The Path to Licensure

The Association of State and Provincial
Psychology Boards
www.asppb.net
 Protects the public
 Limits license to qualified individuals
 Sets enforceable standards of professional
conduct
 Serves best interest of the public
and the profession
www.asppb.net
Recognized graduate training program in psychology
(e.g., ASPPB/NR designated; APA/CPA accredited)
Completion of required coursework, including
practicum experiences
Completion of internship
Completion of doctoral degree (required in majority of
jurisdictions)
Completion of postdoctoral supervised experience
(required in vast majority of jurisdictions)
Pass all examinations required for licensure
in jurisdiction of interest
www.asppb.net
Sequence of Training
Leading to Licensure
Academic Program
Practicum
Dissertation/Thesis
Internship
Graduation
Postdoctoral Experience
Testing
Licensure
www.asppb.net
Most licensure laws are generic
Some licensing laws require inclusion of specific
coursework such as ethics, multicultural
awareness/competence
Jurisdictions may have different requirements about
acceptable residency requirements in graduate training
programs (most require physical presence, not just fulltime enrollment)
Jurisdictions will have specific requirements about
number of hours of practicum/internship, postdoctoral
supervised professional experience
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 www.asppb.net contains:
www.asppb.net
The American Psychological Association
recommends that for admission to licensure
applicants demonstrate that they have
completed two years of supervised experience,
which can be completed prior or subsequent to
the granting of the doctoral degree.
www.asppb.net
ASPPB has not changed its Model Licensure Act
Practicum takes on new significance
• No longer just preparatory for internship
• Takes on regulatory significance
• Effect on mobility
Unintended (but positive) consequence of forcing us
to examine practica more closely
ASPPB’s Practicum Guidelines document
(www.asppb.net/PracticumGuidelines)
www.asppb.net
Organized, sequential series of supervised
experiences of increasing complexity
Follow appropriate academic preparation
Overseen by the graduate training program
Graded complexity
Minimum time on site
www.asppb.net
A training plan between the student, the practicum
training site, and the graduate training program
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How the trainee’s time is allotted
Specification of the goals and objectives of the practicum
Methods of evaluation
Nature of supervision
Rationale for the experience
www.asppb.net
Commitment to training of psychologists
Psychologist with knowledge of the setting in
charge of training
www.asppb.net
Types: Practicum, internship, post-doctoral
Total hours of experience
Total hours of supervision
Hours of supervision per week
Total hours of service-related activities
Qualifications of supervisor(s): Licensure as
psychologist, years of experience, competence in
supervision, affiliation with training site
www.asppb.net
Requirements vary among jurisdictions
Avoid problems/delays caused by not knowing
jurisdictional requirements
Understand jurisdictional requirements early in
training
Reconcile differences between training program,
training site and licensing requirements before
completing the experience
www.asppb.net
EPPP: Examination for Professional Practice of
Psychology (required in all U.S. states, 3 U.S.
territories and 9 Canadian provinces)
Local jurisprudence/ethics exam (used to assess
knowledge of local mental health laws, ethical
standards)
Possible oral exam, competency exam, or
interview
www.asppb.net
Measures broad, general, foundational knowledge for
all psychologists
225-item, multiple choice test; 175 operational, 50
pretest items starting August 2011
Used for licensure in 62 U.S. and Canadian
jurisdictions
Content validity supported by periodic Practice
Analyses
• Protection of the public
• Entry level practice
www.asppb.net
Biological bases of behavior (12%)
Cognitive-affective bases of behavior (11%)
Social and cultural bases of behavior (12%)
Growth and lifespan development (12%)
Assessment and diagnosis (14%)
Treatment, intervention, prevention, and
supervision (14%)
Research methods and statistics (8%)
Ethical, legal, and professional issues (15%)
www.asppb.net
Biological and neural bases of behavior
Drug classification of therapeutic agents and
drugs of abuse
Pharmacological and somatic treatment of
mental disorders
Behavioral genetics
Interaction of developmental, gender, ethnic,
cultural, environmental, and experiential factors
with biological
Brain imaging
www.asppb.net
Elements of cognition
Theories and models of intelligence
Major theories/models of learning, memory,
motivation, emotion, and their applications
Interrelation of cognitions/beliefs, behavior, affect,
temperament, and mood
Psychosocial influences
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Social cognition and perception
Social interaction
Group dynamics and organizational structures
Environmental/ecological psychology
Evolutionary perspectives on social behavior
Major theories of personality
Social-contextual issues of race/ethnicity, gender,
disability, rehabilitation, sexual orientation
Oppression
Acculturation
Culturally mediated communication
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Normal growth & development
Genetics & environment interaction
Theories of development, including influence of
culture and of disorders/diseases
Family development and configuration
Normative and non-normative life event
changes
System factors
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Psychometric theory
Assessment theories, models and methods
Tests to measure characteristics and behaviors of
individuals; of job performance and organizations; and of
change due to interventions
Issues of differential diagnosis and integration of nonpsychological information
Criteria for selection of assessment methods and
interpretation of data
Utilization of various classification systems
Epidemiology of behavioral disorders
Use of technology
www.asppb.net
Treatment decision-making based on available data
Contemporary theories/models of intervention
Adaptation of techniques with special populations
Interventions to enhance growth and performance
Career counseling
Consultation models and processes
www.asppb.net
Adjunctive interventions
Use of technology
Healthcare systems, structures, and
economics
Health promotion, interventions to reduce risk
and increase resilience
Contemporary theories/models of supervision
www.asppb.net
Sampling and data collection
Research methods & design
Statistics & analytic methods
Statistical interpretation
Critical appraisal and application of research
findings
Evaluation strategies & techniques
Presentation & dissemination of research findings
Community involvement in research;
underrepresented populations
www.asppb.net
APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code
of Conduct and/or Canadian Code of Ethics for
Psychologists
Professional standards and guidelines
Pertinent federal, state/provincial/territorial
laws/statutes or judicial decisions
Models of ethical decision-making
Models for professional development
www.asppb.net
Legal, ethical, policy implications of current and
emerging issues
Client rights
Ethical issues in conduct of research
Ethical issues in supervision
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Item tests knowledge important for entry level
practice
May not be the same knowledge as comps or
dissertation defense
Knowledge of the item content relevant to
protection of the public
Would not knowing this information cause less
competent practice that might result in harm to
the public?
