§ 36-27A-1 — Definitions.

Terms used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, mean: (1) "Board," the Board of Examiners of Psychologists established under this chapter; (2) "Program in psychology," a doctoral program, including a doctor of philosophy degree (Ph. D.), a doctor of psychology degree (Psy. D.) and a doctor of education degree (Ed. D.), for training in psychology that meets all of the following criteria: (a) The program offers doctoral education and training in a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States, or, in the case of Canadian programs, the institution is recognized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada as a member in good standing; (b) The program, wherever it may be administratively housed, is identified as a psychology program as certified by the educational institution. The board may review the institutional catalogs and brochures to determine the psychological nature of the program; (c) The program must be a recognizable, coherent organizational entity within the institution; (d) There must be a clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas whether or not the program cuts across administrative lines; (e) The program must be an integrated, organized sequence of study; (f) There must be an identifiable psychology faculty; (g) The program must have an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for the purpose of receiving a degree; (h) The program must include supervised practicum, field or laboratory training in psychology, and a supervised psychology internship pursuant to ARSD 20:60:08:01; (i) The curriculum must encompass a minimum of three academic years of full time graduate study and completion of a psychology internship prior to awarding the doctoral degree. At least two of the three academic training years must be with the institution from which the doctoral degree is granted, and at least one year of which must be in full time residence at that same institution. In addition to instruction in scientific and professional ethics and standards, research design and methodology, statistics and psychometrics, the core program shall require each student to demonstrate competence in each of the four following substantive areas. This may be met by including a minimum of three or more graduate semester hours (five or more graduate quarter hours) in these four substantive content areas: (i) Biological aspects of behavior: physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuro-psychology, psychopharmacology, psychophysics; (ii) Cognitive-affective aspects of behavior: learning, thinking, motivation, emotion; (iii) Social aspects of behavior: social psychology, community psychology, organizational and systems theory, minority group studies; (iv) Individual differences: personality theory, human development, psychopathology, cultural diversity. In addition to these criteria, the programs shall include course requirements in specialty areas of psychology. (3) "Psychological procedures," include but are not restricted to the application of principles, methods or procedures of understanding, predicting or influencing behavior, such as the principles pertaining to learning, conditioning, perception, motivation, thinking, emotions or interpersonal relationships; the methods or procedures of verbal interaction, interviewing, counseling, behavior modification, environmental manipulation, group process, psychotherapy, biofeedback or hypnosis; and the methods or procedures of administering or interpreting tests of mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotions or motivation; (4) "Psychologist," a person licensed under this chapter in the practice of psychology who holds himself or herself out to the public by any title or description of services which uses the words psychological, psychology, psychologist, psychometrist, or any derivations thereof; (5) "The practice of psychology," the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, and modification of human behavior by the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures for the purpose of preventing or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior and of enhancing interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment, personal effectiveness, behavioral health, and mental health. The term includes psychological testing and the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics, such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning; individual, marital, family, or group counseling; psychotherapy and other therapeutic techniques based on psychological principles; diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders or disabilities, compulsive disorders, disorders of habit or conduct as well as of the psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability; and psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation. The practice of psychology is the rendering of psychological services to individuals, families, groups, and the public and is without regard to whether payment is received for services rendered.

Legislative History

SL 1976, ch 235, § 1; SDCL Supp, § 36-27-1; SL 1981, ch 281, § 1; SL 1995, ch 225, §§ 1, 2; SL 2008, ch 197, § 1.