CHAPTER 30. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS.

ARTICLE 21A. PSYCHOLOGISTS; SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

§30-21A-4. Compact temporary authorization to practice.

(a) Compact States shall also recognize the right of a psychologist, licensed in a Compact State in conformance with §30-21A-3 of this code to practice temporarily in other Compact States (Distant States) in which the psychologist is not licensed, as provided in the Compact.

(b) To exercise the Temporary Authorization to Practice under the terms and provisions of this Compact, a psychologist licensed to practice in a Compact State shall:

(1) Hold a graduate degree in psychology from an institute of higher education that was, at the time the degree was awarded:

(A) Regionally accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to grant graduate degrees, or authorized by Provincial Statute or Royal Charter to grant doctoral degrees; or

(B) A foreign college or university considered to be equivalent to §30-21A-4(b)(1)(A) of this code by a foreign credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or by a recognized foreign credential evaluation service; and

(2) Hold a graduate degree in psychology that meets the following criteria:

(A) The program, wherever it may be administratively housed, shall be clearly identified and labeled as a psychology program. Such a program shall specify in pertinent institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train professional psychologists;

(B) The psychology program shall stand as a recognizable, coherent, organizational entity within the institution;

(C) There shall be a clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas whether or not the program cuts across administrative lines;

(D) The program shall consist of an integrated, organized sequence of study;

(E) There shall be an identifiable psychology faculty sufficient in size and breadth to carry out its responsibilities;

(F) The designated director of the program shall be a psychologist and a member of the core faculty;

(G) The program shall have an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree;

(H) The program shall include supervised practicum, internship, or field training appropriate to the practice of psychology;

(I) The curriculum shall encompass a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study for doctoral degrees and a minimum of one academic year of full-time graduate study for master’s degree;

(J) The program includes an acceptable residency as defined by the rules of the commission.

(3) Possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice psychology in a Home State which is a Compact State;

(4) No history of adverse action that violate the rules of the commission;

(5) No criminal record history that violates the rules of the commission;

(6) Possess a current, active IPC;

(7) Provide attestations in regard to areas of intended practice and work experience and provide a release of information to allow for primary source verification in a manner specified by the commission; and

(8) Meet other criteria as defined by the rules of the commission.

(c) A psychologist practicing into a Distant State under the Temporary Authorization to Practice shall practice within the scope of practice authorized by the Distant State.

(d) A psychologist practicing into a Distant State under the Temporary Authorization to Practice will be subject to the Distant State’s authority and law. A Distant State may, in accordance with that state’s due process law, limit or revoke a psychologist’s Temporary Authorization to Practice in the Distant State and may take any other necessary actions under the Distant State’s applicable law to protect the health and safety of the Distant State’s citizens. If a Distant State takes action, the state shall promptly notify the Home State and the Commission.

(e) If a psychologist’s license in any Home State, another Compact State, or any Temporary Authorization to Practice in any Distant State, is restricted, suspended or otherwise limited, the IPC shall be revoked and therefore the psychologist may not be eligible to practice in a Compact State under the Temporary Authorization to Practice.

Bill History For §30-21A-4