|
|
1. How long do I have to inform the Board of an address
change?
Pursuant to
A.R.S. § 32-2066(B), you must notify the Board of
your new address in writing within 30 days or be subject to a civil penalty of
up to $100.00.
2. If I am on inactive status, how do I return to active status?
Changing from inactive to active status outside of the renewal period currently requires:
1) A written request from licensee for Board approval.
2) Completion of the renewal application.
3) Proof of completion of pro-rated continuing education hours since May 1, 2007. (60 CE hours are required every two years, therefore these hours are pro-rated at the rate of 2.5 hours/month).
4) Verification that any licenses in other jurisdictions are in good standing and that you have had no disciplinary actions in those jurisdictions.
5) Payment of the $400 renewal fee.
Once the Board receives the required documentation, your application is placed on the Board’s next meeting agenda. If your request is approved, the $400 renewal fee will provide you with an active license until April 30, 2009.
Routine requests that meet the criteria listed above, will be reviewed and approved by the Board staff and ratified at the Board's next meeting.
GENERAL
1. I am licensed in another state. Can I practice in Arizona
for limited periods without being licensed in Arizona?
Pursuant to
A.R.S. § 32-2075(A)(4),
if you reside in another state, you may practice for up
to 20 days per year if the activities and services conducted in Arizona are
within your customary area of practice and are not otherwise in violation of
Board statutes and rules and the client, public and the consumer is notified of
the limited nature of these activities and services and that you are not
licensed in Arizona.
2. How much time do I have to complete the application
process?
Pursuant to
R4-26-208(B)(2), the license application must be
completed within 8 months from the issuance of a written notice from the Board
specifying missing documents or incomplete information or the application will
be closed.
3. If I decide to withdraw my application or fail to
complete it may I get a refund of the application fee?
Pursuant to
A.R.S. § 32-2067(C), the Board
cannot refund fees.
4. I plan to attend one institution and then take the last
semester for my doctorate degree at another institution. Is that okay?
At least two of the three years of academic years of
graduate study required for the doctoral degree must be at the institution from
which the doctoral degree is granted.
5. Will the college I am attending (or planning to attend)
qualify for Board approval?
The Board does not pre-approve institutions of higher
education in clinical or counseling psychology. The institution must
be accredited by one of the following associations of colleges and schools: New
England, Middle States, North Central, Northwest, Southern, or Western and the
psychology program must meet the requirements of
A.R.S.
§ 32-2071.
CORE PROGRAM
1. If I am deficient in one of the required content areas,
can this requirement be satisfied through comprehensive exams?
Yes, if verification is provided from academic department or
advisor that your comprehensive exam covered that content area.
2. Can I get a letter from my professor saying I was
examined in more than one content area?
Yes
3. How many classes am I allowed to make up?
After qualification of core program through coursework and
comprehensive examination, no more than two course deficiencies can be made up.
4. Must my application file include the transcript of my
master's degree?
Yes; Pursuant to
R4-26-203(B)(1), an applicant must have a
transcript from each university or college at which they received a graduate
degree submitted directly to the Board.
SUPERVISION
1. What are the Board's requirements for employment
supervision (not internship or post-doc) for applicants who are not yet
licensed?
You may not practice psychology or use the title
"psychologist" or any derivative of the root word "psycho"
without a license, unless you fall into one of the exemptions from
licensure listed in A.R.S. § 32-2075. Those who are continuing their postdoctoral
experience prior to licensure may only do so up to 36 consecutive months
[A.R.S. § 32-2071(E)(7)], and provided that their "services or activities are
provided under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist, clients are
informed of the training nature of the services provided and the supervisee has
a title that designates that person's training status" [A.R.S. § 32-2075(A)(6)].
2. What are the requirements for amount of supervision?
A minimum of one hour of face-to-face supervision for each
20 hours of experience (i.e., 75 hours minimum); the first 1500 hours with a
minimum of 25% of time in direct client contact and the second 1500 hours with
a minimum of 600 hours in direct client contact.
3. Will supervision by masters level psychologist or
psychiatrist substitute for requirement that supervision be provided by
licensed psychologist?
No.
4. I completed my course curriculum and dissertation in May,
but my degree was not conferred until August. Do my hours of supervision after
May count toward the required second 1500 hours of supervision?
Your second 1500 hours of supervision count only after
written certification (which can be a letter from doctoral advisor or
department chair) that you have met all requirements and your first 1500 hours
of supervised internship is completed.
FOR EXPERIENCED PSYCHOLOGISTS INTERESTED IN LICENSURE IN AZ
1. Do I need to fill out the entire application and have my
supervision hours verified on the Board's forms and provide transcripts and so
forth?
Yes. The Board
requires all of the above, with possible exceptions as explained below.
2. Does the Board have reciprocity?
The Board does not have any reciprocity agreements with any other state. However, the Board has an expedited licensure procedure called "licensure by credential" for psychologists who hold a CPQ, NRHSPP, or ABPP credential, and who are licensed in good standing in another state for at least 5 years.
