The emerging areas of emphasis include health, child adolescent, gerontology, family, and forensic. Each of the six competencies is composed of a body of knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate to the competency area. The relationship competency is conceived as the capacity to develop and maintain constructive working alliances with others, including clients, peers, supervisors, instructors, and team members. The assessment competency is conceptualized as an ongoing, interactive process that allows professional psychologists to describe and conceptualize various aspects of a client. Education is conceptualized as the directed facilitation of the learning of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Supervision is conceptualized as the enhancement of competence in the supervisee.
APA surveyed new doctoral recipients and they provided additional areas that they wanted to feel competent in. They also promoted previous work experience, administrative and quantitative skills, networking, teaching skills, and the ability to budget, manage, and plan programs. New doctoral recipients also stressed the importance of the ability to work in more than one language and to recognize and use technology. In the health service provider subfield, new doctoral recipients reported the importance of the ability to market and sell oneself and to communicate with primary care providers and understand the medical system. A. Financial aid is available in the form of loans.