ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: HHS DP 8-2-0-0

HB 2050: board of psychologist examiners

Sponsor: Representative Bliss, LD 1

House Engrossed

Overview

Permits the Arizona Board of Psychologists Examiners (APBE) to accept primary source verified credentials from a credential's verification service that has been approved by them.

History

Laws 1965, Chapter 102 created the APBE which licenses individuals to practice psychology or behavior analysis in Arizona and investigates and adjudicates allegations of unprofessional conduct filed against psychologists and behavior analysts licensed in Arizona.

An applicant must have a doctoral degree from a higher education institution (Institution) in clinical or counseling psychology, school or educational psychology or any other subject area in applied psychology acceptable to APBE. Statute outlines specified requirements for an Institution's doctoral psychology program which include: 1) accreditation from regional accrediting agencies; 2) identifiable psychology faculty; and 3) a core program that requires certain graduate semester hours in certain content areas. Applicants are also required to acquire 3,000 hours of supervised professional work experience (A.R.S. § 32-2071).

Currently, an applicant meets the requirements of statute if they have earned a doctoral degree from a program that was accredited by the American Psychological Association, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System at the time of graduation.

Additionally, applicants who are licensed to practice psychology at the independent level in another licensing jurisdiction of the United States (U.S.) or Canada meet the education and training qualifications for licensure if they satisfy any of the following: 1) hold a certificate of professional qualification in psychology in good standing issued by the association of state and provincial psychology boards or its successor; 2) is currently credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers (National Register) in psychology or its successor and submits evidence of having practiced psychology independently at the doctoral level for a minimum of five years; or 3) is a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (A.R.S. § 32-2071.01).

Provisions

1. Allows APBE to accept primary source verified credentials from a credential's verification service that has been approved by APBE. (Sec. 3)

2. Asserts that APBE is not required to verify any documentation or information that is received from an APBE-approved credentials verification service. (Sec. 3)

3. Removes the licensure requirement for applicants who are licensed to practice psychology independently in another licensing jurisdiction of the U.S. or Canada and are currently credentialed by the National Register in psychology or its successor to submit evidence of having practiced psychology independently at the doctoral level for a minimum of five years. (Sec. 3)

4. Permits an applicant for a psychologist license to take the knowledge portion of the APBE examination after the applicant completes education requirements, which does not include the statutory dissertation or experience requirements. (Sec. 4)

5. Asserts that a person who holds a valid temporary issued license can use the title Licensed Associate Psychologist. (Sec. 5)

6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 4, 5)

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10. HB 2050

11. Initials AG Page 0 House Engrossed

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