The Psychology Practice Act

Practicing psychology without a license is prohibited by law. Citizens in each state benefit from the protection of a psychology practice act. Now that there are consistent requirements for securing a license, the standards for the profession are high enough to give each community confidence.

History

• Following the American Psychological Association's leadership aimed at raising practice standards, Connecticut enacted the first certification law in 1945 to protect the title psychologist. The enactment of practice acts became popular during the 1950s, and by the 1960s, 32 states had certification laws. During this decade, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) took up responsibility from the APA for promoting consistent, thorough examination. In 1967 and 1969, California and Connecticut improved certification to a licensure.

  Today, all states require psychologists to obtain licenses. Laws in California and Missouri bear the title Psychology Practice Act; other states have chosen their own names for similar licensing laws. Committed to improvement of state licensing statutes, the ASPPB has a model practice law. All fifty states are ASPPB members.

Significance

• The APA and ASPPB uphold licensing laws to protect citizens from incompetent persons pretending to be psychologists. With a legal license requirement, each psychologist who diagnoses illness and provides treatment has proved her practice qualifications by meeting educational, testing and casework standards.

Oversight

• State boards of psychology made of professional psychologists and public members have the authority to license and to make the field's rules and regulations. Responsible for the psychologists' ethical conduct, the boards enforce statutory codes of conduct and set rules for ethical practice. Psychologists are kept within medical practice boundaries; stepping into the medical field by prescribing psychoactive drugs or performing surgery is generally prohibited, though the ASPPB supports a regulated prescription authority. If a psychologist commits a violation or fraud in practice, the board has the authority to discipline him, primarily by revoking his license.

Qualifications

• Each applicant must earn a degree---sometimes a master's is enough, though often a doctorate is required---from an approved program in psychology (or in education with a psychology specialty). After graduation, each applicant must complete one to two years of supervised practice. Then, the applicant can prepare for exams.

  Most states require the applicant pass a law and ethics exam. The ASPPB's Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, developed over time since 1961, is the norm among the states. California adds a supplemental psychological exam. Connecticut tests a grasp of jurisprudence.

Considerations

• Since state regulations vary, licensed psychologists may have to undergo petition and examination processes if they move their practices to different states. In many cases, a psychologist who is fully licensed in one state may apply for a temporary permit to practice in her new state of residence while she gets up to speed on that state's regulatory requirements.