The American Psychological Association (APA) is a professional organization representing psychologists in the U.S., with around 150,000 members and an annual budget of around $70m. The American Psychological Association is occasionally confused with the American Psychiatric Association, which also uses the acronym APA.

Mission

The APA mission statement is to advance psychology:

• ''as a science and profession and
• ''as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare by the encouragement of psychology in all its branches in the broadest and most liberal manner;
• ''by the promotion of research in psychology and the improvement of research methods and conditions;
• ''by the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of psychologists through high standards of ethics, conduct, education, and achievement;
• ''by the establishment and maintenance of the highest standards of professional ethics and conduct of the members of the Association;
• ''by the increase and diffusion of psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions, and publications;
• ''thereby to advance scientific interests and inquiry, and the application of research findings to the promotion of health, education, and the public welfare.

Awards

Each year, the APA recognizes top psychologists with the "Distinguished Contributions" Awards; these awards are the highest honors given by the APA, and among the highest honors that a psychologist or psychology researcher can receive.

• Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Psychology (Early Career / Senior)
• Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest (Early Career / Senior)
• Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology
• Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology
• Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research
• Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Practice in the Public Sector
• Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology
• The Theodore H. Blau Early Career Award for Outstanding Contribution to Professional Clinical Psychology

The use of "psychologist" as title

APA policy on the use of the title psychologist is contained in the General Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services: "Psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology from an organized, sequential program in a regionally accredited university or professional school" and suggests "refer1 to master's-level positions as counselors, specialists, clinicians, and so forth (rather than as 'psychologists')." A definition of psychology is offered: "the study of the mind and behavior.".

The Psychologically Healthy Workplace program