WSR 16-08-105
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Board of Psychology)
[Filed April 5, 2016, 11:52 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 14-07-113.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-924-046, 246-924-047, 246-924-100 and 246-924-480, the examining board of psychology (board) is proposing to amend three sections and create one new section to address equivalency standards between Washington and other states or countries. The proposal includes consideration by the board of coursework taken outside of a doctoral degree program, and clarifies to [the] process the board may use with applicants in determining and achieving licensing equivalency standards for initial licensure, applications by endorsement, and temporary permits.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Health, Town Center 3, Room 224, 243 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, on May 20, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: May 20, 2016.
Submit Written Comments to: Kim-Boi Shadduck, Manager, Department of Health, Examining Board of Psychology, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, e-mail http://www3.doh.wa.gov/policyreview/, fax (360) 236-2901, by May 13, 2016.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Kim-Boi Shadduck by May 13, 2016, TTY (800) 833-6388 or 711.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed rule would allow an applicant the opportunity [to] complete and submit up [to] two required courses outside of their doctoral degree program as a condition for licensure in Washington state. The proposed rules clarifies [clarify] the process that an applicant must follow to obtain licensure by endorsement. The proposed rule would also clarify the process to obtain a temporary permit.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The board's proposed rules establish the circumstances in which additional coursework could be applied to the educational requirements, increasing the number of qualified psychologists eligible for licensure. The proposed rules would adopt policies from an interpretive statement from the board describing how applicants licensed in another state or country without substantially equivalent standards may work towards equivalency to become licensed in Washington state, rather than be denied outright.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.83.050 and 18.83.170.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 18.83.050 and 18.83.170.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of health, examining board of psychology, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Kim-Boi Shadduck, Program Manager, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98504-7852, (360) 236-2912.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule would not impose more than minor costs on businesses in an industry.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Kim-Boi Shadduck, Program Manager, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47852, Tumwater, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 236-2912, fax (360) 236-2901, e-mail kimboi.shadduck@doh.wa.gov.
April 5, 2016
Shari Roberts, Chair
Examining Board of Psychology
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 07-24-093, filed 12/5/07, effective 9/1/09)
WAC 246-924-046 Doctoral degree program.
To meet the education requirements of RCW 18.83.070, an applicant must possess a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution. Regional accreditation is awarded to an institution by one of the regional accrediting agencies, each of which covers a specified portion of the United States and its territories, or equivalent accreditation in another country, upon approval by the board.
(1) The doctoral degree program must include:
(a) At least forty semester ((hours)) credits, or sixty quarter ((hours)) credits, of graduate courses in curriculum areas described in subsection (((2))) (3) of this section.
(i) Courses must be clearly identified by title and course content as being part of an integrated psychology program.
(ii) Courses taken before the doctoral degree program may be accepted if the doctoral degree program accepted the course(s).
(b) One year in residency as described in subsection (4) of this section;
(c) Submission of an original dissertation which is psychological in nature and endorsed by the program; and
(d) An organized, sequential and coordinated practicum and internship experience as described in WAC 246-924-049 and 246-924-056.
(2) The curriculum requirements: The doctoral degree program must encompass a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent. ((The applicant must complete courses in:
(a) History and systems;
(b) Research design and methodology; and
(c) Statistics and psychometrics.))
(3) The applicant must complete three or more semester ((hours)) credits, or five or more quarter ((hours)) credits, of core study in each of the following content areas:
(a) Biological bases of behavior. For example: Physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neural bases of behavior, sensation and perception, and biological bases of development;
(b) Cognitive-affective bases of behavior. For example: Learning, thinking, motivation, emotion, and cognitive development;
(c) Social bases of behavior. For example: Social psychology, organizational theory, community psychology, and social development;
(d) Individual differences. For example: Personality theory and psychopathology;
(e) Scientific and professional ethics;
(f) History and systems of psychology;
(g) Statistics and psychometrics;
(h) Research design and methodology;
(i) Techniques of data analysis;
(j) Human development ((()). For example: Developmental psychology, child development, adult development and aging(()));
(k) Cultural and individual differences and diversity;
(l) Psychopathology and dysfunctional behaviors;
(m) Theories and methods of assessment and diagnosis-minimum of two courses;
(n) Effective psychological intervention and evaluation of the efficacy of interventions-minimum of three courses; and
(o) Psychopharmacology.
