State Laws and the Rules of State Psychology Board

Professional Licensing

State Laws And The Rules Of State Psychology Board

Professional qualifications: Questions

State rules and laws

The education and training of psychologists

In the state of Washington, according to Chapter 18.83 RCW, 246-924 WAC, all psychologists must obtain a doctorate from an accredited institution. They must spend one year in a residency program, submit a dissertation, and complete a practicum and internship.

Qualification for licensure

The internship must be verified to consist of 1500 hours of supervised experience and must be completed within 24 months.

Certificate of professional qualification

Candidates must list the credentials they have held previously, answer personal questions about mental fitness and take the Professional Exam Services (PES).

Administrative process for misconduct

State boards are governed according to the laws of the state, "disciplinary actions start with an initial complaint or multiple complaints, and proceed through a series of investigative and adjudicative stages" (Bricklin 2003: 18). After fact-finding investigational stages, the inquiry may end or be "moved along to the next stage," depending on the findings of the committee. "At a number of stages, a psychologist may be given the opportunity to accept a lesser sanction or to settle or close the case" (Bricklin 2003: 18). Standards for sanctioning are not as high as those in a court of law, although the accused therapist may have an attorney present during the procedures.

Part II

Q1. In your research and critical thinking, which distinctions and priorities, in authority, exist between state laws, APA Ethical Principles for Psychologists and Code of Conduct, rules promulgated by the state psychology board, and your personal values in resolution of conflicts arising within the psychotherapy relationship or professional work place e.g. clinic or hospital policies?

The main priorities of the state regulatory body is to ensure that therapist are competent, and have appropriate training for their field and are qualified to do the work they have been contracted to perform. The APA is interested in setting broader, general principles to guide professional conduct and uphold the standards of the profession. On a personal level, a therapist must find an ethical code that provides specific guidance in daily decision-making.

Q2. In your research and critical thinking, are there potential conflicts in jurisdictional authority between the APA Ethics Committee, the Ethics Committee of the State Psychology Board, and the judicial system?

State ethics boards may have slightly different codes of conduct than the APA, but since the state boards are immediately charge of licensing professionals, their opinion is usually more significant. A therapist may appeal to APA ethics statements in his or her defense, if he or she perceived a conflict. The APA can also sanction a psychologist if it feels it is warranted, even if the state board does not (Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct, 2012, APA).

A more likely source of friction is between psychologist's ethics and the judicial system. A psychologist might be pressured to breach professional confidentiality to further a prosecutor's case, for example, even though he or she believes there is no immediate danger or ethical reason to do so. The psychologist is focused upon the health of the patient and has an obligation to the patient, rather than to a more general sense of social justice.

Q3. In your research and thinking, clarify jurisdictional authority between these entities. How and where do you file complaints, with whom and for which reasons? Are there overlapping or concurrent jurisdictions? How are complaints filed with any of these authorities? Outline the appropriate administrative procedures, from filing of a complaint to resolution?

Complaints may be filed with either the state board or the APA. According to the APA, it may impose sanctions, revoke membership, and "may notify other bodies and individuals of its actions" (Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct, 2012, APA). For both state entities and the APA, "initial complaints may be screened by a number of different parties, including an individual investigator," followed by examination of witnesses and fact-finding if the charges are found to cause concern (Bricklin 2003: 21). Depending on the state, the psychologist may or may not be notified at this juncture of the investigation. Or, the committee may wait until a more formal hearing is scheduled during which the psychologist may present a defense, with a lawyer, if he or she desires (Bricklin 2003: 21).

Q4. What is the relationship between the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), and the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP)? By which criteria do you distinguish them?

The APA sets general professional standards for the profession as a whole, while according to its official website, the ASPPB creates and maintains the Professional Exam Services (PES) used for licensing psychologists, provides educational material needed to pass the exam or for new students, and offers assistance in helping psychologists obtain certification in new or multiple states. The NRHSPP states on its official website that it specifically credentials health services professionals in the field of psychology.

Part II: Personal values and beliefs

Q1. What is right or good and what is wrong, bad or evil? Consider the etiology of these values and developmental criteria from your own life experiences.

I believe that evil is defined as the 'absence of good' or the complete and utter denial of someone else's right to exist in the world. Although pain sometimes must be caused for the good of someone (like revealing an uncomfortable truth or giving a child a shot), purposeless cruelty is the definition of evil. Based upon my religious upbringing, although I am not religious, I tend to grade the morality of actions based upon their intentionality rather than upon their effects.

Q2. What are your assumptions about the nature of human beings? How responsible are people for themselves and their actions? What are your definitions of: Values, beliefs, ethics, morality, and conscience?

Human beings are neither innately good nor bad. They are products of a constellation of influences based in both in their biology and social influences. Human beings must be viewed as responsible for their actions if they have learned a notion of right and wrong, although human development is contingent upon other influences besides that of one's personal will. Values are concepts we hold dear, such as democracy or individual autonomy, that are partially the result of our culture and partially the result of our personal upbringing. Beliefs are how we articulate our values to ourselves, while ethics relate to the formal system of how we define those beliefs so we can make decisions. Morality refers to our sense of personal convictions, although this is influenced by social and cultural values and norms and our conscience is our personal 'police' that enforces and checks our behaviors, even in the absence of formal laws or when no one is around.