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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
psychologists; licensure requirements
Purpose
Establishes that an applicant for licensure as a psychologist who earned a doctoral degree from a program accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) satisfies licensure requirements.
Background
Currently, an applicant seeking licensure to become a psychologist must earn a doctoral degree from an institution of higher education in clinical or counseling psychology, school or educational psychology or any other subject area in applied psychology and must additionally have completed a doctoral program in psychology from an educational institution that meets specified accreditation and course work requirements. Currently, an applicant who earned a doctoral degree from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) is deemed to have satisfied outlined education requirements for licensure (A.R.S. § 32-2071.01). There are approximately 398 schools in the United States accredited by the APA.
PCSAS started development in 1995 and was formally established in 2007. Currently, there are 44 PCSAS-accredited programs in the United States including the Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes that an applicant for licensure as a psychologist who has earned a doctoral degree from a program accredited by PCSAS satisfies prescribed licensure requirements.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 2/15/21 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/23/21 53-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 22, 2021
CRS/kja