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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts provisions relating to the professional licensure of an educational
10 psychologist.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ creates a new license category under the Psychologist Licensing Act for an
14 educational psychologist;
15 ▸ allows a licensed educational psychologist to practice within the scope of the
16 educational psychologist's training and experience; and
17 ▸ specifies the requirements to receive a license as an educational psychologist.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 58-61-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 281
25 58-61-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 339
26 58-61-308, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 281
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28 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 Section 1. Section 58-61-301 is amended to read:
30 58-61-301. Licensure required.
31 (1) (a) A license is required to engage in the practice of psychology, except as
32 specifically provided in Section 58-1-307.
33 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 58-1-307(1)(c) an individual shall be
34 certified under this chapter as a psychology resident in order to engage in a residency program
35 of supervised clinical training necessary to meet licensing requirements as a psychologist under
36 this chapter.
37 (2) The division shall issue to a person who qualifies under this chapter a license in the
38 classification of:
39 (a) psychologist; [
40 (b) certified psychology resident[
41 (c) educational psychologist.
42 Section 2. Section 58-61-304 is amended to read:
43 58-61-304. Qualifications for licensure by examination or endorsement.
44 (1) An applicant for licensure as a psychologist based upon education, clinical training,
45 and examination shall:
46 (a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
47 (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
48 (c) produce certified transcripts of credit verifying satisfactory completion of a doctoral
49 degree in psychology that includes specific core course work established by division rule under
50 Section 58-1-203, from an institution of higher education whose doctoral program, at the time
51 the applicant received the doctoral degree, met approval criteria established by division rule
52 made in consultation with the board;
53 (d) have completed a minimum of 4,000 hours of psychology training as defined by
54 division rule under Section 58-1-203 in not less than two years and under the supervision of a
55 psychologist supervisor approved by the division in collaboration with the board;
56 (e) to be qualified to engage in mental health therapy, document successful completion
57 of not less than 1,000 hours of supervised training in mental health therapy obtained after
58 completion of a master's level of education in psychology, which training may be included as
59 part of the 4,000 hours of training required in Subsection (1)(d), and for which documented
60 evidence demonstrates not less than one hour of supervision for each 40 hours of supervised
61 training was obtained under the direct supervision of a psychologist, as defined by rule;
62 (f) pass the examination requirement established by division rule under Section
63 58-1-203;
64 (g) consent to a criminal background check in accordance with Section 58-61-304.1
65 and any requirements established by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
66 Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
67 (h) meet with the board, upon request for good cause, for the purpose of evaluating the
68 applicant's qualifications for licensure.
69 (2) An applicant for licensure as a psychologist by endorsement based upon licensure
70 in another jurisdiction shall:
71 (a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
72 (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
73 (c) not have any disciplinary action pending or in effect against the applicant's
74 psychologist license in any jurisdiction;
75 (d) have passed the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Examination established by
76 division rule;
77 (e) provide satisfactory evidence the applicant is currently licensed in another state,
78 district, or territory of the United States, or in any other jurisdiction approved by the division in
79 collaboration with the board;
80 (f) provide satisfactory evidence the applicant has actively practiced psychology in that
81 jurisdiction for not less than 2,000 hours or one year, whichever is greater;
82 (g) provide satisfactory evidence that:
83 (i) the education, supervised experience, examination, and all other requirements for
84 licensure in that jurisdiction at the time the applicant obtained licensure were substantially
85 equivalent to the licensure requirements for a psychologist in Utah at the time the applicant
86 obtained licensure in the other jurisdiction; or
87 (ii) the applicant is:
88 (A) a current holder of Board Certified Specialist status in good standing from the
89 American Board of Professional Psychology;
90 (B) currently credentialed as a health service provider in psychology by the National
91 Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology; or
92 (C) currently holds a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) granted by the
93 Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards;
94 (h) consent to a criminal background check in accordance with Section 58-61-304.1
95 and any requirements established by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
96 Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
97 (i) meet with the board, upon request for good cause, for the purpose of evaluating the
98 applicant's qualifications for licensure.
99 (3) (a) An applicant for certification as a psychology resident shall comply with the
100 provisions of Subsections (1)(a), (b), (c), (g), and (h).
101 (b) (i) An individual's certification as a psychology resident is limited to the period of
102 time necessary to complete clinical training as described in Subsections (1)(d) and (e) and
103 extends not more than one year from the date the minimum requirement for training is
104 completed, unless the individual presents satisfactory evidence to the division and the
105 Psychologist Licensing Board that the individual is making reasonable progress toward passing
106 the qualifying examination or is otherwise on a course reasonably expected to lead to licensure
107 as a psychologist.
108 (ii) The period of time under Subsection (3)(b)(i) may not exceed two years past the
109 date the minimum supervised clinical training requirement has been completed.
110 (4) An applicant for licensure as an educational psychologist shall:
111 (a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
112 (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
113 (c) produce certified transcripts of credit verifying satisfactory completion of a masters
114 degree or equivalent certification program approved by the division that:
115 (i) consists of at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours in school psychology at an
116 accredited institution; and
117 (ii) includes training in at least the following topics:
118 (A) understanding the organization, administration, and operation of schools, the major
119 roles of personnel employed in schools, and curriculum development;
120 (B) directing psychological and psycho-educational assessments and intervention
121 including all areas of exceptionality;
122 (C) individual and group intervention and remediation techniques, including
123 consulting, behavioral methods, counseling, and primary prevention;
124 (D) understanding the ethical and professional practice and legal issues related to the
125 work of school psychologists;
126 (E) social psychology, including interpersonal relations, communications and
127 consultation with students, parents, and professional personnel;
128 (F) coordination and work with community-school relations and multicultural
129 education programs and assessments; and
130 (G) the use and evaluation of tests and measurements, developmental psychology,
131 affective and cognitive processes, social and biological bases of behavior, personality, and
132 psychopathology;
133 (d) evidence demonstrating that the applicant has:
134 (i) completed a one school year internship, or the equivalent, with a minimum of 1,200
135 clock hours in school psychology, at least 600 hours of which shall be in a school setting or a
136 setting with an educational component; and
137 (ii) completed at least five years of successful experience as a school psychologist in
138 the state; and
139 (e) a recommendation from:
140 (i) the institution that the applicant attended under Subsection (4)(c); and
141 (ii) one or more local education agencies, as defined in Section 53E-1-102, that
142 employed the applicant as a school psychologist for the period described in Subsection
143 (4)(d)(ii).
144 Section 3. Section 58-61-308 is amended to read:
145 58-61-308. Scope of practice -- Limitations.
146 (1) A psychologist may engage in all acts and practices defined as the practice of
147 psychology without supervision, in private and independent practice, or as an employee of
148 another person, limited only by the licensee's education, training, and competence.
149 (2) An individual certified as a psychology resident may engage in all acts and
150 practices defined as the practice of psychology only under conditions of employment as a
151 psychology resident and under the supervision of a licensed psychologist who is an approved
152 psychology training supervisor as defined by division rule. A certified psychology resident
153 shall not engage in the independent practice of psychology.
154 (3) An individual licensed as an educational psychologist may provide services if the
155 services are:
156 (a) within the skills, training, competence, and experience of the educational
157 psychologist, except that services may be provided outside of a school setting;
158 (b) provided in accordance with the most recent professional standards adopted by the
159 National Association of School Psychologists; and
160 (c) related to:
161 (i) academic, behavioral, and mental health supports;
162 (ii) evaluation, assessment, and data analysis;
163 (iii) consultation with educators and families;
164 (iv) culturally responsive services; and
165 (v) crisis prevention and response.