Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
A. Public statements, announcements of services, advertising, and promotional activities of psychologists serve the purpose of helping the public make informed judgments and choices. Psychologists represent accurately and objectively their professional qualifications, affiliations, and functions, as well as those of the institutions or organizations with which they or the statements may be associated. In public statements providing psychological information or professional opinions or providing information about the availability of psychological products, publications, and services, psychologists must base their statements on scientifically acceptable psychological findings and techniques with full recognition of the limits and uncertainties of such evidence.
1. When announcing or advertising professional services, psychologists may list the following information to describe the provider and services provided: name, highest relevant academic degree earned from a regionally accredited institution, date, type and level of certification or licensure, diplomat status, APA membership status, address, telephone number, office hours, a brief listing of the type of psychological services offered, an appropriate presentation of fee information, foreign language spoken, and policy with regard to third-party payments. Additional relevant or consumer information may be included if not prohibited by other sections of these Ethical Principles.
2. In announcing or advertising the availability of psychological products, publications, or services, psychologists must not present their affiliation with any organization in a manner that falsely implies sponsorship or certification by that organization. In particular and for example, psychologists may not state APA membership or fellow status in a way to suggest that such status implies specialized professional competence or qualifications. Public statements include, but are not limited to, communication by means of periodical, book, list, directory, television, radio, or motion picture. They may not contain (i) a false fraudulent, misleading deceptive, or unfair statement; (ii) a misinterpretation of fact or a statement likely to mislead or deceive because in context it makes only a partial disclosure of relevant facts; (iii) a statement intended or likely to create false or unjustified expectations of favorable results; (iv) a statement implying unusual, unique, or one-of-a-kind abilities.
