20-A §13022. School psychological service providers
Title 20-A: EDUCATION
Part 6: TEACHERS
Chapter 502: CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL
§13022. School psychological service providers
1. Definition. For purposes of this section, a "school psychological service provider" is a professional who provides psychological assessment, consultation or direct services, other than psychotherapy, to students enrolled in a public school or approved private school.
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
2. Certification by commissioner. The commissioner shall certify school psychological service providers pursuant to rules adopted by the state board. The rules must include a code of ethics and practice standards for school psychological service providers, violation of which constitutes grounds for suspension or revocation of the certification.
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
3. Qualifications. State board rules governing the qualifications for a school psychological service provider certificate must require that a certificate be issued only to an applicant who has met the academic and preprofessional requirements established by the state board for the provision of school psychological services and who, at a minimum:
A. Holds a graduate degree from an accredited program in school psychology that was approved by the National Association of School Psychologists/National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education or the American Psychological Association in School Psychology at the time the degree was awarded; [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
B. Has completed graduate work that is determined by the commissioner to be substantially similar to the programs referred to in paragraph A; or [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
C. Holds a valid license from the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists with demonstrated competency in the area of school psychology as established by the state board. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
4. Term of issuance. The commissioner shall issue a school psychological service provider certificate for a term of years consistent with rules adopted by the state board. The length of the term may vary among certificate holders so as to be coterminous with any other professional license or certificate held by the school psychological service provider. The school psychological service provider certificate may be renewed in accordance with academic and professional requirements established by the state board.
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
5. Exclusive regulatory authority. The provisions of Title 32, chapter 56 do not apply to persons certified as school psychological service providers under this section except to the extent that such persons are also licensed or seek licensure under that chapter, engage in the practice of psychology beyond the scope of this section or hold themselves out as psychologists or psychological examiners.
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
6. Designation. Persons certified under this section may hold themselves out as school psychological service providers or may use any business name incorporating variations of that title but may not hold themselves out as psychologists, psychological examiners or any business name incorporating variations of those titles unless they are appropriately licensed under Title 32, chapter 56.
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
7. Advisory committee. There is established within the department, in accordance with Title 5, section 12004-I, the Advisory Committee on School Psychological Service Providers, referred to in this subsection as "the committee."
A. The duties of the committee are:
(1) To advise the state board in the adoption of rules and a code of ethics and practice standards for school psychological service providers; and
(2) To assist the commissioner in:
(i) Certifying school psychological service providers;
(ii) Investigating alleged violations of the code of ethics and practice standards adopted by the state board; and
(iii) Investigating alleged violations of section 13020 and certification rules governing school psychological service providers. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
B. The committee consists of 9 members appointed by the commissioner. The membership consists of 2 certified psychological service providers, 2 licensed psychologists, one faculty member from a graduate program in school psychology, one educator from a public school or approved private school and 3 parents or guardians of students. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
C. Three members of the committee must be initially appointed for a term of one year, 3 for a term of 2 years and 3 for a term of 3 years. All appointments must be for a term of 3 years thereafter. Any member may serve beyond the expiration date of that member's term until a successor has been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy on the committee must be filled for the unexpired portion of the term. The committee shall elect its own chair. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
D. Members of the committee are entitled to receive compensation according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
8. Transition. Persons certified as school psychologists and school psychological examiners on the effective date of this section may continue to provide the services authorized by their respective certificates until the scheduled expiration of those certificates. The state board's rules must contain a schedule affording all certified school psychologists and school psychological examiners a reasonable amount of time to meet the requirements of the certificate authorized by subsection 2.
[ 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).