(4) Doctoral degree programs accredited by the American Psychological Association or the Canadian Psychological Association are recognized as having met the minimum education requirements.
(((4))) (5) Residency requirement:
(a) The doctoral degree program must involve at least one continuous year of full-time residency at the institution which grants the degree or a minimum of ((750)) seven hundred fifty hours of student-faculty contact involving face-to-face individual or group educational meetings.
(b) Educational meetings:
(i) Must include both faculty-student and student-student interaction;
(ii) Be conducted by the psychology faculty of the institution at least seventy-five percent of the time;
(iii) Be fully documented by the institution and the applicant; and
(iv) Relate substantially to the program components specified.
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-924-047 Courses completed outside the doctoral degree granting program.
(1) The board will accept no more than two courses completed outside the applicant's doctoral degree-granting program to meet the requirements of WAC 246-924-046(3).
(2) Course(s) may be used to satisfy the requirements of WAC 246-924-046 if all of the following are met:
(a) The applicant meets all the requirements in WAC 246-924-046 (1) and (2), but the doctoral degree program did not include all of the courses described in WAC 246-924-046(3);
(b) The doctoral degree was granted without the course(s);
(c) Courses were taken for credit from a regionally accredited graduate program in psychology; and
(d) Courses are documented on an official transcript.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-09-100, filed 4/21/08, effective 5/22/08)
WAC 246-924-100 Qualifications for granting of license by endorsement.
((Candidates applying for licensure under RCW 18.83.170 (1) and (2) shall:
(1) Provide evidence of meeting the educational requirements set forth in RCW 18.83.070 in effect when the applicant completed his or her doctoral program; and
(2) Pass the jurisprudence examination administered by the department on behalf of the board, as described in WAC 246-924-070.)) (1) Applicants applying for licensure by endorsement shall:
(a) Submit official transcripts documenting the completion of a doctoral degree with a primary emphasis on psychology from a regionally accredited institution, or equivalent accreditation from another country.
(b) Document that he or she has been credentialed as a psychologist in another state or country for at least two years, or is a current member of a professional organization identified in subsection (3) of this section.
(c) Document that he or she has an active credential as a psychologist in another state or country deemed by the board as essentially equivalent, or is a current member of a professional organization identified in subsection (3) of this section.
(d) All application documents submitted in a foreign language shall be accompanied by an accurate translation of those documents into English. Translated documents shall bear a notarized affidavit certifying that the translator is competent in both the language of the document and the English language and that the translation is a true and complete translation of the foreign language original. Costs of all documents shall be at the expense of the applicant.
(e) Successfully pass the jurisprudence examination required by WAC 246-924-070.
(2) If the board determines that the applicant's other state or country's credentialing requirements are not essentially equivalent, the applicant must:
(a) Provide documentation of meeting Washington state's credentialing requirements in the area(s) the board has determined a state or country of endorsement's requirements are not essentially equivalent.
(b) Ensure documents submitted in a foreign language meet the requirements of subsection (1)(d) of this section.
(c) If the board determines that the applicant's state or country of endorsement's credentialing requirements are not essentially equivalent, the applicant will be provided due process under RCW 18.130.055.
(3) The board shall recognize psychologists as having met the requirements of this chapter who, at the time of application, provide documentation of current membership in any of the following professional organizations:
(a) Health service psychologist credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists;
(b) Diplomate from the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology;
(c) Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards; or
(d) Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology.
(e) The board may recognize additional professional organizations deemed to meet the essential standards of this chapter.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-09-100, filed 4/21/08, effective 5/22/08)
WAC 246-924-480 Temporary permits.
((A)) (1) Temporary permits ((is)) are:
(a) Issued under RCW 18.83.082 ((and is)); and
(b) Valid for no more than ninety days within one calendar year from the date ((it is)) they are issued.
(2) If the board finds that another state's licensing requirements are deemed not equivalent because a stated requirement is omitted or deficient, the applicant is not eligible for the temporary permit.
(3) There is no charge for a temporary permit.
(4) Candidates applying for a temporary permit must:
(a) Verify that he or she is credentialed to practice psychology in another state that has been deemed substantially equivalent by the board, or is a member of an organization listed in WAC 246-924-100(3); and
(b) Submit a completed application on a form provided by the board.