psychology license & professional mobility
DESCRIPTION
By Alex M. SiegelTRANSCRIPT
Psychology Licensure/ Professional Mobility:
What Students Need to Know
Alex M. Siegel, J.D., Ph.D.Association of State and Provincial
Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
1
Requirements for Licensure or
Registration
Tips for Obtaining Initial Registration
or License
Licensure Mobility
Helpful Resources
2
Topics
Canada - by province/territory
◦ 10 Provinces
◦ Northwest Territories
United States - by state/territory
◦ 50 States
◦ Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam
◦ District of Columbia
3
Psychology A Regulated Profession
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
◦ State/provincial/territorial psychology
regulatory boards/colleges in the United States
and Canada
◦ 64 member jurisdictions
◦ Services to licensing boards, applicants for
licensure/registration, licensed psychologists
◦ Goal is to be the international source of
information and offer model programs on
regulation of psychologists4
What is ASPPB?
Graduate degree in psychology Supervised professional experience (SPE)
◦ 1500 to 6000 hours of SPE Examinations
◦ Examination for Professional Practice in
Psychology (EPPP)
◦ Jurisprudence and/or Ethics Exam
◦ Oral Examination
5
Registration/Licensure Overview of Requirements
Requirements vary across jurisdictions
Academic ProgramPracticum
Dissertation/Thesis…Internship
Graduation
Postdoctoral ExperienceTesting
Licensure
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Sequence of Training Leading to Licensure
Most (49) states require a doctoral degree for
licensure as a Psychologist
One (1) state (West Virginia) requires a masters
degree for licensure as a Psychologist
Two (2) jurisdictions also license at masters level
for independent practice, different title:
Oregon: Psychological Associate
Vermont: Psychologist - Master
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Entry to Independent Practice: United States
Three jurisdictions (BC, MB, ON)
◦ Psychologist: doctoral degree
◦ Psychological Associate: masters degree
Six jurisdictions (AB, SK, NS, PE, NL, NWT)
◦ Psychologist: doctoral or masters degree
Two jurisdictions (QC, NB) have changed from masters
to doctoral degree
◦ QC currently requires doctoral degree
◦ NB will require doctoral degree in 2011
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Entry to Independent PracticeAcademic Degree: Canada
Must be a recognized psychology
program (accredited or designated)
Specific courses may be required
CPA/APA accredited doctoral program may
meet all degree requirements
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PsychologistGraduate Degree
41.31(5) First time applicants who were enrolled in
doctoral program prior to March 23, 1991will have their educational credentials evaluated under regulations in effect at that time.
If apply under 41.42(b)[reapplication] will have credentials evaluated under regulations in effect at time of reapplication
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Pennsylvania Requirements
Old 41.31(b) prior to June 30, 2008 REQUIREMENTS Education 1) Program Director completes the
Verification of Doctoral Program Approval Status reflecting APA or CPA Accreditation or
2) Program has ASPPB/NR Designation or
Within 1 year from the award of Doctoral Degree
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Pennsylvania Requirements
Must demonstrate applicant’s satisfactory completion of core, specialty, practicum and internship:
1)Recognized Sequence within the overall program or department
2) Comprises Integrated, Organized Sequence of Study
Ethics Research Design and Methodology Statistics and Psychometrics
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If not APA or ASPPB then
Competence in 4 Substantive Content Areas:
Biological Bases of Behavior Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior Social Bases of Behavior Individual Differences
Specialty Courses, Practicum, Internship At least 60 graduate hours of above
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Each degree candidate complete a minimum of two consecutive academic semesters as a matriculated student physically present at the institution grating the degree
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Residency Requirement
If apply under 41.42(b) will have their credentials evaluated under the regulations in effect at the time of reapplication
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41.31(4) First time applicants who enrolled in a
graduate degree program in psychology or field related to psychology on or after July 1, 2008 will be evaluated under theses regulations.
MUST BE FROM APA or CPA ACCREDITED OR ASPPB/NR DESIGNATED PROGRAM
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Pennsylvania Requirements
Two years (3,000 hours) of supervised
experience typically required, usually one
of these must be postdoctoral
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Psychologist: Supervised Professional Experience
Some states include APPIC most don’t
Some states include APA most don’t
Advantage of APPIC Member/APA
accredited is program has been peer
reviewed and said to meet minimal
standards
Have some recourse if problems
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Psychologist: Supervised Professional Experience (2)
Hours Number of Jurisdictions
•2000 11
•1900 2
•1800 6
•1750 5
•1600 1
•1500 14
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Predoc Supervised Experience Hours Requirements:
Practicum Hours NOT Counted (OLD)Predoc Internship: supervised training for at least 450 hours learning activities for an average of 2 hours a week Interact formally and informally with psychologist and
other trainees For 1 year and include at least 1500 hours with 25%
(375 hours) in direct patient contact and no more than 25% in research
Part time for two year half time
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Pennsylvania Requirements
New Regs do not define internship requirements since it is part of the doctoral program requirements.
