American Psychological Association

The American Psychological Association (APA) represents psychologists in the United States. It is sometimes confused with the American Psychiatric Association.

The American Psychological Association is a scientific and professional organization which represents psychologists in the United States. APA states that it "educates the public about psychology, behavioral science and mental health; promotes psychological science and practice; fosters the education and training of psychological scientists, practitioners and educators; advocates for psychological knowledge and practice to inform public policy; and champions the application of psychology to promote human rights".

Confusingly, both American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association are both known as the APA, it is the American Psychiatric Association which publishes the DSM psychiatric manual. Psychology is the science of behavior. To avoid confusion, in this website we use APA to refer to the American Psychiatric Association only, the American Psychological Association's full name will always be used.

All members of the American Psychological Association doctoral-level psychologists, meaning they hold a PhD, PsyD or EdD in psychology from a regionally accredited institution. Affiliate and association memberships are available for psychology teachers, students and other mental health professionals, or psychologists living outside the USA and Canada.

History
Founded in 1892 with 31 members, the American Psychological Association now has 54 divisions in subfields of psychology and morre than 134,000 members. APA members work in a diverse roles including the court system and prisons, business and industry, private practice and hospitals, the armed forces, and the VA.