CSHB 276(L&C) am: "An Act relating to licensing of psychologists and psychological associates; and relating to the practice of psychology."
00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 276(L&C) am 01 "An Act relating to licensing of psychologists and psychological associates; and relating 02 to the practice of psychology." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 08.86.070 is amended to read: 05 Sec. 08.86.070. Duties of the board. The board shall 06 (1) establish objective examination requirements for persons who 07 apply for a license to practice psychology in the state; 08 (2) examine, or cause to be examined, eligible license applicants; 09 (3) approve the issuance of licenses to qualified applicants; 10 (4) adopt regulations establishing standards and a code of ethics for 11 the practice of psychology; 12 (5) impose disciplinary sanctions as authorized by this chapter; 13 (6) adopt regulations requiring proof of continued competency for 14 license renewal;
01 (7) review, when requested by the department, the quality and 02 availability of psychological services in the state; 03 (8) compile information for submission to the department on the 04 practice of psychology by psychologists and psychological associates in the state; 05 (9) may maintain an active membership with a national association 06 of psychology boards. 07 * Sec. 2. AS 08.86.130(a) is amended to read: 08 (a) The board shall issue a psychologist license to a person who 09 (1) holds an earned doctorate degree, from an academic institution 10 whose program of graduate study for a doctorate degree in psychology meets the 11 criteria established by the board by regulation, in 12 (A) clinical psychology; 13 (B) counseling psychology; or 14 (C) education in a field of specialization considered equivalent 15 by the board; 16 (2) has not engaged in dishonorable conduct related to the practice of 17 counseling or psychometry; 18 (3) has one year of post doctoral supervised experience approved by 19 the board; [AND] 20 (4) takes and passes the objective examination developed or approved 21 by the board; and 22 (5) provides the documents specified in (c) of this section. 23 * Sec. 3. AS 08.86.130 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 24 (c) The board may not require an applicant under (a) of this section to submit 25 verification of credentials other than those listed in this subsection. An applicant shall 26 provide the following, to be submitted to the board directly from the applicable 27 agency, person, licensing jurisdiction, school, or national association of psychology 28 boards credentials bank: 29 (1) a copy of each health-related professional license or certificate 30 issued by a state or Canada; 31 (2) an official transcript from each undergraduate or graduate school
01 from which the applicant holds a degree; 02 (3) a score report verifying that the applicant has passed an 03 examination developed or approved by the board under (a)(4) of this section; and 04 (4) letters of reference, as established in regulations adopted by the 05 board, from professional sources in the field of behavioral health familiar with the 06 applicant's clinical level work of the previous five years. 07 * Sec. 4. AS 08.86.140(a) is amended to read: 08 (a) The department shall set fees under AS 08.01.065 for the following: 09 (1) application; 10 (2) examination; 11 (3) credential review; 12 (4) initial license; 13 (5) license renewal; 14 (6) initial inactive license; 15 (7) inactive license renewal. 16 * Sec. 5. AS 08.86.150 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 17 (b) The board may not require an applicant under (a) of this section to submit 18 verification of credentials other than those listed in (a) of this section. 19 (c) The board may investigate an academic program completed by an 20 applicant under (a) of this section and, if the board determines that the academic 21 program is not acceptable, may deny an application submitted under (a) of this section. 22 * Sec. 6. AS 08.86 is amended by adding a new section to article 3 to read: 23 Sec. 08.86.155. Inactive license status. (a) A person licensed to practice 24 psychology under this chapter who does not practice in the state may convert a license 25 to inactive status when renewing the license. A person who practices in the state, 26 however infrequently, shall hold an active license. A person renewing an inactive 27 license shall meet the same renewal requirements that would be applicable if the 28 person were renewing an active license. 29 (b) A person holding an inactive license may reactivate the license by 30 (1) completing and providing proof of having completed at least 40 31 hours of continuing education in the preceding two years;
01 (2) applying for an active license; and 02 (3) paying the required fees. 03 * Sec. 7. AS 08.86 is amended by adding a new section to article 4 to read: 04 Sec. 08.86.168. Inactive psychological associate license. (a) A person 05 licensed as a psychological associate under this chapter who does not practice in the 06 state may convert a license to inactive status when renewing the license. A person who 07 practices in the state, however infrequently, shall hold an active license. A person 08 renewing an inactive license shall meet the same renewal requirements that would be 09 applicable if the person were renewing an active license. 10 (b) A person holding an inactive license may reactivate the license by 11 applying for an active license and paying the required fees.