Mediocrity is no standard: Searching for self-respect in clinical neuropsychology

While medicine moved from a training based in proprietary schools to univer sity-based education and board specialty examinations during the early part of this century, psychology has seemed to move in the opposite direction d uring the past 20 years. Clinical Neuropsychology, as a specialty, has esta blished training and practice guidelines, and more recently, produced an in tegrated model of education and training, not unlike the models developed b y medicine and its specialties. Nevertheless, there are pressures within th e held of Psychology in general, and Clinical Neuropsychology in particular , to abrogate standards and weaken credentials. These pressures are seen as stemming from prioritizing the interests of the practitioner over the need s of the patient and the profession. The thesis is presented that upholding standards leads to the benefit of the patient and the long-term health of the profession.