July 30, 2017 adminanne

Psychology Associations

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Psychology Associations

Read the guideOpen the organization directory
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On this pageWhat associations doThe American Psychological AssociationPsychology associationsBenefits of membershipAdvocacy and professional developmentInteractive directory

The essentials

Professional associations can help you find colleagues, continuing education, publications, and career opportunities. Choose organizations that serve your specialty and stage of training.

Source check: November 5, 2026

What was checked: Association history, journal-ranking language and advocacy descriptions.

This is an editorial source check, not a clinical peer review. Program and licensing decisions should use the current official requirements. How this site handles sources and updates.

Find an organization.Open the interactive tool when you need it.

Use this guide

Find an organization.

Search the names retained from the original article. The directory reflects that article’s coverage.

Skim the key points. Open a section for the full explanation.

What associations do

  • Connect with the profession: Associations bring people with shared interests together.
  • Compare what is offered: Look for relevant publications, events, learning, and career resources.
Read the details about What associations do

A psychology association is a professional organization for those in a psychology career. They are usually nationally based organizations, sometimes organized around a specialty or subspecialty practice. Some of the primary activities of these associations are hosting annual educational conferences and providing continuing education. Sometimes, a psychological organization will take a public stance on mental health issues and serve as the voice of its members.

Some psychology associations publish medical journals.

The American Psychological Association

  • A broad professional organization: The APA supports psychology through research, education, publications, and professional resources.
  • Find your area: Explore resources relevant to your interests and career stage.
Read the details about The American Psychological Association

The American Psychological Association was founded in 1892. It supports psychology through research, education, professional resources and public communication. American Psychologist is its flagship journal; journal rankings change and should be checked against a dated metric.

Psychology associations

  • Use the directory: Search the listed organizations by name or area of interest.
  • Visit the organization: Check its current activities, eligibility, and membership cost.
Read the details about Psychology associations

The following is a listing of some psychology associations in the United States:

Benefits of membership

  • Professional connections: Events and publications can help you meet people in your field.
  • Learning and funding: Check for relevant courses, scholarships, grants, and conference support.
Read the details about Benefits of membership

Some associations publish practice guidelines and professional standards. Guidelines inform decisions; they do not mean that every person with a similar presentation should receive identical care. Practitioners must consider evidence, context and individual needs.

 

Conferences and networking

Psychology associations also help link practitioners together by practice specialty by offering education conferences. The primary purpose of these conferences is to further the education of psychologists, but it is advantageous to member psychologists for other reasons. Conferences, and even the associations as a whole, help psychologists network.

Oftentimes, conferences will have places where current employment opportunities are listed, and sometimes, one can even carve out time during a conference for a sort of informal interview.

Scholarships and funding

Some associations award scholarship money to practicing psychologists and students in a psychology field. The APA, for example, offers scholarships for psychologists to travel to education conferences and awards money to students seeking different fellowships or internships. The APA website also has a searchable database for individuals looking for grants or scholarships provided by other sources, including private parties.

Advocacy and professional development

  • A collective voice: Associations can represent professional concerns in public policy.
  • Ongoing development: Research updates and education can help members stay informed.
Read the details about Advocacy and professional development

Professional associations also participate in policy advocacy. Their priorities and organizational structures change; consult their current policy pages to understand the positions they take.

Examples of advocacy topics include access to services, research funding and professional practice. Check the organization’s current publications rather than treating a past legislative campaign as recent news.

Psychology associations work tirelessly to keep their membership abreast of the latest research advances. Journals published through these memberships allow for outlets for this information to pass through, but the associations themselves can coordinate separate continuing education activities.

A psychology association can serve many purposes, including networking for psychologists, providing continuing education activities, and publishing findings in their own journals. They advocate both for their members and on behalf of mental health issues.

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