Article III: Specialty Characteristics

A specialty is a defined area of professional psychology practice characterized by a distinctive configuration of competent services for specified problems and populations. Practice in a specialty requires advanced knowledge and skills acquired through an organized sequence of education and training in addition to the broad and general education and core scientific and professional foundations acquired through a doctoral program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).* Specialty training may be acquired either at the doctoral or postdoctoral level as defined by the specialty.

*Except where APA or CPA program accreditation does not exist for that area of professional psychology.

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The CoS shall recognize specialties by a majority vote of its Directors, said specialties being eligible for recognition only after either being recognized by the APA Commission for Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialities in Professional Psychology (CRSSPP) or having its credentialing/certifying board affiliated with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Any specialty not yet recognized by the CoS, after it has met either criterion for recognition by the CoS, shall request, in writing, that the CoS recognize it, and shall complete whatever procedures set into policy by its Board of Directors at that time, in order to allow the Board to deliberate and vote in an informed manner.

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The CoS, understanding that a specialty may develop subspecialties within its specialty that are recognized by CRSSPP and/or ABPP, may recognize subspecialties; however, only specialties may make the request that a subspecialty be recognized by the CoS and only specialties may have a seat on the Board of Directors.

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For CoS, a specialty is represented by a specialty council comprised of two or more organizations that represent the specialty broadly and provide national leadership in the development and maintenance of education, training, credentialing, practice guidelines, and competency standards for the specialty (e.g., a "specialty council" consisting of the ABPP academy in that specialty, the ABPP Board in that specialty, the APA Division(s) in that specialty, and the organization of education and training directors in that specialty at the doctoral internship, postdoctoral residency, and continuing education levels).

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Recognition of a specialty by the CoS and acceptance of a representative of the specialty to CoS does not constitute endorsement by the CoS of the member organizations of the specialty council.

 

Article IV: CoS Mission Statement

As a service to the profession of psychology and the public, the purpose of the CoS shall be to actively promote, support, and implement the following:

1. A broad awareness of the nature of specialties in the practice of professional psychology, including professional heath service psychology, within organized psychology and the general public.

2. A general organizational structure upon which the specialties can build and develop their specialty councils, and provide any needed forum and consultation for the discussion of common issues among the specialties, and for promoting collaboration among the specialties to insure the cooperation and resolution of issues among specialties.

3. Policies and procedures that further the development, education, training, credentialing, and practice of the specialties of professional psychology.

4. The development and communication of coherent and consistent policies and procedures within the specialties of professional psychology.

5. Coordination of efforts among specialties regarding specialty education, training, credentialing, and professional practice.

6. Advisement and consultation to various organizations that may impact on the education, training, credentialing and practice of specialties in professional psychology. Such organizations may include, but not be limited to, the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) and ABPP, CRSSPP, APA, APA’s Practice Organization, APA’s Education Directorate, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), and other similar organizations, regarding policy formation, the planning and coordination of education and training standards and guidelines relevant to the accreditation, articulation of specialty competencies and practice guidelines, and credentialing and/or certification procedures for specialties in professional psychology.

7. Publication and dissemination of information significant to the specialties in professional psychology, other organizations within psychology, and to the general public.

 

Article V: Membership and Dues

The CoS shall consist of one representative from each of the specialties recognized by CRSSPP or which have credentialing boards affiliated with ABPP. The representatives shall comprise the Board of Directors of the CoS. Dues and/or assessments may be levied to facilitate the Board’s execution of its responsibilities.

1. Appointment of one representative from a recognized specialty to the CoS shall be by the specialty council of each qualified specialty in Article III (e.g., a "specialty council" consisting of the ABPP academy in that specialty, the ABPP Board in that specialty, the APA Division(s) in that specialty, and the organization of education and training directors in that specialty at the doctoral internship, postdoctoral residency, and continuing education levels). When a subspecialty is recognized to exist by CoS, the subspecialty will be represented on the CoS Board by the specialty representative under which the subspecialty exists. No subspecialty may have an independent representative on the CoS Board.

2. Member specialty councils should actively promote, support, and implement policies and procedures that further the development, education, training, credentialing, and practice of that specialty within professional psychology. If an organization that is part of a specialty council engages in activities that undermine the mission of the CoS or promotes policies that impede the development or practice of a psychological specialty and fails to modify these activities or policies when requested to do so by the CoS, the specialty council must remove that organization from its specialty council; and, if it does not, the CoS will no longer recognize that specialty council as a CoS member, nor its representative to the CoS Board.

