The Association of State and Provincial

Psychology Boards

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 Protects the public
Limits license to qualified individuals
Sets enforceable standards of professional
conduct
Serves best interest of the public
and the profession

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Recognized graduate training program in psychology
(e.g., ASPPB/NR designated; APA/CPA accredited)
Completion of required coursework, including
practicum experiences
Completion of internship
Completion of doctoral degree (required in majority of
jurisdictions)
Completion of postdoctoral supervised experience
(required in vast majority of jurisdictions)
Pass all examinations required for licensure
in jurisdiction of interest

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Sequence of Training
Leading to Licensure
Academic Program
Practicum
Dissertation/Thesis
Internship

Graduation

Postdoctoral Experience
Testing

Licensure

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Most licensure laws are generic
Some licensing laws require inclusion of specific
coursework such as ethics, multicultural
awareness/competence
Jurisdictions may have different requirements about
acceptable residency requirements in graduate training
programs (most require physical presence, not just full-
time enrollment)
Jurisdictions will have specific requirements about
number of hours of practicum/internship, postdoctoral
supervised professional experience

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 www.asppb.net contains:

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 The American Psychological Association
recommends that for admission to licensure
applicants demonstrate that they have
completed two years of supervised experience,
which can be completed prior or subsequent to
the granting of the doctoral degree.

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ASPPB has not changed its Model Licensure Act
Practicum takes on new significance
No longer just preparatory for internship
Takes on regulatory significance
Effect on mobility
Unintended (but positive) consequence of forcing us
to examine practica more closely
ASPPBs Practicum Guidelines document
(www.asppb.net/PracticumGuidelines)

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Organized, sequential series of supervised
experiences of increasing complexity
Follow appropriate academic preparation
Overseen by the graduate training program
Graded complexity
Minimum time on site

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A training plan between the student, the practicum
training site, and the graduate training program
How the trainees time is allotted
Specification of the goals and objectives of the practicum
Methods of evaluation
Nature of supervision
Rationale for the experience

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Commitment to training of psychologists

Psychologist with knowledge of the setting in

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Types: Practicum, internship, post-doctoral
Total hours of experience
Total hours of supervision
Hours of supervision per week
Total hours of service-related activities
Qualifications of supervisor(s): Licensure as
psychologist, years of experience, competence in
supervision, affiliation with training site

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Requirements vary among jurisdictions
Avoid problems/delays caused by not knowing
jurisdictional requirements
Understand jurisdictional requirements early in
training
Reconcile differences between training program,
training site and licensing requirements before
completing the experience

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EPPP: Examination for Professional Practice of
Psychology (required in all U.S. states, 3 U.S.
territories and 9 Canadian provinces)
Local jurisprudence/ethics exam (used to assess
knowledge of local mental health laws, ethical
standards)
Possible oral exam, competency exam, or
interview

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Measures broad, general, foundational knowledge for
all psychologists
225-item, multiple choice test; 175 operational, 50
pretest items starting August 2011
Used for licensure in 62 U.S. and Canadian
jurisdictions
Content validity supported by periodic Practice
Analyses
Protection of the public
Entry level practice
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Biological bases of behavior (12%)
Cognitive-affective bases of behavior (11%)
Social and cultural bases of behavior (12%)
Growth and lifespan development (12%)
Assessment and diagnosis (14%)
Treatment, intervention, prevention, and
supervision (14%)
Research methods and statistics (8%)
Ethical, legal, and professional issues (15%)

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Biological and neural bases of behavior
Drug classification of therapeutic agents and
drugs of abuse
Pharmacological and somatic treatment of
mental disorders
Behavioral genetics
Interaction of developmental, gender, ethnic,
cultural, environmental, and experiential factors
with biological
Brain imaging

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Elements of cognition
Theories and models of intelligence
Major theories/models of learning, memory,
motivation, emotion, and their applications
Interrelation of cognitions/beliefs, behavior, affect,
temperament, and mood
Psychosocial influences

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Social cognition and perception
Social interaction
Group dynamics and organizational structures
Environmental/ecological psychology
Evolutionary perspectives on social behavior
Major theories of personality
Social-contextual issues of race/ethnicity, gender,
disability, rehabilitation, sexual orientation
Oppression
Acculturation
Culturally mediated communication

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Normal growth & development
Genetics & environment interaction
Theories of development, including influence of
culture and of disorders/diseases
Family development and configuration
Normative and non-normative life event
changes
System factors

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Psychometric theory
Assessment theories, models and methods
Tests to measure characteristics and behaviors of
individuals; of job performance and organizations; and of
change due to interventions
Issues of differential diagnosis and integration of non-
psychological information
Criteria for selection of assessment methods and
interpretation of data
Utilization of various classification systems
Epidemiology of behavioral disorders
Use of technology

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Treatment decision-making based on available data
Contemporary theories/models of intervention
Adaptation of techniques with special populations
Interventions to enhance growth and performance
Career counseling
Consultation models and processes

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Adjunctive interventions
Use of technology
Healthcare systems, structures, and
economics
Health promotion, interventions to reduce risk
and increase resilience
Contemporary theories/models of supervision

