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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
school psychologists; exemption
Purpose
Exempts, from psychologist licensure requirements, a school psychologist certified by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and contracted to provide services for an educational institution setting for pupils in prekindergarten, kindergarten or any of grades 1 through 12 (PreK-12).
Background
The Board of Psychologist Examiners (Board) issues licenses
for the practice of psychology which includes the psychological assessment,
diagnosis, treatment or correction of mental, emotional, behavioral or
psychological abilities, illnesses or disorders. Psychologist license applicant
requirements include: 1) a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling
psychology, school or educational psychology or any Board-approved subject area
in applied psychology;
2) 3,000 hours of supervised professional work experiences; and 3) passing the
examination for professional practice in psychology. A school psychologist
employed in a common school, high school or charter school setting and certified
by the ADE is exempt from psychologist licensure requirements if the services
or activities are a part of the duties of that person's employment with the
school (A.R.S. §§ 32-2061;
32-2071;
32-2071.01;
and 32-2075).
An ADE school psychologist PreK-12 certificate authorizes a person to provide school psychologist services which includes student psychoeducational assessment, therapeutic consultation and intervention and involvement in a student's disability or disorder determination process. To qualify for certification, an applicant must: 1) complete a school psychology graduate program or a psychology doctoral program and a school psychology re-training program; 2) have 5 years of full-time school psychologist experience within the last 10 years; 4) verification of a Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential; or 5) verification of a school psychology diploma from the American Board of School Psychology. An applicant must also complete at least 1,200 hours of a supervised internship, with a minimum of 600 hours in a school setting, or have 3 years of experience as a certified school psychologist in the last 10 years (ADE).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Expands the exemption of a school psychologist who is certified by ADE from psychologist licensure to include:
a) a school psychologist contracted to provide services in a PreK-12 education institution setting if the services or activities are a part of the duties of the person's contract with the school; and
b) a school psychologist employed in any PreK-12 educational institution, rather than in a common school, high school or charter school setting.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 1/25/22 DP 9-1-0-1
3rd Read 2/3/22 58-1-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 11, 2022
LB/MS/slp