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Hours Number of Jurisdictions
•3000-4000 3
•2000 9
•1900 2
•1800 6
•1750 4
•1600 3
•1500 15
•1000 1
•1 year 6
•None 3
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Postdoc Supervised Experience Hours Requirements:
POST DOC (old) 1500 hours is defined as a year (37.5
weeks) At least one half of experience in direct
services
MUST BE SUPERVISED BY A PSYCHOLOGIST HOLDING CURRENT LICENSE
SUPERVISOR MEETS INDIVIDUALLY FOR AN AVERAGE OF TWO HOURS A WEEK
MAY DELEGATE 1 HOUR23
Pennsylvania Requirements
1) INDEPENDENT PRIVATE PRACTICE AS A QUALIFIED MEMBER OF ANOTHER RECOGNIZED PROFESSION
2)INDEPENDENT PRIVATE PRACTICE AS A CERTIFIED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
3)PRACITICE AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
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NOT ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE
New 41.32 Shall complete 1 year of acceptable post
doc supervised experience First time applicants who commence post
doc as of December 6, 2010; 1) 1 year is calculated as at least 12 months
consisting of 1750 hours 2) no more than 45 hours and no less than
15 hours may be counted each week 3) At least 50% direct services
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Pennsylvania Requirements
1) experience is obtained for each entity for a minimum of 6 consecutive months
2) experience occurs for a minimum of 15 hours per week at each setting
3) total experience for all settings does not exceed 45 hours
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Experience at more than 1 place if
Acceptable Experience 1) practice at entity consistent with
psychologist’s education and training 2) No experience may be obtained if
psychology resident acts independently
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All experience must be obtained under supervision of a primary supervision
Primary – if obtained from more than 1 supervisor, hall have a primary supervisor at each entity.
Delegated- may delegate supervision for up to 1 hour per week
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Supervision
Examination for Professional Practice in
Psychology (EPPP)
◦ Published by ASPPB; copyright
◦ 200 multiple choice items on knowledge base
essential for independent practice 225 total
questions 25 are pretest
◦ Computer administered at local site
throughout calendar year, 4 hour and 15 min
◦ Candidate must be approved by regulatory
board/college to take exam29
Examinations
Jurisprudence and/or ethics examination
required in several jurisdictions (may be
oral or written)
PPLE in PA. 30 questions on law and regs
Oral examination of practice competence
required by less than half of the
jurisdictions (Competency-Laws-Interview)
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Other Examinations
Measures broad general, foundational knowledge for all psychologist
Content validity supported by periodic Practice Analyses
criteria for item inclusion: Entry level knowledge Protection of the Public
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What is the EPPP?
BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR (12%) COGNITIVE-AFFECTIVE BASES BEHAVIOR (13%) SOCIAL & CULTURAL BASES BEHAVIOR (12%) GROWTH & LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT (12%) ASSESSMENT & DIAGNOSIS (14%) TREATMENT, INTERVENTION, PREVENTION
AND SUPERVISION (14%) RESEARCH METHODS & STATISTICS (8%) ETHICAL/LEGAL/PROFESSIONAL ISSUES (15%)
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EIGHT CONTENT AREAS OF EPPP
Numerous studies have supported reliability & content validity of EPPP
Data suggest preparation beyond 200 hours yields diminishing returns
Data suggest best time to take EPPP within 3 years of graduation
In PA, regs now will allow applicant’s to take EPPP after doctoral degree and during post year. Do not have to wait until after post doc anymore
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RESEARCH ON EPPP
There are easy and hard version“The Monster”
Items not related to what psychologist do Pretest questions are clumped at the
beginning Majority of candidates fail See Myths vs. Reality of EPPP brochure At www.asppb.net
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MYTHS of EPPP
Doctoral degree first-time takers: 83% APA/CPA accredited graduates: 78% NON APA/CPA graduates: 53% APA/CPA/APPIC internship: 80% No APA/CPA accredited/APPIC: 54%
My impression for the last 12 years in PA are similar to the national numbers
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PASS RATES ON EPPP
The process of licensure
◦ Licensing differences in jurisdictions
◦ Resources
EPPP and other examinations
◦ Resources
Ways to practice without a license
◦ SPE
◦ Clinical Research
Accessing Information
◦ Be careful with listserv information
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What Trainees Need to Know
Select a recognized/accredited training
program
Follow standard/prescribed curriculum
(don’t seek waivers, special
considerations)
Select recognized internship/post doctoral
placement with established history,
multiple supervisors, etc.
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Tips for Obtaining Initial Registration/License
Identify jurisdiction(s) of interest & research
licensure requirements (note variations and seek to
meet most stringent)
Deposit your credentials in recognized credentials
bank
Prepare to take the EPPP (content outline, practice
tests, retired questions, review courses, study
groups)
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Tips for Obtaining Initial Registration/License (cont.)