www.asppb.net
ASPPB Information for Candidates (download from
website – www.asppb.net)
ASPPB’s Guide for Students and Faculty: Entry
Requirements for the Professional Practice of
Psychology (download from website
www.asppb.net/files/public/09_Entry_Requirements.pdf)
www.asppb.net
Numerous studies have supported reliability and
content validity of EPPP
Data suggest preparation beyond 200 hours yields
diminishing returns
Data suggest best to take EPPP within 3 years of
graduation
www.asppb.net
Textbooks
Course materials
Study groups
Test specification materials from ASPPB
(Practice Exams)
www.asppb.net
Many commercial companies offer study
materials
ASPPB has no connection to any commercial
company
ASPPB does NOT sanction any of them nor
provide them with test items
www.asppb.net
PEPPPO: Practice Examination for Professional
Practice in Psychology Online - ($55.00)
• Taken on home computer
PEPPP: Practice Examination for Professional
Practice in Psychology - ($101.50)
• Taken under real-world testing conditions at a
Prometric Testing Center
www.asppb.net
There are easy and hard versions of the EPPP
The items are not related to what psychologists do
The pretest questions are clumped at the
beginning
The majority of candidates fail
See Myth vs. Reality of the EPPP at
www.asppb.net
www.asppb.net
Examples from 2008-2010:
Doctoral degree first-time takers: 82%
APA/CPA accredited program graduates: 78%
Non APA/CPA program graduates: 58%
APA/CPA accredited /APPIC member internship: 82%
No APA/CPA accredited / APPIC member internship: 68%
www.asppb.net
Most jurisdictions (states, provinces, or
territories) require some type of jurisdictional
law and regulations examination
This exam may be written or oral
www.asppb.net
Case vignette
Diagnostics
Case conceptualization
Awareness of own professional limits
Ability to handle crisis
Diversity issues
Ethics & law
www.asppb.net
Professional maturity and professional identity
Self-awareness
Ability to apply knowledge & theory
Ability to exercise professional judgment “on the
spot”
Ability to individualize treatment plan
Ability to handle crisis situations
www.asppb.net
Inability to function independently
Lack of integrated theoretical orientation
Inability to assess and follow-up with treatment
plan
Unaware of self as factor in treatment
Lack of knowledge/ability to apply laws
Inability to recognize limits of own competency
www.asppb.net
ASPPB Credentials Bank (“The Bank”): A
Credentials Verification and Storage Program:
Banking credentials for entire career
Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ):
Licensure mobility across jurisdictional boundaries
Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC): Shortterm practice across jurisdictional boundaries without
adding more licenses
www.asppb.net
“The Bank” can be started during graduate
school
IPC requires an active license
CPQ requires five years of licensure and no
disciplinary action
www.asppb.net
Highly mobile society
Widely differing requirements for licensure across
jurisdictions
Progressive difficulty obtaining training documentation
over time (agencies close, supervisors leave)
Career plans change
Disasters happen
Free for students and lower fees for recent graduates
that can be credited toward later CPQ application fees
Primary source verification conducted on credentials
www.asppb.net
Documents Needed for Initial Licensure:
 EPPP Scores
 Transcripts
 Oral & Jurisprudence exams
 Supervised Professional Experience (Practicum, Internship
and Post-doctoral hours)
 Specialty training
www.asppb.net
Documents Needed for Job Applications and
Continuing Licensure:
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Continuing Education certificates
Reference letters
Awards
Verification of Liability Insurance
www.asppb.net
A certificate of licensure eligibility to facilitate mobility for
individuals meeting ASPPB standards
Requires meeting common criteria, including doctoral
degree in psychology, 5 years of licensure, no discipline
Currently accepted in 44 jurisdictions, 2 jurisdictions are
in process of accepting the CPQ and 11 jurisdictions
recognize the CPQ for licensure
Other jurisdictions in use CPQ to waive some
requirements
Check ASPPB website for specific requirements
www.asppb.net
Getting licensed in another jurisdiction can be
difficult and time-consuming
Jurisdictional licensure requirements vary (e.g.,
may require starting application process from
beginning; may require additional coursework or
supervised experience)
Jurisdictions that accept the CPQ have agreed
that those psychologists have met their basic
credentials requirements
www.asppb.net
Consultation
Courtroom testimony
Short term therapy after a move (in some jurisdictions)
Disaster relief
I/O job and management analyses
Check the ASPPB website for more information
www.asppb.net
Permanently and safely store trainee records
No charge
www.asppb.net/CTPVS
www.asppb.net
Psychology Licensure and Certification: What
Students Need to Know
Edited by Thomas J. Vaughn, Ph.D.
Published by American Psychological Association,
2006.
www.asppb.net
Association of State and Provincial Psychology
Boards
P.O. Box 3079
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Phone: (678) 216-1175 or (800) 448-4069
Fax: (678) 216-1176
General E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.asppb.net
www.asppb.net