Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANGELICA M. JIMENEZ
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman THOMAS P. GIBLIN
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Revises psychologist training requirements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act revising psychologist training requirements and amending P.L.1966, c.282.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 17 of P.L.1966, c.282 (C.45:14B-17) is amended to read as follows:
17. Any person applying to the board, after January 1, 1968, may be admitted to an assembled examination if [he] the applicant meets the qualifications set forth in [section 14(a), (b) and (c)] subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 14 of P.L.1966, c.282 (C.45:14B-14) and provides evidence satisfactory to the board that [he] the applicant:
(a) Has received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in psychology from a recognized educational institution, or in lieu of [such] that 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;
(b) Has engaged for the equivalent of at least [2] two years full time, at least [1] one year of which was subsequent to [his] the applicant receiving the doctoral degree, in professional [employment] experience in the practice of psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or of one clearly eligible for licensure in the opinion of the board, which [employment] experience the board deems sufficient to warrant its opinion that the applicant is competent to engage in the practice of psychology as a licensed psychologist, subject to [his] the applicant satisfying the other requirements for [such] that license specified in [this act] P.L.1966, c.282 (C.45:14B-1 et seq.). In the case of a person applying to the board after January 1, 2020, or six months after the passage of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), whichever is sooner, the two years of full time professional experience required by this subsection, or any portion thereof, may be completed prior to the applicant receiving a doctoral degree. An applicant who has applied to the board, but who is not yet licensed by the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), may update the application to apply professional experience earned prior to the applicant receiving a doctoral degree to the professional experience requirement.
(c) The New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners shall promulgate regulations to implement the changes in the experience requirements of subsection (b) of this section effected by P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
(cf: P.L.1966, c.282, s.17)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends the training requirements for psychologists. The bill provides that persons applying to the State Board of Psychological Examiners after January 1, 2020, or six months after the passage of this bill, whichever is sooner, may complete the two years of full time professional experience in the practice of psychology, which are required to be completed prior to licensure, either prior to or subsequent to receiving the requisite doctoral degree.
The bill also provides that an applicant who has applied to the board, but who is not yet licensed by January 1, 2020, or six months after the passage of this bill, whichever is sooner, may update the application to apply professional experience earned prior to the applicant receiving a doctoral degree to the professional experience requirement.
Current law requires applicants to complete at least one of the two required years of full time professional employment subsequent to the receipt of the requisite degree.