SPONSOR:

Rep. Griffith & Sen. Pinkney

Sens. Ennis, Hansen, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 233

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHOLOGY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 3511, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline and redesignating accordingly:

§ 3511 Reciprocity.

(a) Where an applicant is already licensed or certified as a doctoral-level psychologist in another jurisdiction and has practiced continually for 2 years in that jurisdiction, the Board shall require:

(1) A certificate or other evidence that the applicant is currently licensed or certified.

(2) Evidence that the psychologist has practiced continually for 2 years.

(3) Evidence that the psychologist has achieved the passing score set by the Board on the written standardized Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) or its successor as approved by the Board.

(4) Evidence that the candidate has received a doctoral degree in psychology from a recognized educational institution, or in lieu of such degree, a doctoral degree in a closely allied field if it is the opinion of the board that the training required therefor is substantially similar, or has otherwise had training in psychology deemed equivalent by the board. from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited program, or a Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) accredited program, or a doctoral degree based on a program of studies which is psychological in content and specifically designed to train and prepare psychologists and which complies with the Board’s rules and regulations. Graduates of foreign programs will be required to have their credentials evaluated by a credential evaluation service approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services to determine equivalency to the accreditation requirements of § 3508 of this title.

SYNOPSIS

This Act updates the Delaware Code relating to the Delaware Board of Examiners of Psychologists by amending the qualifications for licensure for reciprocity applicants. Currently reciprocity applicants, even those who have practiced many years in another state without blemish, are required to possess the same type of psychology doctoral degree as a new graduate. This bill would grant the Board greater flexibility when evaluating reciprocity applicants by allowing the Board to use an applicant’s years of experience and training while licensed in another jurisdiction to compensate for any deficiencies in their education. If passed, the bill would align Delaware more closely with surrounding jurisdictions.