§ 58-61-304 — Qualifications for licensure by examination or endorsement.

(1) An applicant for licensure as a psychologist based upon education, clinical training, and examination shall:
(1)(a) submit an application on a form the division approves;
(1)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
(1)(c) produce certified transcripts of credit verifying satisfactory completion of a doctoral degree in psychology that includes specific core course work established by division rule under Section 58-1-203, from an institution of higher education whose doctoral program, at the time the applicant received the doctoral degree, met approval criteria established by division rule made in consultation with the board;
(1)(d) have completed a minimum of 4,000 hours of psychology training as defined by division rule under Section 58-1-203 under the supervision of a psychologist supervisor approved by the division in collaboration with the board;
(1)(e) to be qualified to engage in mental health therapy, document successful completion of not less than 1,000 hours of supervised training in mental health therapy obtained after completion of a master's level of education in psychology, which training may be included as part of the 4,000 hours of training required in Subsection (1)(d), and for which documented evidence demonstrates not less than one hour of supervision for each 40 hours of supervised training was obtained under the direct supervision of a psychologist, as defined by rule;
(1)(f) pass the examination requirement established by division rule under Section 58-1-203;
(1)(g) (1)(g)(i) consent to, and complete, a criminal background check, described in Section 58-1-301.5;
(1)(g)(ii) disclose any criminal history the division requests on a form the division approves; and
(1)(g)(iii) meet any other standard related to the criminal background check described in Subsection (1)(g)(i), that the division establishes by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(1)(h) meet with the board, upon request for good cause, for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's qualifications for licensure.
(2) An applicant for licensure as a psychologist by endorsement based upon licensure in another jurisdiction shall:
(2)(a) submit an application on a form the division approves;
(2)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
(2)(c) not have any disciplinary action pending or in effect against the applicant's psychologist license in any jurisdiction;
(2)(d) have passed the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Examination established by division rule;
(2)(e) provide satisfactory evidence the applicant is currently licensed in another state, district, or territory of the United States, or in any other jurisdiction approved by the division in collaboration with the board;
(2)(f) provide satisfactory evidence the applicant has actively practiced psychology in that jurisdiction for not less than 2,000 hours or one year, whichever is greater;
(2)(g) provide satisfactory evidence that:
(2)(g)(i) the education, supervised experience, examination, and all other requirements for licensure in that jurisdiction at the time the applicant obtained licensure were substantially equivalent to the licensure requirements for a psychologist in Utah at the time the applicant obtained licensure in the other jurisdiction; or
(2)(g)(ii) the applicant is:
(2)(g)(ii)(A) a current holder of Board Certified Specialist status in good standing from the American Board of Professional Psychology;
(2)(g)(ii)(B) currently credentialed as a health service provider in psychology by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology; or
(2)(g)(ii)(C) currently holds a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) granted by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards;
(2)(h) (2)(h)(i) consent to, and complete, a criminal background check, described in Section 58-1-301.5;
(2)(h)(ii) meet any other standard related to the criminal background check described in Subsection (2)(h)(i), that the division establishes by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(2)(h)(iii) disclose any criminal history the division requests on a form the division approves; and
(2)(i) meet with the board, upon request for good cause, for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's qualifications for licensure.
(3) (3)(a) An applicant for certification as a psychology resident shall comply with the provisions of Subsections (1)(a), (b), (c), (g), and (h).
(3)(b) (3)(b)(i) An individual's certification as a psychology resident is limited to the period of time necessary to complete clinical training as described in Subsections (1)(d) and (e) and extends not more than one year from the date the minimum requirement for training is completed, unless the individual presents satisfactory evidence to the division and the board that the individual is making reasonable progress toward passing the qualifying examination or is otherwise on a course reasonably expected to lead to licensure as a psychologist.
(3)(b)(ii) The period of time under Subsection (3)(b)(i) may not exceed two years past the date the minimum supervised clinical training requirement has been completed.
