§ 63-11-207 — Qualifications and application to practice as examiner - Expiration of period to issue licenses - Certification of psychological assistants and psychological testing technician

(a) (1) Any person wishing to obtain the right to practice as a psychological examiner in this state, who has not heretofore been licensed to do so, shall, before it is lawful for such person to practice as a psychological examiner in this state, make application to the board through the chair, upon such form and in such manner as shall be adopted and prescribed by the board. (2) Unless such a person has obtained a license as prescribed in subdivision (a)(1), it is unlawful for such person to practice; and if such person practices as a psychological examiner without first having obtained such a license, such person has violated this chapter. (3) A candidate for such license shall furnish the board with satisfactory evidence that such candidate: (A) Is of good moral character; (B) Is a citizen of the United States; (C) Has had two (2) academic years of graduate training in psychology, including a master's degree, from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board as maintaining satisfactory standards, or in lieu thereof, such training and experience as the board shall consider equivalent thereto. The board may, at its discretion, consider equivalent training and experience when presented by qualified applicants with a masters' degree in psychology whose credentials differ slightly than those prescribed in this subdivision (a)(3)(C). In such cases the qualified candidate must petition the board for a waiver and specifically request the board utilize its discretionary authority; (D) Is competent as a psychological examiner, as shown by passing such examinations, written or oral, or both, as the board deems necessary; (E) Is not considered by the board to be engaged in unethical practice; and (F) Has not, within the preceding six (6) months, failed an examination given by the board; provided, that the board may, at its discretion, accept satisfactory substitute training and experience in lieu of that prescribed in subdivision (c)(3). (4) No new psychological examiner licenses shall be issued for applications received by the board after December 31, 2004. (5) The discontinued issuance of psychological examiners licenses or the designation of senior psychological examiners shall in no way impair or abridge the right of duly licensed psychological examiners to practice within the scope of their license or to renew their licensure status as required by law. (b) (1) Any person seeking to practice as a certified psychological assistant in this state shall, before it is lawful for such person to practice as a certified psychological assistant, make application to the board through the chair, upon such form and in such manner as shall be adopted and prescribed by the board, including, but not limited to, the proper registration with the board of the supervisor of record for the certified psychological assistant. Unless such person obtains a proper certificate as issued by the board, it is unlawful for a person to practice; and if such person practices as a certified psychological assistant without first having obtained a proper certificate, such person has violated this chapter. (2) A candidate for certification shall furnish the board with satisfactory evidence that such candidate: (A) Is of good moral character; (B) Is a citizen of the United States; (C) Is not considered by the board to be engaged in unethical practice; and (D) Has had two (2) academic years of graduate training in psychology, including a master's degree, from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board as maintaining satisfactory standards, or in lieu thereof, such training and experience as the board shall consider equivalent thereto. Such graduate training must include specialized training in psychological assessment, test construction and measurement, the administration and interpretation of psychological testing, interviewing skills and social history methods. The board may, at its discretion, consider equivalent training and experience when presented by qualified applicants with a master's degree in psychology whose credentials differ slightly than those prescribed in this subdivision (b)(2)(D). However, all applicants must in their graduate training show evidence of supervised practicum experience in the administration and interpretation of psychological testing, assessment procedures and social history and feedback interviewing techniques as determined by the board in order to fulfill educational requirements for certification. (c) (1) A person seeking to practice as a certified psychological testing technician in this state shall, before it is lawful for the person to practice as a certified psychological testing technician, make application to the board, upon such form and in such manner as is adopted and prescribed by the board, including, but not limited to, the proper registration with the board of the supervisor or supervisors of record for the certified psychological testing technician. Unless the person obtains a proper certificate as issued by the board, it is unlawful for the person to practice. The person violates this chapter if the person practices as a certified psychological testing technician without first having obtained a proper certificate. (2) As used in subdivision (c)(1), "practice as a certified psychological testing technician" means the individual is duly authorized by the board to administer and score standardized psychological and neuropsychological tests and to observe and describe a client's test behavior and test responses. A certified psychological testing technician shall not select psychological or neuropsychological tests or versions of tests to be given, interpret test results, write test results, or give test feedback to clients. (3) The services provided by a certified psychological testing technician must be provided under the supervision of a psychologist or senior psychological examiner who is registered with the board as a supervisor of record to provide such supervision for the certified psychological testing technician. The certified psychological testing technician must be employed by, or contracted with, the same work setting as the supervising psychologist or senior psychological examiner who is registered with the board. (4) A candidate for certification shall furnish the board with satisfactory evidence that the candidate: (A) Is of good moral character; (B) Is a citizen or legal resident of the United States; (C) Is not considered by the board to be engaged in unethical practice; and (D) Proof of completion of a bachelor's degree or graduate degree, or proof of current enrollment in a graduate degree program, from a regionally accredited university, college, or professional school, in either psychology or education with a specialization in educational psychology, counseling psychology, or school psychology. The candidate's educational training must consist of a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours of total education and training relating to psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring that includes the following: (i) At least twenty (20) hours of direct observation, including at least ten (10) hours of direct observation of a licensed psychologist or senior psychological examiner administering and scoring tests, and at least ten (10) hours of direct observation of either a licensed psychologist, senior psychological examiner, or certified psychological testing technician duly registered by the board administering and scoring tests; (ii) At least forty (40) hours of administering and scoring tests in the presence of a licensed psychologist or senior psychological examiner; and (iii) At least twelve (12) hours of additional education on topics related to best practices for the functions identified in subdivision (c)(2). Of those twelve (12) hours, at least three (3) hours must be specifically dedicated to law and ethics, and at least three (3) hours must be dedicated to multicultural competency. Additional topics must relate to growth, knowledge, and skill-based training that would enhance the candidate's professional skill in providing care for persons with medical, psychiatric, neurocognitive, and developmental conditions commonly assessed by psychologists and neuropsychologists. (5) The education and training specified in subdivisions (c)(4)(D)(i)-(iii) may be obtained through any combination of the following: (A) Participating in individual or group instruction by a licensed psychologist or senior psychological examiner; (B) Engaging in independent learning directed by a licensed psychologist or senior psychological examiner; (C) Completing graduate-level coursework at a regionally accredited university, college, or professional school; or (D) Taking continuing education courses from organizations offering continuing education sponsorships. (6) This chapter does not prevent a person engaged in gaining the experience, training, or education required by subdivision (c)(4)(D) from administering and scoring psychological and neuropsychological tests.

Legislative History

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 442, s 13, eff. 1/1/2024. Acts 1953, ch. 169, § 8 (Williams, § 7082.8); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 63-1111; Acts 1984, ch. 937, § 44; 1995, ch. 167, § 5; 1996, ch. 973, § 3; 1996, ch. 980, § 1; 2001, ch. 123, § 17.