You would think psychologists would have a unique understanding and appreciation of the power of human language and the meaning of words. Words shape perception, and psychologists not only study human perception, but also work to help change it when people are in need.
So in what world does a “mandatory assessment” fee not actually mean “mandatory” (as in, required)? Apparently, in the world of the American Psychological Association.
Since its inception, many, if not most, APA members have thought it was a required payment if you were a practicing clinical psychologist. It’s no wonder — the APA has referred to the fee as a “mandatory assessment” for the majority of that time. For most of us, that means it is required and obligatory.
(If you have no interest in American psychologist politics, you can safely skip the rest of this somewhat lengthy entry.)
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I feel shocked and very angry at APA for this deception. I paid this fee thinking it was “mandatory” for my APA membership to continue. How can APA present itself as acting in good faith on behalf of its membership when it perpetuates this kind of scam! I believe the funds paid into this entity by members such as myself under the assumption it was required should be refunded.
I requested a refund of the $137 I paid with my 2010 dues when I thought the fee was mandatory. I got a prompt response that my money would be reimbursed, no questions asked.
I’m glad to hear the APA is giving refunds on this fee for folks who don’t want to be members of the APAPO. That’s certainly the right thing to do.
Thank you so much for posting this. I noticed that the wording was different this year on my bill so I went to google to see if I was correctly interpreting their now-very-obtuse language (as opposed to what SEEMED clearly mandatory before). I’m annoyed, to say the least, that I’ve been paying this for 10 years. I really have no idea what I get for it. Or rather, have gotten for it, since I don’t plan on paying it anymore.
Until just now, I assumed that those fees were mandatory on any psychologist who practiced.
If the leadership of APA had any decency, it would acknowledge the deception perpetuated since 1985 on those members who were assessed the additional fee, and offer to reimburse those members. That would be the “right thing to do”. Instead, it is opposing the recent lawsuits on this matter. I will be personally asking for a reimbursement not for this year but for all those years.