On-line Practice EPPP
Practice EPPP at Prometric Sites
Information for Candidates Brochure
(includes content outline & weightings)
Handbook of Licensure Requirements &
Directory of Member Jurisdictions & their
laws & regulations
Items from Previous EPPP Exams39
ASPPB Sponsored Resources Available to Help
Electronically Stored record of:
University transcripts
Supervised experience
Work experience
Examination Performance
Reference letters
ASPPB provides primary source verification so
you should never have to retrieve these
materials again.40
The ASPPB Credentials Bank“A Credentials and Verification Storage Program of
ASPPB”
Apply to State Board of Psychology for licensure at www.dos.state.pa.us/psych
Go to Board Applications Complete application if all requirements
met OR if taking EPPP prior to post doc Board reviews credentials If Board approves credentials then it will
give you the ASPPB email asppb.net to use PsyIMS to register for the EPPP.
41
Pennsylvania Process
Series of form to collect applicant background and contact information
For accommodation, submit documentation Candidates either pay on line with credit
card or can mail certified check or money order
Cost $450, plus administrative fees
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Psychology Information Management System (PsyIMS)
PES sends Pa Board letter that candidate completed forms and fees.
Board approves PES sends Authorization to Test letter to
candidate to schedule exam at Prometric location of candidate’s choice
Must sit for exam within 60 days Bring ID to test site Results twice a month to Board then to
candidate
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Board sends candidates name to test service (PSC) and PSC sends out application to take the PPLE
Candidate pays fee Candidate schedules the exam
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PPLEPA Psychology Law Exam
If pass both exams and completed all requirements Board sends
LICENSE TO THE NEW PSYCHOLOGIST
If take EPPP and PPLE during post doc year then when complete post doc have post doc supervisor complete form and send letter of recommendation
LICENSE TO NEW PSYCHOLOGIST
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For those already licensed/registered with no
disciplinary sanctions
Mechanisms to facilitate mobility:
◦ Certificate of Professional Qualification
◦ Reciprocity Agreement
◦ Mutual Recognition Agreement
Interview and jurisprudence exam may be
required
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Licensure Mobility
Most new practitioners will relocate at least once in
their career Slight variations in registration and licensure
requirements can become huge obstacles later (e.g.
intern hrs) Documenting supervised experience, course
content, etc. becomes more difficult over time Licensing/registration boards can not accept
personal copies of documents because of possible
fraud Training programs, internship sites close,
supervisors and their records disappear47
Why Worry Now About Professional Mobility?
Program of ASPPB
Individual must meet requirements for
CPQ
Includes credentials bank feature
Low cost to obtain & maintain
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Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ)
Licensure Mobility
Accepted by 39 jurisdictions in Canada & United
States
7 more jurisdictions in the process of accepting
the CPQ for licensure
9 more jurisdictions recognize the CPQ for
licensure
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Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ)
Jurisdictions in Canada:
AB, BC, MB, NS, ON, QC
Jurisdictions in the United States:
AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, ID, KY,
LA, MI, MS, MO, ND, NV, NE, NH, NM, NC,
OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VT, VA WV, WI,
WY
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Jurisdictions Currently “Accepting” the CPQ for Licensure (39)
These jurisdictions have “voted” to accept
the CPQ, and are in the process of making
legislative or administrative changes
necessary for implementation.
Jurisdictions in Canada
NB, PEI, SK
Jurisdictions in the United States
AK, ME, MN, SD51
Jurisdictions in the Process of “Accepting” the CPQ for
Licensure (7)
These jurisdictions may waive at least one
licensure requirement for applicants who
hold an active CPQ for a minimum time
period as specified by the licensing board.
Jurisdictions in Canada: NL
Jurisdictions in the United States
IA, MD, MA, MT, NJ, TN, TX, WA
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Jurisdictions Which “Recognize” the CPQ for Licensure (9)
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Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ)
11 jurisdictions (2 provinces, 9 states)
Jurisdiction must meet requirements of
Agreement to participate
Psychologist licensed with no disciplinary
sanctions in one participating jurisdiction
may seek registration/licensure in
another participating jurisdiction
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ASPPB Agreement of Reciprocity
Jurisdictions in Canada
MB, ON
Jurisdictions in the United States
AR, KY, MO, MS, NV, NH, OK, TX, WI
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Members of the ASPPB Agreement of Reciprocity
National Register ABPP
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MOBILITY
Canada:
◦ 10 provinces and Northwest Territories
Various recognition mechanisms
Principal recognition mechanism is registration
or licensure based on:
◦ evaluation of core competencies
◦ evaluation of foundational knowledge
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Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
◦ Information about the Licensing Exam
◦ Practice Examinations & Sample Items
◦ Information about Licensure Requirements
Handbook of Licensing and Regulations
Contact Information for Registration Boards
Links to Laws & Regulations in Every Jurisdiction
◦ ASPPB Credentials Verification Program
◦ Mobility Mechanisms
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ASPPB Can Help You Get Licensed/Registered
Legal Issues and Legislative Updates
Handling Legal and Ethical Dilemmas &
Avoiding Disciplinary Action
Professional Conduct & Discipline in
Psychology (APA Books)
Trends in the Profession
Prescription Privileges
Tele-practice
Distance Education
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ASPPB Can Help with Practice Issues
www.dos.state.pa.us/psych
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Good luck on your
journey to licensure
Questions, Comments,
Concerns
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