(4) An applicant for certification as a certified prescribing psychologist based upon education, clinical training, and examination shall:
(4)(a) have authority to engage in the practice of psychology under Subsection 58-61-301;
(4)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
(4)(c) demonstrate by official transcript, or other official evidence satisfactory to the division, that the applicant:
(4)(c)(i) has completed a doctoral degree in psychology that includes specific core course work established by division rule under Section 58-1-203, from an institution of higher education whose doctoral program, at the time the applicant received the doctoral degree, met approval criteria established by division rule made in consultation with the board;
(4)(c)(ii) has completed a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology from an institution of higher learning whose master's program, at the time the applicant received the master's degree, included at least 30 credit hours of didactics coursework over no less than four semesters, met approval criteria established by division rule made in consultation with the board and includes the following core areas of instruction:
(4)(c)(ii)(A) neuroscience, pharmacology, psychopharmacology, physiology, and pathophysiology;
(4)(c)(ii)(B) appropriate and relevant physical and laboratory assessment;
(4)(c)(ii)(C) basic sciences, including general biology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, human anatomy, human physiology, biochemistry, and genetics, as part of or before enrollment in a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology; and
(4)(c)(ii)(D) any other areas of instruction determined necessary by the division, in collaboration with the board, as established by division rule; and
(4)(c)(iii) has completed postdoctoral supervised training, as defined by division rule made in consultation with the board, in prescribing psychology under the direction of a licensed physician, including:
(4)(c)(iii)(A) not less than 4,000 hours of supervised clinical training throughout a period of at least two years; and
(4)(c)(iii)(B) for an applicant for a prescription certificate who specializes in the psychological care of children 17 years old or younger, persons 65 years old or older, or persons with comorbid medical conditions, at least one year prescribing psychotropic medications to those populations, as certified by the applicant's supervising licensed physician;
(4)(d) have passed:
(4)(d)(i) the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, or the association's successor organization; or
(4)(d)(ii) an equivalent examination as defined by the division in rule;
(4)(e) not have any disciplinary action pending or in effect against the applicant's psychologist license or other professional license authorizing the applicant to prescribe in any jurisdiction;
(4)(f) (4)(f)(i) consent to, and complete, a criminal background check, described in Section 58-1-301.5;
(4)(f)(ii) meet any other standard related to the criminal background check described in Subsection (4)(f)(i), that the division establishes by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(4)(f)(iii) disclose any criminal history the division requests on a form the division approves;
(4)(g) commit to maintaining professional liability insurance while acting as a certified prescribing psychologist; and
(4)(h) meet with the board, upon request for good cause, for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's qualifications for licensure.
(5) An applicant for certification as a certified prescribing psychologist by endorsement based upon licensure in another jurisdiction shall:
(5)(a) submit an application on a form the division approves;
(5)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
(5)(c) not have any disciplinary action pending or in effect against the applicant's psychologist license or other professional license authorizing the applicant to prescribe in any jurisdiction;
(5)(d) have passed the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Examination established by division rule;
(5)(e) provide satisfactory evidence that the applicant is currently licensed as a prescribing psychologist in another state, district, or territory of the United States, or in any other jurisdiction approved by the division in collaboration with the board;
(5)(f) provide satisfactory evidence that the applicant has actively practiced as a prescribing psychologist in that jurisdiction for not less than 4,000 hours or two years, whichever is greater;
(5)(g) provide satisfactory evidence that the applicant has satisfied the education, supervised experience, examination, and all other requirements for licensure as a prescribing psychologist in that jurisdiction at the time the applicant obtained licensure were substantially equivalent to the licensure requirements for a certified prescribing psychologist in Utah at the time the applicant obtained licensure in the other jurisdiction;
(5)(h) (5)(h)(i) consent to, and complete, a criminal background check, described in Section 58-1-301.5;
(5)(h)(ii) meet any other standard related to the criminal background check described in Subsection (5)(h)(i), that the division establishes by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(5)(h)(iii) disclose any criminal history the division requests on a form the division approves;
(5)(i) commit to maintaining professional liability insurance while acting as a certified prescribing psychologist; and
(5)(j) meet with the board, upon request for good cause, for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's qualifications for licensure.