3. When I earned my doctorate degree, the curriculum did not
include a course which was titled as ethics. Ethics was included in other
courses. Will those other courses satisfy this requirement?
You must have minimum of one 3 semester hour ethics course
or verification of comprehensive examination in ethics from the academic
department or advisor.
4. I have been a licensed practitioner for 12 years, but I
never had supervised professional experience after earning my doctoral degree.
Is there any exception to this requirement?
If you have been a licensed practitioner for 10 years or
more, the Board may waive the post doctoral supervised professional
experience requirement.
5. My internship was 1,500 hours and APA approved, but
original verification is no longer available because my supervisor is deceased.
How can I satisfy this requirement?
A psychologist knowledgeable of your internship training
program may also provide verification of your internship training program. The Board may consider copies of documentation on file with
another state's licensing board so long as the information provided answers
questions asked on our form. The Board may request additional information as
necessary.
6. I have been a licensed psychologist for many years. I
never did an internship, but have at least 3,000 hours of post doctoral
supervised experience. Will that satisfy the requirements for the first and
second 1,500 hours?
Of the 3,000 hour requirement for supervised experience, the
first 1,500 hours can be either pre or post doctoral. This supervised experience
must meet more restrictive requirements than the second 1,500 hours and cannot
be waived as may the less restrictive supervision requirements of the second
1,500 hours. Also the first 1,500 hours must be completed within 24 consecutive
months and the second 1,500 hours must be completed within 36 consecutive
months.
7. My doctorate degree was in an area other than applied
psychology but I have been practicing as a psychologist in another state. Can I
qualify for licensure in Arizona?
In order to qualify under the requirements of A.R.S.
§ 32-2071 Qualifications of applicant; training; definition, you must
show an identified and labeled respecialization program.
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
You must submit an application for licensure and examination in order to be approved by the Board to take the EPPP. Once an applicant is approved by the Board to sit for the EPPP, the Board will provide the applicant's name to the Professional Examination Service (PES). PES will mail an application packet to the applicant, receive, review, correct and verify the application, and collect payment directly from the applicant. Payment may be made by credit card or by a certified check or money order made payable to PES.
2. How soon must I take the EPPP once approved by the Board?
Board rule A.A.C. R4-26-204(A)(2) requires that applicants schedule and take the EPPP within one year's time of being approved by the Board to sit for the exam. However, once an applicant submits their application to test to the Professional Examination Service (PES) (see question #1 above), applicants must sit for the examination within 60 days of the date on the "authorization-to-test" letter provided by PES.
3. When, how often and where is the EPPP given?
The computerized EPPP allows candidates to take the exam any time during the year, up to four times in any 12-month period, at a Prometric Testing Center of their choice. Prometric has over 300 testing centers across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) website, www.asppb.org. The ASPPB is the developer of the EPPP.
4. Does Arizona have an oral examination or other state
exam?
No.
1. How many hours of continuing education hours are required?
A minimum of 60 hours of continuing education must be
completed during each two year license renewal period.
2. I am newly licensed. How many hours of continuing
education are required?
The continuing education requirement is pro-rated from the
time of licensure. See A.A.C. R4-26-207(A)(2) for method of computation.
3. What if a licensee cannot complete continuing education
requirements by April 30 of a renewal year?
Pursuant to A.A.C. R4-26-207(H), a licensee who cannot meet the
continuing education requirement for good cause may submit a written request to
the Board, with all appropriate fees, seeking an extension of time to complete
the continuing education requirement.
1. Good cause shall be limited to licensee
illness, military service, or residence in a foreign country for at least 12
months of the license renewal period.
2. Requests for extensions shall be submitted
on or before the expiration of a license, as provided by statute. A time
extension shall not exceed one year.
3. Licensees who cannot complete the continuing
education requirement within the time extension may apply to the Board for
inactive status.
4. How are continuing education credits for appointments as
Board or committee members or election to offices of psychological societies or
associations measured?
One credit hour for each clock hour of work contributed up
to a maximum of 10 hours per two year renewal period.
5. If I earn more than 60 hours in a renewal cycle, may I carry it over to the next renewal cycle?
No.
6. Can I get CE credit for attending Board meetings?
Yes: 4 CE hours for
attending a full-day meeting and 2 for attending a half-day meeting. A maximum of 10 CE hours may be obtained
this way per each two year renewal period.
1. Am I required to submit my business address and my home
address to the Board?
Yes. Licensees must
designate which address they want used as the directory address. The directory address is a public
information and will be published on the Board's web-page and provided upon
request to the general public. Home
addresses remain confidential unless a licensee specifies that they are to be
used as the directory address or if no other address is provided to the Board.
2. Do I submit continuing education documentation with my
renewal form?
No. The Board conducts a random audit of continuing
education credits. If you are audited, you will be asked to provide
documentation at that time.
3. What responsibilities, other than renewing every two
years, does a licensee have toward the Board?
