The Association of Applied Psychologists was founded in 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland, by a consortium of senior applied psychologists from six countries who recognized a growing problem: the global market for psychological services had no reliable, independent mechanism for verifying professional competence across jurisdictions.
AAP fills that gap. We operate as a nonprofit credentialing body — independent of any government, university, or commercial entity. Our registry is freely accessible to the public. Our vetting is funded by membership dues and institutional grants, never by listing fees or advertising.
Applied psychology has expanded dramatically. Clinical, organizational, forensic, educational, health, sports, and neuropsychology professionals practice in over 180 countries — yet licensing standards, ethical codes, and training requirements vary enormously across borders. A psychologist licensed in one country may not meet the standards of another.
At the same time, the public — and institutions like courts, hospitals, schools, and corporations — increasingly need cross-border access to qualified psychologists. Remote consultation, international adoption assessments, multinational corporate consulting, transnational custody evaluations: all require confidence that a professional's credentials are sound, regardless of where they were earned.
AAP was built to provide that confidence. We apply a single, rigorous, internationally benchmarked standard to every applicant — regardless of country of origin or practice.
Every AAP-listed psychologist has been reviewed against six criteria:
| Criterion | Standard | Verification method |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Academic qualification | Doctoral or specialist-level degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., D.Clin.Psych., Ed.D., or equivalent) in an applied psychology field from a recognized institution | Transcript verification; institutional accreditation check |
| 2. Active licensure | Current, unrestricted license, registration, or chartered status in at least one jurisdiction, with no lapses >6 months in the preceding 5 years | Direct regulatory-body cross-check |
| 3. Ethical-compliance record | No unresolved ethical complaints or disciplinary actions in the past 7 years; self-disclosed past actions reviewed by Ethics Panel | Regulatory-body records; applicant declaration |
| 4. Professional references | Three peer endorsements from AAP members or equivalent senior professionals, at least one from outside the applicant's home institution | Structured reference form; Peer Review Board evaluation |
| 5. Continuing education | Minimum 40 hours of AAP-approved CE per 2-year cycle, with at least 10 hours in ethics or cross-cultural competence | Annual random-sample audit |
| 6. Re-vetting | Full re-credentialing every 3 years; interim spot-checks may be initiated for cause | Re-Vetting Taskforce review |
The AAP Credentialing Committee — composed of 15 senior applied psychologists from 12 countries — reviews all applications. Decisions are by majority vote. Applicants may appeal a denial to the independent Appeals Panel.
AAP is governed by a Board of Governors elected by the membership for staggered 3-year terms. The Board appoints the Executive Director, who oversees day-to-day operations from the Geneva secretariat.
Standing committees:
AAP is funded by annual membership dues (tiered by country income classification), grants from philanthropic foundations, and institutional subscriptions. The registry itself is free to search for all members of the public.
The full AAP Ethical Code and Disciplinary Procedures are available to members and institutional subscribers. Summaries are published annually in the AAP Annual Report.