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Sampling and data collection
Research methods & design
Statistics & analytic methods
Statistical interpretation
Critical appraisal and application of research
findings
Evaluation strategies & techniques
Presentation & dissemination of research findings
Community involvement in research;
underrepresented populations

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APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code
of Conduct and/or Canadian Code of Ethics for
Psychologists
Professional standards and guidelines
Pertinent federal, state/provincial/territorial
laws/statutes or judicial decisions
Models of ethical decision-making
Models for professional development

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Legal, ethical, policy implications of current and
emerging issues
Client rights
Ethical issues in conduct of research
Ethical issues in supervision

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Item tests knowledge important for entry level
practice
May not be the same knowledge as comps or
dissertation defense
Knowledge of the item content relevant to
protection of the public
Would not knowing this information cause less
competent practice that might result in harm to
the public?
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ASPPB Information for Candidates (download from
website www.asppb.net)

ASPPBs Guide for Students and Faculty: Entry

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Numerous studies have supported reliability and
content validity of EPPP
Data suggest preparation beyond 200 hours yields
diminishing returns
Data suggest best to take EPPP within 3 years of
graduation

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Textbooks
Course materials
Study groups
Test specification materials from ASPPB
(Practice Exams)

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Many commercial companies offer study
materials
ASPPB has no connection to any commercial
company
ASPPB does NOT sanction any of them nor
provide them with test items

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PEPPPO: Practice Examination for Professional
Practice in Psychology Online - ($55.00)
Taken on home computer
PEPPP: Practice Examination for Professional
Practice in Psychology - ($101.50)
Taken under real-world testing conditions at a
Prometric Testing Center

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There are easy and hard versions of the EPPP
The items are not related to what psychologists do
The pretest questions are clumped at the
beginning
The majority of candidates fail
See Myth vs. Reality of the EPPP at
www.asppb.net

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 Examples from 2008-2010:
Doctoral degree first-time takers: 82%
APA/CPA accredited program graduates: 78%
Non APA/CPA program graduates: 58%
APA/CPA accredited /APPIC member internship: 82%
No APA/CPA accredited / APPIC member internship: 68%

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Most jurisdictions (states, provinces, or
territories) require some type of jurisdictional
law and regulations examination
This exam may be written or oral

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Case vignette
Diagnostics
Case conceptualization
Awareness of own professional limits
Ability to handle crisis
Diversity issues
Ethics & law

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Professional maturity and professional identity
Self-awareness
Ability to apply knowledge & theory
Ability to exercise professional judgment on the
spot
Ability to individualize treatment plan
Ability to handle crisis situations

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Inability to function independently
Lack of integrated theoretical orientation
Inability to assess and follow-up with treatment
plan
Unaware of self as factor in treatment
Lack of knowledge/ability to apply laws
Inability to recognize limits of own competency

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ASPPB Credentials Bank (The Bank): A
Credentials Verification and Storage Program:
Banking credentials for entire career
Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ):
Licensure mobility across jurisdictional boundaries
Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC): Short-
term practice across jurisdictional boundaries without
adding more licenses

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The Bank can be started during graduate
school
IPC requires an active license
CPQ requires five years of licensure and no
disciplinary action

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Highly mobile society
Widely differing requirements for licensure across
jurisdictions
Progressive difficulty obtaining training documentation
over time (agencies close, supervisors leave)
Career plans change
Disasters happen
Free for students and lower fees for recent graduates
that can be credited toward later CPQ application fees
Primary source verification conducted on credentials

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Documents Needed for Initial Licensure:
EPPP Scores

Transcripts

Oral & Jurisprudence exams

Supervised Professional Experience (Practicum, Internship

Specialty training

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 Documents Needed for Job Applications and
Continuing Licensure:

Continuing Education certificates

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A certificate of licensure eligibility to facilitate mobility for
individuals meeting ASPPB standards
Requires meeting common criteria, including doctoral
degree in psychology, 5 years of licensure, no discipline
Currently accepted in 44 jurisdictions, 2 jurisdictions are
in process of accepting the CPQ and 11 jurisdictions
recognize the CPQ for licensure
Other jurisdictions in use CPQ to waive some
requirements
Check ASPPB website for specific requirements

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Getting licensed in another jurisdiction can be
difficult and time-consuming
Jurisdictional licensure requirements vary (e.g.,
may require starting application process from
beginning; may require additional coursework or
supervised experience)
Jurisdictions that accept the CPQ have agreed
that those psychologists have met their basic
credentials requirements

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Consultation
Courtroom testimony
Short term therapy after a move (in some jurisdictions)
Disaster relief
I/O job and management analyses
Check the ASPPB website for more information

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Permanently and safely store trainee records
No charge
www.asppb.net/CTPVS

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 Psychology Licensure and Certification: What
Students Need to Know

Edited by Thomas J. Vaughn, Ph.D.

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Association of State and Provincial Psychology
Boards
P.O. Box 3079
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Phone: (678) 216-1175 or (800) 448-4069
Fax: (678) 216-1176
General E-mail: asppb@asppb.org
Website: www.asppb.net

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