Become a Fellow

What is an SfHP Fellow?

Fellow status is an honor bestowed upon APA members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology. Fellow status requires that a person’s work has had a national impact on the field of psychology beyond a local, state or regional level.  Fellows are nominated by their division and reviewed by APA. An individual can be a Fellow in multiple divisions.

Why Become a Fellow?

• Professional Recognition: Honors outstanding contributions to the field of psychology and affirms your expertise, reputation, and dedication.

• Peer Acknowledgment: Offers meaningful recognition from colleagues, affirming your impact and leadership in the profession.

• Career Advancement: Strengthens candidacy for promotions, leadership roles, and institutional support. Some organizations even provide financial or professional incentives.

• Inspiration and Mentorship: Serves as a model of excellence for students, early career psychologists, and underrepresented voices in the field.

• Field-Wide Impact: Elevates the importance of psychology as a profession and reinforces the influence of your specialty area within practice and research.

• Division Recognition: Reflects positively on your APA Division, showcasing its role in advancing the field through the achievements of its members.

• Leadership Engagement: Encourages the involvement of diverse and emerging psychologists in shaping the future of APA.

What is the Process?

The application begins with an online application with three letters of support from APA/SfHP Fellows (see current SfHP Fellows here).  The SfHP Fellows Committee will review that application and forward their recommendations to the APA Membership Committee, whose recommendations are confirmed by the APA Council of Representatives at each APA Convention.

Please note that first-time Fellow applicants must use the APA Portal for submitting materials – including letters of endorsement – all by December 15 of each year. This system allows nominees, endorsers and division Fellows chairs to submit all required documents online.

Please visit the APA Fellows webpage for more information and to access the online system. (If you need help accessing the platform or have any questions, please contact Sonja Wiggins in APA’s Central Office at 800-374-2721 or email swiggins@apa.org.)

Because of the rigid timetable for reviewing and processing applications, there will be no extensions to this deadline for first-time applicants. Nominees whose applications are incomplete as of the deadline will not be considered further in the current year, but will have the opportunity to reactivate their applications in the future.

The final outcome of applications for Fellows will not be known until after the annual APA Convention (in the year following the deadline). Shortly after the APA Convention, SfHP will notify new Fellows of their status.  APA membership status will change at the start of the next calendar year.

Already a Fellow in Another APA Division?

Please contact the SfHP administrative office for a “Current Fellow” application. Do not use the APA online portal. You will be asked to prepare a thorough self-statement describing your accomplishments in health psychology, and to provide a current CV. Endorsers are not needed.

All “Current Fellow” applications are due to the SfHP administrative office on/before December 15.