Guidelines for Full Membership Applicants

Preparing your application

All applications from individuals with relevant qualifications and evidence of a viable professional, insured and accountable behaviour therapy practice will be assessed by a membership Selection Committee, comprised of eight APBC members.

All applications will be considered on an individual basis and are submitted to each selection committee member for assessment. The members of the Selection Committee represent a cross section of the disciplines incorporated in the APBC. If an application is to be successful, it must be approved - unanimously - by all Selection Committee Members.

The following guidelines should be considered when preparing an application for submission:

A. Your CV

Include any publications or articles you have written. Include information of any relevant research and practical successes in any training discipline.

B. Four Case Reports

Choose your case reports carefully. Where possible use recent cases and indicate your knowledge of varying behavioural problems by selecting case histories of different types, enabling you to demonstrate different behavioural techniques and knowledge.

When preparing your case reports, attention to detail is important - provide sufficient information to enable the Selection Committee to arrive at a decision. In all case reports, please include the following:

1. The way in which you approach your client and how you gather relevant information. A copy of any forms you use are essential here.
2. A full, detailed explanation of what you consider the behaviour problem to be. Please discuss its likely cause and the reasons why you consider other explanations may be dismissed.
   
   For example:
   
   If the case you are discussing is a separation disorder, if you conclude that the cause was true anxiety, please give your thought processes and reasoning behind this decision. Include any evidence that may have led you to this conclusion.
   
3. Give a detailed account of the treatment rationale given to the client, the reasons for your choice of treatment and any adaptions you have made to suit the needs of the specific case or animal.
   
   In the case of drug therapy, give full reasoning behind why it was considered that drug support was appropriate/necessary and detail the procedure that was followed to implement this support.
   
4. Give an account of your follow-up procedures and any further advice given.
5. Describe how the case progressed, and whether it was successful or not. Give a full explanation of the level of success obtained in each case.
6. Refer to any literature that you may have used during diagnosis or treatment. Back up any reasoning in diagnosis or treatment with current research findings where relevant. All references should be listed at the end of each case report on a separate sheet.

It will take a minimum of one month to process your application. This time may be extended during holiday periods, as your application must be studied by all Selection Committee members before a decision is made.

After careful consideration, the Committee may decide to pass/reject your application at the present time, or may request further information, or suggest a re-application at a later date.

Go to criteria for membership

APBC July 2007