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- Dec 26, 2016
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The APA has already approved master’s-level accreditation, but there’s still time to take action on a state level in Wisconsin.
📢 Join the WPA Master’s-Level Licensing Town Hall on March 14th to discuss what this means for our field and how we can advocate for doctoral training integrity.
🔗 Register Here
I’ve also taken direct action by writing to our Wisconsin APA Council Representative, Dr. Kim Skerven ([email protected]), to voice concerns about the impact of this change on psychological assessment, training standards, and public protection.
If you share these concerns, I encourage you to speak up, get involved, and make your voice heard!
Alternative to attendance you can share your concerns via the following templated letter:
Subject: Protecting the Integrity of Doctoral Training in Wisconsin Licensing Decisions
Dear [WPA Leadership / Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board],
I am writing as a concerned licensed psychologist in Wisconsin regarding the APA’s recent approval of master’s-level accreditation and the potential expansion of licensure privileges for master’s-level psychology practitioners. While I recognize the importance of increasing access to mental health care, I strongly urge the Wisconsin Psychological Association and the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board to protect doctoral training as the standard for independent psychological practice in our state.
The rigorous training required to become a licensed psychologist—including extensive coursework, supervised practica, an APA-accredited internship, and postdoctoral experience—ensures the competency necessary to provide safe, effective, and ethical care to the public.
One of the most concerning aspects of this shift is the potential for master’s-level providers to conduct independent psychological and neuropsychological assessments, despite lacking the advanced training required for these complex procedures. Psychological assessment is more than test administration; it involves:
✔ Selecting appropriate measures based on clinical history and referral concerns
✔ Integrating data from multiple sources, including behavioral observations, medical history, and psychometric analysis
✔ Understanding neurocognitive functioning, differential diagnosis, and psychopharmacology
✔ Communicating findings ethically and clearly in medical, legal, and educational settings
Granting independent practice privileges to master’s-level providers poses serious risks to public welfare and the credibility of the field by diminishing training standards and blurring critical distinctions between master’s- and doctoral-level competencies.
Expanding licensure in this way does not address the true barriers to mental health care access, which include:
• Low reimbursement rates for psychologists
• Geographic and socioeconomic disparities limiting access to services
• Lack of funding for doctoral training and recruitment in underserved areas
Instead of lowering training requirements, I urge the WPA and the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board to advocate for alternative solutions that expand mental health services without compromising professional integrity, including:
🔹 Loan forgiveness and scholarship programs to support doctoral psychology students
🔹 Increased reimbursement rates to incentivize more psychologists to practice in underserved areas
🔹 Expanded supervised practice models for master’s-level providers without granting independent diagnostic or assessment privileges
I strongly urge you to:
1️⃣ Maintain doctoral training as the standard for independent psychological practice in Wisconsin.
2️⃣ Oppose independent assessment and diagnosis privileges for master’s-level providers.
3️⃣ Advocate for policies that expand access to care while upholding training and competency standards.
As an invested member of the Wisconsin psychology community, I believe we must take action to protect public safety and the integrity of our profession. I appreciate your time and consideration and hope to see the WPA and the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board take a strong stance in maintaining the highest standards for psychological practice in our state.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Credentials]
[Your Contact Information]
[Optional: Your Professional Affiliation]
📢 Join the WPA Master’s-Level Licensing Town Hall on March 14th to discuss what this means for our field and how we can advocate for doctoral training integrity.
🔗 Register Here
I’ve also taken direct action by writing to our Wisconsin APA Council Representative, Dr. Kim Skerven ([email protected]), to voice concerns about the impact of this change on psychological assessment, training standards, and public protection.
If you share these concerns, I encourage you to speak up, get involved, and make your voice heard!
Alternative to attendance you can share your concerns via the following templated letter:
Subject: Protecting the Integrity of Doctoral Training in Wisconsin Licensing Decisions
Dear [WPA Leadership / Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board],
I am writing as a concerned licensed psychologist in Wisconsin regarding the APA’s recent approval of master’s-level accreditation and the potential expansion of licensure privileges for master’s-level psychology practitioners. While I recognize the importance of increasing access to mental health care, I strongly urge the Wisconsin Psychological Association and the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board to protect doctoral training as the standard for independent psychological practice in our state.
The rigorous training required to become a licensed psychologist—including extensive coursework, supervised practica, an APA-accredited internship, and postdoctoral experience—ensures the competency necessary to provide safe, effective, and ethical care to the public.
One of the most concerning aspects of this shift is the potential for master’s-level providers to conduct independent psychological and neuropsychological assessments, despite lacking the advanced training required for these complex procedures. Psychological assessment is more than test administration; it involves:
✔ Selecting appropriate measures based on clinical history and referral concerns
✔ Integrating data from multiple sources, including behavioral observations, medical history, and psychometric analysis
✔ Understanding neurocognitive functioning, differential diagnosis, and psychopharmacology
✔ Communicating findings ethically and clearly in medical, legal, and educational settings
Granting independent practice privileges to master’s-level providers poses serious risks to public welfare and the credibility of the field by diminishing training standards and blurring critical distinctions between master’s- and doctoral-level competencies.
Expanding licensure in this way does not address the true barriers to mental health care access, which include:
• Low reimbursement rates for psychologists
• Geographic and socioeconomic disparities limiting access to services
• Lack of funding for doctoral training and recruitment in underserved areas
Instead of lowering training requirements, I urge the WPA and the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board to advocate for alternative solutions that expand mental health services without compromising professional integrity, including:
🔹 Loan forgiveness and scholarship programs to support doctoral psychology students
🔹 Increased reimbursement rates to incentivize more psychologists to practice in underserved areas
🔹 Expanded supervised practice models for master’s-level providers without granting independent diagnostic or assessment privileges
I strongly urge you to:
1️⃣ Maintain doctoral training as the standard for independent psychological practice in Wisconsin.
2️⃣ Oppose independent assessment and diagnosis privileges for master’s-level providers.
3️⃣ Advocate for policies that expand access to care while upholding training and competency standards.
As an invested member of the Wisconsin psychology community, I believe we must take action to protect public safety and the integrity of our profession. I appreciate your time and consideration and hope to see the WPA and the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board take a strong stance in maintaining the highest standards for psychological practice in our state.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Credentials]
[Your Contact Information]
[Optional: Your Professional Affiliation]
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