(6) An applicant for certification as a provisional prescribing psychologist shall:
(6)(a) have authority to engage in the practice of psychology under Section 58-61-301;
(6)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
(6)(c) demonstrate by official transcript, or other official evidence satisfactory to the division, that the applicant:
(6)(c)(i) has completed a doctoral degree in psychology that includes specific core course work established by division rule under Section 58-1-203, from an institution of higher education whose doctoral program, at the time the applicant received the doctoral degree, met approval criteria established by division rule made in consultation with the board; and
(6)(c)(ii) has completed a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology from an institution of higher learning whose master's program, at the time the applicant received the master's degree, met approval criteria established by division rule made in consultation with the board and includes the following core areas of instruction:
(6)(c)(ii)(A) neuroscience, pharmacology, psychopharmacology, physiology, and pathophysiology;
(6)(c)(ii)(B) appropriate and relevant physical and laboratory assessment;
(6)(c)(ii)(C) basic sciences, including general biology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, human anatomy, human physiology, biochemistry, and genetics, as part of or before enrollment in a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology; and
(6)(c)(ii)(D) any other areas of instruction determined necessary by the division, in collaboration with the board, as established by division rule;
(6)(d) have no disciplinary action pending or in effect against the applicant's psychologist license or other professional license authorizing the applicant to prescribe in any jurisdiction;
(6)(e) (6)(e)(i) consent to, and complete, a criminal background check, described in Section 58-1-301.5;
(6)(e)(ii) meet any other standard related to the criminal background check described in Subsection (6)(e)(i), that the division establishes by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(6)(e)(iii) disclose any criminal history the division requests on a form the division approves;
(6)(f) commit to maintaining professional liability insurance while acting as a provisional prescribing psychologist;
(6)(g) meet with the board, upon request for good cause, for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's qualifications for licensure; and
(6)(h) satisfy any further requirements, as established by the division in rule.
(7) An applicant for licensure as a licensed school psychological practitioner shall:
(7)(a) submit an application on a form the division approves;
(7)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
(7)(c) produce certified transcripts of credit verifying satisfactory completion of a master's degree or equivalent certification program approved by the division that:
(7)(c)(i) consists of at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours in school psychology at an accredited institution; and
(7)(c)(ii) includes training in at least the following topics:
(7)(c)(ii)(A) understanding the organization, administration, and operation of schools, the major roles of personnel employed in schools, and curriculum development;
(7)(c)(ii)(B) directing psychological and psycho-educational assessments and intervention including all areas of exceptionality;
(7)(c)(ii)(C) individual and group intervention and remediation techniques, including consulting, behavioral methods, counseling, and primary prevention;
(7)(c)(ii)(D) understanding the ethical and professional practice and legal issues related to the work of school psychologists;
(7)(c)(ii)(E) social psychology, including interpersonal relations, communications, and consultation with students, parents, and professional personnel;
(7)(c)(ii)(F) coordination and work with community-school relations and multicultural education programs and assessments; and
(7)(c)(ii)(G) the use and evaluation of tests and measurements, developmental psychology, affective and cognitive processes, social and biological bases of behavior, personality, and psychopathology;
(7)(d) provide evidence demonstrating that the applicant has:
(7)(d)(i) completed a one school year internship, or the equivalent, with a minimum of 1,200 clock hours in school psychology, at least 600 hours of which shall be in a school setting or a setting with an educational component; and
(7)(d)(ii) completed at least five years of successful experience as a school psychologist in the state; and
(7)(e) provide a recommendation from:
(7)(e)(i) the institution that the applicant attended under Subsection (4)(c); and
(7)(e)(ii) one or more local education agencies, as defined in Section 53E-1-102, that employed the applicant as a school psychologist for the period described in Subsection (4)(d)(ii).

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 443, 2025 General Session