CHAPTER 134

 

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:

 

C.45:14B-17  Requirements to practice as licensed psychologist; regulations.

      17. Any person applying to the board, after January 1, 1968, may be admitted to an assembled examination if the applicant meets the qualifications set forth in 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 the applicant:

      (a)  Has received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in psychology from a recognized educational institution, or in lieu of 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 two years full time, at least one year of which was subsequent to the applicant receiving the doctoral degree, in professional 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 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 the applicant satisfying the other requirements for that license specified in P.L.1966, c.282 (C.45:14B-1 et seq.). In the case of a person applying to the board after October1, 2020, or six months after the effective date of P.L.2020, c.134, 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.2020, c.134, 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 affected by P.L.2020, c.134.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

Approved December 14, 2020.