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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
psychology board; licensure; fingerprinting
Purpose
Requires all psychologist and behavioral analyst licensure applicants to apply for a fingerprint clearance card by January 1, 2022.
Background
The Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners (Board) regulates and monitors the professions of psychology and behavior analysis. The Board licenses individuals to practice psychology and behavior analysis, provides information about licensees to the public, investigates complaints of unprofessional conduct and administers discipline (A.R.S. § 32-2063).
Current statute requires applicants for a psychologist license to: 1) meet the education and training qualifications for licensure; 2) pass the required examinations; 3) have a professional record indicating the applicant has not committed any act that constitutes grounds for disciplinary action against a licensee; 4) not have had a license to practice psychology refused, revoked, suspended or restricted; 5) not have voluntarily surrendered a license while under investigation for unprofessional conduct; and 6) not have a complaint, allegation or investigation pending that relates to unprofessional conduct (A.R.S. § 32-2071.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires, beginning January 1, 2022, all applicants for an initial, renewal or temporary psychologist or behavioral analyst license to apply for a fingerprint clearance card.
2. Requires an applicant who is issued a valid fingerprint clearance card to submit the card to the Board with the completed application.
3. Allows an applicant who is denied a fingerprint clearance card to request that the Board consider their application for licensure regardless of the absent fingerprint clearance card.
4. Grants the Board discretion to approve an application for licensure without a fingerprint clearance card if it is determined that the applicant's criminal history information on which the denial is based does not solely disqualify the applicant from licensure.
5. Requires the supervisor of an applicant for licensure as a licensed behavior analyst who obtained supervised work experience in another state to be licensed in the state where the behavior analysis trainee services were provided.
6. Exempts a psychologist who conducts specified independent psychological examinations from unprofessional conduct complaints unless a complaint alleges an act other than a disagreement with the related findings and opinions.
7. Eliminates the limitation that no more than 50 percent of in-person supervision be completed using telepractice supervision.
8. Eliminates independent fieldwork, university practicum and intensive university practicum as options to satisfy prescribed supervised experience requirements for behavioral analysts.
9. Exempts, beginning February 1, 2021, through September 1, 2023, and retroactive to February 1, 2021, psychologist licensure applicants from the following educational and experience requirements:
a) two full-time academic years of graduate study in a doctoral program completed at the institution from which the doctoral degree is granted; and
b) a residency completed at the institution where the applicant's doctoral degree is awarded.
10. Makes technical and conforming changes.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date, except as otherwise noted.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 9, 2021
CRS/kja