Division Sessions

ALL division session proposals must be submitted online by Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. 

Guidelines for Submitting Your Proposal 

All APA 2026 division session proposals must be submitted online through the call for proposals platform by Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. 

 

If you do not already have an account, you will be asked to create one and complete your contact profile before starting. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to enter all required information before the deadline. We highly encourage participants to submit their proposal in advance to account for any questions or issues that may arise when submitting through the online platform. 

 

You can save your proposal(s) and return to them at a later time. After you have submitted your final proposal, you can still make edits through the platform until the January 14 deadline. 

NOTE: You can submit a maximum of two proposals to APA 2026. Once proposals are accepted, you can participate in a maximum of two sessions at APA 2026 as a presenter. Learn more about our Rules for Participation. 

If you’re considering submitting a proposal for a Division session, you have four different session types to choose from: Critical Conversations, Flash Talks, Skill-Building Sessions, or Symposia. Learn more about each session type below. 

division sesson types

Critical Conversations 

CE Eligible

60 minutes 

Critical Conversations are interactive sessions focused on open dialogue between presenters and the audience. They begin with one or more short presentations to provide context, followed by a discussion led by a chair who moderates and encourages active audience participation. 

Flash Talks
60 minutes 

Flash Talks feature up to six short, fast-paced presentations on timely topics in psychology. Presentations may focus on research, education, or practice. These sessions should include interactive elements to engage the audience. Organizers are encouraged to build in time (e.g., 10 minutes for every three talks) for audience discussion or participation, which might include audience questions or structuring the session around a theme that invites group discussion. 

Skill-Building Sessions 

CE Eligible

60 minutes 

Skill-Building Sessions offer practical experiences to help participants increase their understanding and skills in a particular area of current interest in the field of psychology. Activities and discussions should be woven into the session to help attendees truly apply learnings to their work. Session topics might include (but are not limited to) demonstrations of various methodologies, interviews, therapeutic or assessment techniques, statistical or scientific approaches. 

Symposia

CE Eligible

60 minutes 

Symposia are focused sessions in which multiple speakers present information related to a unifying topic that is viewed as a significant common theme, issue, or question. The presentations generally include a review of data but may also include discussions of contrasting viewpoints or other innovative strategies for engaging the audience. A Symposium should include 2 or 3 brief presentations of research, practice, or educational content.

Policies for Presenters 

  • All participants are expected to understand and agree to the Rules for Participation. 
  • All arrangements for the proposed session, including written acceptance by each participant, must be completed when the proposal for a fully organized session is submitted. 
  • All presentations should use inclusive language that avoids stereotypes, labeling, and pejorative comments. Presenters are encouraged to acknowledge diversity and use appropriate descriptions, including those for gender, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic identity, disabilities, and age. Failure to adhere to these steps may lead to a request to revise or withdrawal of the submission. 
  • Participants are expected to maintain the highest standards of courteous and respectful behavior, especially when discussing sensitive and/or controversial topics. 

The Call for Proposals closed at 5 p.m. ET, January 14, 2025.


APA 2025 will feature four different session types: Critical Conversations, Flash Talks, Skill-Building Sessions, or Symposia. Learn more about each session type below. 


For additional division-specific information and program chairperson contact details, click here.

IMPORTANT! ALL presenters and program participants—members, nonmembers, and students—are required to register and pay the appropriate registration fees for APA 2026. Registration will open in April. We look forward to seeing you virtually or in Washington, DC!