APA Fellow status recognizes psychologists whose work has made unusual and outstanding contributions to psychology with impact beyond a local, state, or regional level. The basic APA requirements are only part of the story: individual divisions may further define what Fellow-level impact looks like, impose additional eligibility or endorsement requirements, and use somewhat different procedures.

I created this six-part series to make that process less opaque for APA members who are thinking about pursuing Fellow status, as well as graduate students and other psychologists who are curious about how Fellowship works. The series has three segments: Parts 1–3 focus on applying for Fellow status; Parts 4–5 focus on the Fellows Talk; and Part 6 compares Fellow criteria across all 54 active APA divisions.

The application-focused videos draw heavily on my experience applying for initial Fellow status through APA Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology), so some procedural details will differ across divisions. Always verify current requirements with APA and the division through which you plan to apply.

Watch the Six-Part Series

Watch the complete playlist, Applying for APA Fellow Status — Six-Part YouTube Series, which consists of these six videos:

  1. Part 1: APA Fellow Eligibility, Requirements, and Resources — An orientation to APA Fellow eligibility, division-specific criteria, official APA and Division 17 resources, the application portal, finding current Fellows, and the central requirement to demonstrate unusual and outstanding contributions with broader impact.
  2. Part 2: APA Fellow Application Timeline — From Nomination to Approval — A walkthrough of the sequence from nomination and application through endorsement letters, division review, APA review, Council approval, and notification, using the Division 17 process as a concrete example.
  3. Part 3: APA Fellow Application Materials — Self-Statement and Endorsement Letters — A closer look at the materials that make the case for Fellow status, including the self-statement, CV/vita, qualification checklist, and endorsement letters, with examples from my own application.
  4. Part 4: What We Give Before We Go — My APA Division 17 Fellows Talk — My Fellows Talk itself rather than a tutorial. I include it in the series as one concrete example of what a Fellows Talk can look like (if relevant to your Division) and how a Fellow might use the format to reflect on contributions, relationships, values, and what they hope to leave behind.
  5. Part 5: Preparing an APA Fellows Talk — Themes, Advice, and Examples — Advice for planning a Fellows Talk based on a review of about 40 unique Division 17 Fellows Talks, examples from prior Fellows, and recent research on the APA Fellows program. The emphasis is on common themes and possibilities rather than a single required format.
  6. Part 6: Comparing APA Fellow Requirements Across All 54 Divisions — A tour of the master catalog comparing Fellow criteria across every active APA division, followed by the main cross-division findings about membership rules, experience requirements, endorsers, minimum contribution domains, and how divisions define Fellow-level impact.

Key Resources Mentioned in the Series

A Few Takeaways Before You Apply

One of the most useful distinctions to keep in mind is that “division-specific criteria” can mean two different things. Some divisions truly add an extra hurdle—such as a minimum period of division membership, additional years of field-specific experience, a particular endorsement requirement, or a required number of contribution domains. Other divisions mainly explain what APA’s general standard of “unusual and outstanding contributions” looks like within their specialty.

Across the 54 active divisions, 49 have some form of division-specific criteria, but as of 2026 only about 32 divisions clearly add a genuine requirement beyond merely explaining how Fellow-level eminence looks in that specialty. If division-specific endorser restrictions are also counted as an extra hurdle, the number rises to about 36. This distinction is discussed in Part 6 and documented in the master catalog.

If you are considering applying, I would start with three questions: What does my division consider evidence of Fellow-level impact? Does my division impose any additional eligibility requirements? Who must endorse my application?

Important Note

I recorded this series and assembled these resources in 2026. APA and division requirements, deadlines, webpages, and procedures can change. These materials are intended as an orientation and practical guide, not as official APA guidance. Before applying, verify the current requirements directly with APA and the relevant division.