3. A specialty representative shall be appointed for a term determined by each speciality council and may serve a maximum of two terms.

4. Terms of representatives to the CoS and officers thereof shall begin in January. If a representative serves a partial year, for whatever reason, the first year of the term will begin on January 1 of the year following the end of the partial year served.

5. Representatives to the CoS commit themselves to regular attendance and participation as determined by the Executive Council of the CoS. Appointment of a new representative may be required by the Executive Council of the CoS in the case of insufficient participation by a representative.

6. Each specialty shall have one representative and each representative shall have only one vote. If an officer of the Board continues on the Board by virtue of an extended term as an officer of CoS (Article VII), that officer will have one vote in the role of officer.

 

Article VI: Board of Directors

1. Powers
   The corporate powers of the CoS shall be vested in a self-perpetuating Board of Directors, consisting of representatives of the specialties as described elsewhere in the bylaws, which shall supervise, control, direct, and manage the property, affairs and activities of the CoS. The Board of Directors shall have all powers consistent with state law. The number of Directors may be changed at any annual or special meeting of the Board of Directors by a majority vote of the Board.

2. Meetings

   The Board of Directors meets quarterly and the Fall meeting serves as the annual meeting of the Board. The annual meeting shall be held in Washington, D.C. or remotely. The remaining quarterly meetings shall be held remotely. The annual meetings shall be held for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting. The Board may schedule additional meetings as may be required to conduct its work by or at the request of the President or a majority of the Directors.

3. Notice

   Notice of any meeting shall be given at least one week (7 days) prior thereto by written notice delivered via electronic communication to each Director. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when the electronic transmission is sent.

4. Quorum

   A majority of the incumbent members of the Board of Directors (including one or more officers) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

5. Presence at Meetings

   Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by any means including electronic communication whereby all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other and participation in a meeting in this manner shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

6. Action by Consent

   Any action which is required to be, or may be, taken at a meeting of the Directors, or of any committee of the Directors, may be taken without a meeting if consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are agreeable by a majority of the members of the Board or of the committee as the case may be. The consent shall have the same force and effect as a vote at a meeting duly held and may be stated as such in any certificate or document. The Secretary shall file the consents with the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors or of the committee as the case may be. When applicable, after sufficient time has passed, should objection be sought through only a nay vote, after the deadline for the nay vote has passed, a non-response will be deemed as consent.

7. Manner of Acting

   The act of the majority of the Directors present at a meeting of the Directors at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors unless a greater number is required under any applicable laws of the State of Missouri.

8. Electronic Voting
   The Board may utilize electronic voting to conduct business inside and outside of meetings. When electronic voting is used, the method (e.g., vote by email, use of a survey platform to vote) shall be specified by Executive Council.

9. Policy

   The Board may enact policies to further its work and carry out these bylaws by a majority vote of the members present at any meeting, or by majority vote taken by mail or electronic means.

10. Salary

    The Directors shall receive no salary for serving as members of the Board of Directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

11. Liaisons and Observers to CoS from Other Organizations

    Meetings may be attended by liaisons and observers by invitation of the CoS. The Board will identify a list of organizations from whom liaisons may attend any CoS meetings. The President will invite liaisons. The CoS may reject a specific liaison if one or more Board members request such rejection in writing and the Board acts by majority to do so. When a rejection occurs, the Board will request a different liaison from the relevant organization.

12. Liaisons from CoS to Other Organizations

    Cos may assign a Director the role of liaison from the CoS to any relevant organization, by action of the Board through a majority vote. Liaisons may be reimbursed for some or all of any expenses incurred in the role of liaison, and the Board may set policies from time to time regarding such reimbursement.

13. Parliamentary Authority

    Keesey's Modern Parliamentary Procedure shall govern the Board in all its tasks.

 

Article VII: Officers

1. Number and Election
The officers of the CoS shall be a President, a Past President, a President Elect, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These officers constitute the CoS Executive Council. The Board of Directors may also elect one or more additional officers. All directors and the President Elect shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board by a majority of those Directors attending the meeting. The presidential officers shall hold their office for one (1) year within the three-year presidential cycle. Presidential officers may be re- elected after their first three-year cycle for a maximum of two terms – a total of six (6) years of presidential service. The Secretary and Treasurer shall hold their respective office for a term of two (2) years beginning in January following the election, serving no more than two terms. Should no candidate run for one or more of the officer roles, a currently sitting officer shall continue as that officer until a successor shall be identified. Officers may serve a maximum of two terms in any one office. Election to office extends appointment to the end of service in that office; but should an officer’s term as specialty council representative expire while in office, a new representative from the respective specialty shall be appointed by the respective specialty council. In such cases, an officer who is on the Board by virtue of an extended appointment shall have a vote on the Board as an officer. Election of officers shall be by secret ballot when there is more than one candidate for a given position. In the case of only one candidate for an office, the election shall be by general consent.

