Title of Regulation: 18VAC125-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Psychology (amending 18VAC125-20-41, 18VAC125-20-42, 18VAC125-20-120).

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: November 25, 2009.

Agency Contact: Evelyn B. Brown, Executive Director, Board of Psychology, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4697, FAX (804) 327-4435, or email evelyn.brown@dhp.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments facilitate electronic submissions of applications and renewals. References to a contracting agent are deleted since all applications now come directly to the board and requirements for all documents to be submitted in one package are eliminated to allow the application to be submitted electronically by the applicants and other documents (licensure verification, transcripts, exam scores, etc.) to be sent directly from the source. All references to a renewal application are amended to use the term renewal form, since renewal of a license or certificate can now be accomplished online by completion of an electronic form and submission of a fee.

18VAC125-20-41. Requirements for licensure by examination.

A. Every applicant for examination for licensure by the board shall:

1. Meet the education requirements prescribed in 18VAC125-20-54, 18VAC125-20-55, or 18VAC125-20-56 and the experience requirement prescribed in 18VAC125-20-65 as applicable for the particular license sought; and

2. Submit in one package not less than 90 days prior to the date of the written examination the following:

a. A completed application on forms provided by the board;

b. A completed residency agreement or documentation of having fulfilled the experience requirements of 18VAC125-20-65;

c. The application processing fee prescribed by the board;

d. Official transcripts documenting the graduate work completed and the degree awarded. Applicants who are graduates of institutions that are not regionally accredited shall submit documentation from an accrediting agency acceptable to the board that their education meets the requirements set forth in 18VAC125-20-54, 18VAC125-20-55 or 18VAC125-20-56; and

e. Verification of any other professional license or certificate ever held in another jurisdiction.

B. In addition to fulfillment of the education and experience requirements, each applicant for licensure by examination must achieve a passing score on the required examinations for each category of licensure sought:

1. Clinical psychologist: State Practice Examination for Clinical Psychology, Jurisprudence and Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology;

2. School psychologist: State Practice Examination for School Psychology, Jurisprudence and Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology; or

3. Applied psychologist: State Practice Examination in Applied Psychology, Jurisprudence and Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.

18VAC125-20-42. Prerequisites for licensure by endorsement.

A. Every applicant for licensure by endorsement shall submit in one package:

1. A completed application;

2. The application processing fee prescribed by the board;

3. An affidavit of having read and agreed to comply with the current Standards of Practice and laws governing the practice of psychology in Virginia;

4. Verification of all other professional licenses or certificates ever held in any jurisdiction. In order to qualify for endorsement, the applicant shall have no history of disciplinary action, shall not have surrendered a license or certificate while under investigation and shall have no unresolved action against a license or certificate; and

5. Further documentation of one of the following:

a. A current listing in the National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology;

b. Current diplomate status in good standing with the American Board of Professional Psychology in a category comparable to the one in which licensure is sought;

c. Twenty years of active licensure in a category comparable to the one in which licensure is sought, with an appropriate degree as required in this chapter documented by an official transcript; or

d. If less than 20 years of active licensure, documentation of current psychologist licensure in good standing obtained by standards substantially equivalent to the education, experience and examination requirements set forth in this chapter for the category in which licensure is sought as verified by a certified copy of the original application submitted directly from the out-of-state licensing agency or a copy of the regulations in effect at the time of initial licensure and the following:

(1) Documentation of post-licensure active practice for at least five of the last six years immediately preceding licensure application;

(2) Verification of a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology as established in Virginia for the year of that administration;

(3) Verification of a passing score on other written and oral examinations or both as required by the jurisdiction which granted the license; and

(4) Official transcripts documenting the graduate work completed and the degree awarded in the category in which licensure is sought.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the board may issue a license to any individual who qualifies for such a license pursuant to an agreement of reciprocity entered into by this board with a board of another jurisdiction or multiple jurisdictions.

Part V
Licensure Renewal; Reinstatement

18VAC125-20-120. Annual renewal of licensure.

Effective January 1, 2004, every license issued by the board shall expire each year on June 30.

1. Every licensee who intends to continue to practice shall, on or before the expiration date of the license, submit to the board a license renewal application on forms form supplied by the board and the renewal fee prescribed in 18VAC125-20-30.

2. Beginning with the 2004 renewal, licensees who wish to maintain an active license shall pay the appropriate fee and verify on the renewal form compliance with the continuing education requirements prescribed in 18VAC125-20-121. First-time licensees are not required to verify continuing education on the first renewal date following initial licensure.

3. A licensee who wishes to place his license in inactive status may do so upon payment of the fee prescribed in 18VAC125-20-30. No person shall practice psychology in Virginia unless he holds a current active license. An inactive licensee may activate his license by fulfilling the reactivation requirements set forth in 18VAC125-20-130.

4. Licensees shall notify the board office in writing of any change of address of record or of the public address, if different from the address of record. Failure of a licensee to receive a renewal notice and application forms from the board shall not excuse the licensee from the renewal requirement.