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AFSC 42P4, Staff
AFSC 42P3, Qualified
AFSC 42P1, Entry

Specialty Summary. Applies psychological principles and techniques to problems of human effectiveness, maladjustment, and psychological disturbances. Evaluates, diagnoses, and treats psychological and neuropsychological disorders. Teaches, supervises, and directs clinical psychology and related mental health programs. Related DoD Occupational Group: 6H.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administers clinical psychology programs. Plans, organizes, and directs clinical psychology service or department. Supervises mental health personnel, and recommends policies pertaining to their training and management. Implements mental health programs through consulting with other agencies on such problems as individual and group effectiveness, interpersonal relations, psycho pathology, and maladaptive behavior.

Performs mental health evaluations and therapy. Applies and supervises application of psychological procedures and techniques in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating psychological and neuropsychological disorders. Provides individual and group therapy, behavior modification paradigms, and biofeedback procedures in treating psychological disorders, and in assisting individuals to achieve more effective personal and interpersonal adjustment.

Performs research and training. Plans and conducts clinical psychological research. Determines methods to be used in investigation, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health problems. Provides education and training in psychological theory, diagnostic techniques, treatment modalities, and related mental health programs to psychologists, allied disciplines, and personnel in medical, educational, managerial, social, and community programs.

Specialty Qualifications:

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of psychological theories, principles, and techniques.

Education. The following experience is mandatory as indicated:

For entry into this specialty, completion of all requirements (except dissertation or clinical internship or both) for award of a doctorate in clinical psychology or equivalent doctorate in psychology for entry into this AFSC.

For award of AFSC 42P3, a doctorate in clinical psychology, or equivalent, plus a clinical internship acceptable to the Surgeon General, HQ USAF.

For award of AFSC 42P3A, a doctorate plus 2 year post-doctoral training in a neuropsychology fellowship training program acceptable to the Air Force Surgeon General, or 3 years’ experience in a setting where primary duty was in neuropsychology.

For award of AFSC 42P3B, a doctorate plus 1 year post-doctoral training in a health psychology fellowship training program acceptable to the Air Force Surgeon General, or 3 years’ experience acceptable to the Air Force Surgeon General in a setting where the primary duty was in health psychology.

For award of AFSC 42P3C, a doctorate plus 1 year post-doctoral training in a child and adolescent psychology or a pediatric psychology fellowship training program acceptable to the Air Force Surgeon General, or 3 years’ experience acceptable to the Air Force Surgeon General in a setting where the primary duty was in child and adolescent and/or pediatric psychology.

For award of AFSC 42P3D, a doctorate plus 1 year post-doctoral training in an aviation psychology fellowship training program acceptable to the Air Force Surgeon General, or 3 years’ experience acceptable to the Air Force Surgeon General in a setting where the primary duty was in aviation psychology.

Training. None.

Experience. For award of AFSC 42P3, a minimum of 24 months of experience is mandatory in clinical psychology assignments. Completion of the Air Force Internship Program in clinical psychology may be substituted for 12 months of the experience requirement.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

For award and retention of AFSC 42P3/P3X, a valid and current license to practice clinical or counseling psychology.

For award of AFSC 42P3X, completion of an additional residency or fellowship program related to the suffix and acceptable to the Surgeon General, HQ USAF.

Specialty Shredouts:

A.....................Clinical Neuropsychologist. Performs and supervises neuropsychological evaluations, conducts research, and provides education and training in the field of neuropsychology.

B.....................Health Psychologist. Performs and supervises health psychology evaluations, conducts research, and provides education and training in the field of health psychology.

C.....................Child and Adolescent Psychologist. Performs and supervises child, adolescent, and pediatric psychology evaluations, conducts research, and provides education and training in the field of child, adolescent, and pediatric psychology.

D..................... Aviation Psychologist. Performs and supervises aviation psychology evaluations, conducts research, and provides education and training in the field of aviation psychology.

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Above Information Derived from AFMAN 36-2105