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2. President, President Elect, Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.
President.
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, shall have the power to transact all of the usual, necessary and regular business of the CoS as may be required and, with such prior authorization of the Board as may be required by these Bylaws, to execute such contracts, deeds, bonds and other evidence of indebtedness, leases and other documents as shall be required by the CoS; and, in general, the President shall perform all such other duties incident to the office of President and Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

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Past President.
The Past President shall assist with maintaining continuity with continuing initiatives, provide guidance to the President and President Elect, and shall have such other and further duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors and/or the President.  The Past President shall serve as the Nomination officer who oversees the processes of officer nomination and election.

 

President Elect.
The President Elect shall act as Chief Executive Officer in the absence of the President and, when so acting, shall have all the power and authority of the President. Further, the President Elect shall have such other and further duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors and/or the President.

 

Secretary.

     The Secretary shall record and preserve the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors and all committees of the Board, shall cause notices of all meetings of the Board of Directors and committees to be given, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary or as from time to time directed by the Board of Directors or by the President. The Secretary will have signature authority for the bank account(s) of the Council of Specialties, Inc. and will execute such authority if the Treasurer is unavailable, when directed by the CoS President, President-elect, or Past-president.

 

Treasurer.

     The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds of the CoS, shall deposit such funds in such bank or banks as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and shall make reports to the Board of Directors of the finances at the annual meeting of the Board. The Treasurer shall see that an accounting system is maintained in such a manner as to give a true and accurate accounting of the financial transactions of the CoS, that reports of such transactions are presented promptly to the Board of Directors, that all expenditures are presented promptly to the Board of Directors, that all expenditures are made to the best possible advantage, and that all accounts payable are presented promptly for payment.

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3. Removal and Resignation

Any officer may be removed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at any meeting of the Board. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

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4. Salary
The officers of the CoS will receive no salary for serving as an officer. No officer shall be prevented, however, from receiving a salary as an employee of the CoS. Officers may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

 

Article VIII: Committees and Task Forces

Standing Committees: The CoS will have an executive committee composed of the officers.

1. The Board of Directors may, by a majority of the Directors, establish one or more

   additional standing committees, each of which shall consist of two or more Directors, under such terms and with such powers as shall be specified in any action by the Board.

2. Task forces may be created by action of the Board or by Presidential appointment. Task forces shall be time-limited.

 

Article IX: General Provisions

Except as otherwise provided or restricted in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the CoS; and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances; and, unless so authorized, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the CoS by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniary for any purpose or in any amount unless in the ordinary course of business.

 

Article X: Financial Provisions

  1. Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the CoS and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name, unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Under no circumstances will a loan be made by the CoS to its Directors or officers.
  2. Deposits. All funds of the CoS shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the CoS with such banks, bankers, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select or as may be selected by any officer or officers, agent or agents, of the CoS to whom such power may be delegated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
3. Checks Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes, acceptances or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the CoS, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents, or the CoS, and in such manner as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws.
4. General and Special Bank Accounts. The Board of Directors from time to time may authorize the opening and keeping of general and special bank accounts with such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select and may make such rules and regulations with respect thereto with the provisions of these Bylaws.
5. The fiscal year of the CoS shall begin on the first day of January in each year and end on the last day of December in each year.

 

Article XI: Corporate Seal

The Board of Directors may elect to adopt a corporate seal, which (if one is adopted) shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name, “Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology” and the words "Corporate Seal" and “Missouri.”

 

Article XII: Director Indemnification

Liability Insurance

By vote of the Board of Directors, the CoS may provide reimbursement for a Director or officer to purchase and maintain insurance to protect against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such

 

Article XIII: Amendments

These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted at any general or special meeting of the Board of Directors of the CoS by a two-thirds vote of the Directors present at such a meeting. The Amendments shall be available for review via electronic communication a minimum of two weeks (14 days) prior to vote.

 

Article XIV: Subordination

These Bylaws are subordinate and subject to all the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation (and amendments thereto) of this Corporation and to the provisions of the General Not for Profit Corporation Act and furthermore must be consistent with and limited by the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
 

Amended and ratified by the Board of Directors on August 13, 2022.