It might not be obvious at first how membership or affiliation with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry can be beneficial for a forensic psychologist, but it does have its merits. Children who are witness to a crime will need to have counseling from a psychologist or a psychiatrist, and in the case of a forensic psychologist, he or she may need to ensure that the child is able to be a witness in a trial. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is an organization for psychiatrists, and one needs to have an MD in order to become a member. Since most forensic psychologists have a PhD and do not have an MD, they are not going to be able to join. However, the information on the site and affiliation with psychiatrists in this field can be quite helpful.

What Are the Membership Requirements of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry?

An MD that has two years of child and adolescent psychiatry training as well as two years of psychiatry training will be able to qualify for the General Membership. An MD with training in a related field, MDs that are currently training, and medical students with an interest in the field are able to become members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. There are different levels of membership based on experience and qualifications, and it’s always a good idea to contact the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for the latest on the requirements.

Being a member of the Academy does offer a number of great benefits. You will receive the monthly journal, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. You also have access to a great liability insurance program, the bimonthly newsletter, online job searches, discounts on publications and on meetings, and much more.

How Does it Apply to Forensic Psychologists?

The knowledge that one can gain through access to some of the members of the Academy is quite impressive. Even though most forensic psychologists aren’t going to be able to apply for membership into the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, you will find there are still a number of resources that they will be able to use.

If you work in the court system and you are dealing with children and adolescents on a regular basis, the information that you can glean through those who work in the field and who are members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry could be beneficial for you. After all, it’s about doing the job right and helping those who need it, whether it’s law enforcement or a child that is frightened to be a witness in a trial. You do everything that you can to help, and that might mean calling in the services of a trained psychiatrist if you don’t have the knowledge to work with the child.

Please visit http://www.aacap.org/ for more information about The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.