Licensure question

[GoPokes]

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Hi all,

Current pre-doctoral intern here. Our TD just informed us that, in some states, it is required that the psychologist(s) supervising you on internship at least have 3 years on their license in order for those supervised hours to be counted in that state. Is there a list of these states available somewhere? I've looked around on aspbb.org and some other licensure-related websites, but was wondering if a list existed so I wouldn't have to look at states one at a time. ASPBB seems to generate a summary list of all states for supervised experience, but doesn't go into this level of detail. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[erg923]

Hi all,

Current pre-doctoral intern here. Our TD just informed us that, in some states, it is required that the psychologist(s) supervising you on internship at least have 3 years on their license in order for those supervised hours to be counted in that state. Is there a list of these states available somewhere? I've looked around on aspbb.org and some other licensure-related websites, but was wondering if a list existed so I wouldn't have to look at states one at a time. ASPBB seems to generate a summary list of all states for supervised experience, but doesn't go into this level of detail. Any help is much appreciated.

Never heard this. A license is a license is a license as far as I am concerned.

 

[calimich]

An article that we read during internship year came to mind --

Herman, M., & Sharer, N. (2013). Trying to summarize state licensure laws for psychologists: Burial by grains of salt. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 7(2), 123.

Short answer: yes, laws can vary by state. Long answer: you're gonna have to look them all up...

 

[WisNeuro]

Never heard this. A license is a license is a license as far as I am concerned.

I am personally aware of three states that have restrictions based on how many years that your supervisors have been licensed. It's a good thing to check seeing as that many psychology boards are more concerned about this than you are. 🙂

 

[erg923]

I am personally aware of three states that have restrictions based on how many years that your supervisors have been licensed. It's a good thing to check seeing as that many psychology boards are more concerned about this than you are. 🙂

How does the state board know? Do they actually check each psychologists credentials for when they got licensed? And how do they differentiate between original license issue and when they become licensed in said state? I don't see how a state psych board has the resources for such nonsensical credential/record reviews.

 

[WisNeuro]

How does the state board know? Do they actually check each psychologists credentials for when they got licensed? And how do they differentiate between original license issue and when they become licensed in said state? I don't see how a state psych board has the resources for such nonsensical credential/record reviews.

In the state's where I am licensed, when you check my status, it tells the original date of licensure. It takes about 15 seconds. Regardless of whether or not it makes sense, I'd want to be on the right side in terms of all of my credentials when applying in certain states. It was an issue that I was aware of and one that I took into account when applying for postdoc.

 

[LPPSYD]

I ran into this issue for post doc hours but I don't remember this even being a question for internship hours (i.e., they didn't even ask for the supervisors' info beyond name/phone number), and I'm licensed in two states that are really strict for licensure requirements. Do some states really question that for internship hours?

 

[erg923]

I wasn't suggesting that it wasn't true, I just, it's hard to fathom.

I educate our interns every year on the licensing process and every year I realize how complex and silly at all it is from state to state. Not sure why boards would implement such a silly clause /barrier for licensure.

 

[LPPSYD]

And how do they differentiate between original license issue and when they become licensed in said state? I don't see how a state psych board has the resources for such nonsensical credential/record reviews.

This is a really good question. In all my frustration with the state board I never stopped to question how they factor in supervisors licensed in multiple states. Not that it would've helped my issue, but still. I guess the supervisor would have to provide the information for the earliest license obtained. But then what if they let it lapse and only have a newer one active?

 

[WisNeuro]

Ah, I misread the OP, thought they were talking about postdoc hours. Hadn't heard about the internship requirement, unless it was for a state that allowed pre-doctorl internship hours to count towards licensure.

 

[eremitestar]

Honestly, the process is really different everywhere. For example, I was able to have my training director sign off on all of my hours, but a friend from my cohort wasn't so lucky. He had to get photo copies of licenses from half a dozen supervisors. Even reading through the states' requirements online can be confusing. I called the state board several times to clarify requirements (particularly with respect to postdoc hours documentation, as most state statutes seem to be written with an entry-level job in mind, not a formal, multi-rotation training program).

 

[kestrelcry]

Some states require that a certain percentage of your internship (at least) supervisors be licensed in the state in which the internship is located. My internship had group supervision with a particular person in part for this reason, since some supervisors were licensed in different states. Like other folks have said, it's a really good idea to check up on states in which you might want to be licensed at the beginning of internship to make sure your rear end is thoroughly covered and make arrangements right away if there's issues. The bullsh*t, it does abound.

 

[smalltownpsych]

This variability of requirements on the part of state licensing boards is why I have a National Register certification. Also, if I want to move to an unknown state 10 or 20 years from now, I want to have all of the information readily accessible.

 

[WisNeuro]

Or just get ABPP'd. Lots of states have waivers for people who are boarded.