Practitioners and scholars of psychology are provided numerous options when seeking information related to professional development, networking, research resources, academic and career guidance, community involvement and much more. The purpose of this assignment is to research and report on the professional psychological associations listed with their corresponding websites below to gain an understanding of the mission and benefits of each.

The associations to review include:

American Psychological Association (APA) http://www.apa.org

American Counseling Association (ACA) http://www.counseling.org

American School Counseling Association (ASCA) www.schoolcounselor.org

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) http://www.siop.org

American Psychology and Law Society http://www.ap-ls.org

In an 8 to 10-page paper, provide a 1.5-page review of each professional association identified above, using each association’s name as an APA heading, addressing the following:

· Summarize the purpose, function, and mission of each association.

· Discuss the ways in which each association meets the stated mission, highlighting major initiatives and activities.

· Highlight the member benefits and resources available to the public by each association.

· Close your work with a brief statement of your thoughts on the value of professional associations for students, early career, and experienced professionals in psychology.

Include a minimum 8 to 10 pages, not including the required APA formatted title and reference pages; submit APA style in-text citations throughout the work as well.

The basic parts of a paper should also be included; these are the opening, introduction section, with a precise thesis statement, the body of the paper with clear, discernable headings formatted to APA style levels of heading where appropriate, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and summarizes the major points of the entire paper.