuss how postdoctoral training fits within the growing trend toward increased specialization in recognized specialty areas and review the impact the new Standards of Accreditation will have on the design of postdoctoral training programs. Educators provide professional development mentorship about post-internship plans (including employment, postdoctoral training, specialty practice, and short- and long-term career goals) during graduate school and the internship year. We offer topics for educators and trainees to explore together and provide questions that will facilitate decision making about postdoctoral opportunities, in the context of the field's development. Finally, we offer recommendations for collaboration, as well as actions that educators, training directors, and trainees can take to support the continued development of postdoctoral training.