PSYCHOLOGIST LICENSING S.B. 880:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 880 (as introduced 3-19-14)
Sponsor: Senator Vincent Gregory
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 182 (Psychology) of the Public Health Code to revise the criteria for licensure as a psychologist. Specifically, the bill would do the following:
-- Delay from August 31, 2015, until August 31, 2020, the deadline by which a doctoral degree program must achieve National Register designation or accreditation in order for an individual holding a degree from the program to be licensed.
-- Include any program approved by the Michigan Board of Psychology among the doctoral degree programs that qualify an individual for licensure.
The Code requires the Board to promulgate rules requiring an individual to meet both of the following requirements in order to be licensed under Part 182:
-- Have been granted a doctoral degree in psychology or a closely related field from a regionally accredited or other college, university, or institution approved by the Board, which program included education and training appropriate to the practice of psychology.
-- Have at least one year of postdoctoral experience in the practice of psychology in an organized health care setting or other arrangement, as established by the Board.
Beginning August 1, 2011, the doctoral degree must be from a program that has obtained the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards' National Register designation, has been accredited by the American Psychological Association or the Canadian Psychological Association, or has obtained a similar designation from or been accredited by an entity approved by the Board. A program that was in the process of obtaining the designation or becoming accredited before August 1, 2011, and that obtains the designation or becomes accredited on or before August 31, 2015, meets this requirement. The bill would extend the deadline until August 31, 2020.
Additionally, the program would have to either meet this requirement for designation or accreditation or be a doctoral degree program approved by the Board.
BACKGROUND
The Public Health Code establishes requirements for an individual to receive a license from the Michigan Board of Psychology. Except as provided for a limited license, an individual must have been granted a doctoral degree in psychology or a closely related field from a regionally accredited or other college, university, or institution approved by the Board. Under an administrative rule that took effect on August 1, 2011 (R 388.2511(4)), the doctoral program must have been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Association, or have obtained designation by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology and the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). (The National Register and the ASPPB participate in a shared designation.)
Approximately one year before the rule took effect, a concern was raised regarding a school in Michigan that was regionally accredited and preparing to apply for APA accreditation. Because of the time involved in obtaining accreditation, and concerns that prospective students would apply elsewhere, it was suggested that the Code should accommodate this situation. Thus, Public Act 121 of 2010 incorporated the language of the rule into the Code, and added the provision under which a program is considered to meet the requirement for accreditation or designation if it was in the process of obtaining the designation or becoming accredited before August 1, 2011, and obtains the designation or accreditation by August 31, 2015.
Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.