You are required to notify the Board within 30 days of any
change of address or phone number for either work or home. The Board may assess
a civil penalty of up to $100 for failure to do so.
1. How do I file a complaint against a psychologist?
You will first need to make sure that the psychologist is a licensee of the Board of Psychologist Examiners. You may then download a copy of the Request for Investigation (RFI) from the Board's website, complete it, and submit it to the Board office along with any supporting documentation you may have regarding the allegations. If you cannot download the form from the website, you may contact the Board office and request that a form be mailed to you.
2. Will the psychologist know who has filed the complaint
against him or her?
Yes.
3. What is the process once I file my complaint?
Once your complaint (RFI) is received by the Board, you will promptly receive a letter acknowledging the receipt of the complaint (RFI). A copy of the complaint (RFI) along with a letter will be sent to the licensee for their review and response to the allegations.
4. May I see the doctor's response to my complaint?
No. The psychologist's response is confidential by law, is part of the investigative file, and thus may not be viewed by the complainant or the public.
5. What happens when the Board receives the psychologist's response?
Once the licensee's response to the allegation is received and reviewed by the Board's investigator, the complaint (RFI) will be provided to the Complaint Screening Committee (CSC) members for review, discussion, and recommendation. This initial review of the complaint (RFI) will be held during a public meeting to which the complainant or their representative and licensee or their representative will be able to address the CSC members with a prepared statement no longer than 5 minutes each. There will be no question/answer interaction with CSC members at this time, and this is NOT a hearing. The objective of this Committee is to review the complaint and to make a determination to either dismiss the complaint if it is without merit; refer to the complaint to the full Board for review at the next Board meeting; or request additional information from either the complainant or licensee and review the complaint again at the next CSC meeting.
6. What happens if my complaint gets dismissed, will the CSC review it again?
Once the complaint (RFI) has been reviewed by the CSC members and has been dismissed, the decision is final and there is no appeal process. If the CSC members require additional information to be considered in order to make a determination, both the licensee and the complainant will receive notification by mail of any additional information or documentation needed and the complaint (RFI) will be re-scheduled and placed on the agenda of the next monthly CSC meeting.
7. What will happen if the CSC refers the Complaint (RFI) to the full Board for review?
When a complaint (RFI) is forwarded to the full Board for review, the complaint, which is now referred to as a "Case" and no longer referred to as an "RFI," is placed on the agenda to be discussed at the next full Board meeting. The full Board meets in person to discuss Cases and other matters every other month. Prior to the initial review of the Case by the full Board, the investigation remains open and in progress.
8. May I address the full Board regarding my complaint/case?
Yes. A complainant or licensee or a representative of either may address the Board when the Case is reviewed by the Board. The presentation will be limited to five minutes and there will be no question/answer interaction with Board members.
9. What action can the Board take regarding my Case?
After review and discussion, the Board may vote to dismiss the case; take a non-disciplinary action such as issue a letter of concern or offer the licensee a non-disciplinary consent agreement; vote to take disciplinary actions such as enter into a disciplinary consent agreement, invite the licensee to an informal interview, or vote the matter to a formal hearing for summary suspension or license revocation.
10. If the Board dismissed my Case, can I appeal?
No. The Board's dismissal of a Case closes the file and ends the Board's consideration of the Case. According to Board rules, only a party may file a motion for rehearing or review of a Board decision. A party means the Board, an applicant for licensure, or a licensee and does not include a complainant.
11. What is an Informal Interview or Formal Hearing?
After the initial review of a Case, the Board may vote to invite that psychologist to attend an Informal Interview. The Board's statutes use the term "Informal Interview" for the interview before the full Board that may result in resolution of the Case other than through a "Formal Hearing." A Formal Hearing is a trial-type proceeding, which may be conducted by the Office of Administrative Hearings or by the Board itself. The "Informal Interview" is not "Informal" in the common use of the word.
12. What are the Board's options at the end of the Informal Interview?
At the end of the interview, the Board may vote to continue the investigation to obtain additional information, dismiss the matter, issue an advisory letter of concern, take disciplinary action, enter into an agreement to restrict or limit the psychologist's practice, or refer the case to Formal Hearing if the Board believes that grounds exist to revoke or suspend the psychologist's license for more than twelve months. Disciplinary action may include censure, probation, and temporary suspension for a period not to exceed twelve months, restitution of fees, or a civil monetary penalty.
13. What information/documentation can I obtain regarding complaints/RFI's/Cases?
The Board meeting minutes and final resolution of a complaint (i.e. dismissal letter, Letter of Concern, or a Board Order) are public documents. According to Board rules, "All materials relating to an investigation by the Board, including the complaint, response, client record, witness statement, investigative report, or any other confidential information relating to a client's diagnosis, treatment, or a personal or family life are confidential." (A.A.C. R4-26-101.)
Last Updated 09/24/2007
Copyright © 2006, Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners. All rights reserved.
