Texas Association of Psychological Associates
Representing All Masters-Degreed Psychology Professionals in Texas


Revised Rules Proposed by the TSBEP
T.A.P.A.
P.O. Box 601374
Dallas, TX 75360

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The most up-to-date versions of the TSBEP Rules always may be found here.
(The Secretary of State's website is updated weekly.)
The next meeting of the TSBEP is Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Summer, 2010 issue of the TSBEP Newsletter is now on line
These revised Rules are currently under consideration by the TSBEP.

Comments on the proposed changes may be submitted to Brenda Skiff, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, 333 Guadalupe, Suite 2-450, Austin, TX 78701, (512) 305-7700 or email Brenda.skiff@tsbep.state.tx.us.
ALERT!   The TSBEP will no longer be printing and mailing a Rule Book.
Instead the Rule Book will be available online, and it will be updated with any new adopted Rules following each TSBEP meeting.
Proposed by TSBEP, August, 2011
§463.4.Applicants with Disabilities. (a) The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists shall comply with applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in its applications procedures by providing reasonable accommodations that do not violate the Board's Act and Rules. (b) It is the responsibility of the individual applicant to inform the Board in advance of any reasonable accommodations needed during the application process, including any examinations conducted by the Board. Only requests which give the Board sufficient notice and opportunity to provide reasonable accommodations without disrupting the normal business of the agency shall be considered. [ granted. ] (c)Dyslexia. Dyslexia is defined by §51.970 of the Texas Education Code. The Board will provide reasonable accommodation to an applicant for licensure who complies with subsection (b) of this section and who provides proof of a diagnosis of dyslexia from a qualified practitioner. The practitioner should also identify the type of examination accommodation that is recommended for the applicant. This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt. 
§463.15.Oral Examination. (a) Application Requirements. An application for the Oral Examination includes an application form, current passport picture of the applicant and required fee. (b) Eligibility. To be eligible for licensure as a psychologist, all provisionally licensed psychologists shall be required to take and pass the Oral Examination administered by the Board. Only provisionally licensed psychologists may apply to take the Oral Examination. [ The Board shall waive this requirement for Specialists of the American Board of Professional Psychology, Health Service Providers listed in the National Register and for individuals who qualify for licensure under reciprocity. ] (c) Waivers from the Oral Examination. The Board shall waive the Oral Examination for the following: (1) Persons who have been actively licensed for the independent practice of psychology at the doctoral level in another state for at least the five years immediately preceding application for licensure as a psychologist and who have no disciplinary action from any health licensing board provided that documentation of this status is provided directly to the Board from the other health licensing board(s); (2) Persons who were required to take an oral examination in order to provide independent practice of psychology at the doctoral level and to obtain licensure as a licensed psychologist in another state provided that confirmation of passage of that exam is provided to the Board from the other state; (3) Specialists of the American Board of Professional Psychology; (4) Health Service Providers listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology; and (5) Persons who qualify for licensure under reciprocity. (d) [ (c) ] A candidate for the Oral Examination must demonstrate sufficient entry-level knowledge of the practice of psychology to pass the examination based on the following standards: (1) A candidate must have a total score of 64 or above from each of the two examiners to pass the examination. (2) Scores are based on the demonstrated abilities of the candidate in nine content areas with a possible score in each content score of 9 points for a well articulated verbal answer, 8 points for a good or passing answer, 3 points for a weak, vague or incomplete answer, and minus 10 points for an answer that is substantially incomplete or incorrect. (3) The nine content areas are as follows: (A) Identifies the problems (e.g. initial hypotheses, differential diagnoses, etc.); (B) Identifies a specific and plausible strategy for gathering further data to refine the problem definition (e.g. psychometrics, observation data collection, etc.); (C) Develops a realistic intervention or action plan on the basis of the initial formulation; (D) Recognizes and can formulate an effective response to crises; (E) Attends to cultural and diversity issues; (F) Demonstrates awareness of professional limitations; (G) Can recognize and apply laws which are relevant to the case; (H) Can recognize and apply professional standards that are relevant; and (I) Can recognize and apply ethical standards or ethical reasoning pertinent to the case. (4) Each candidate is presented with a vignette, which is representative of a situation commonly encountered in the area of testing. Candidates are required to articulate a case formulation according to a standard or model that is generally recognized in their area of testing. Candidates are required to respond to questions associated with each vignette. (5) Areas of psychology in which a candidate may choose to be tested are: clinical, counseling, school, neuropsychological, and industrial and organizational. (e) [ (d) ] Each candidate receives an informational brochure prior to the Oral Examination.  
§463.27.Temporary License for Persons Licensed in Other States. (a) Temporary licensure is available to applicants for a period of not longer than 30 days from the time the application is approved until the expiration of the 30 days, provided the applicant meets the following conditions: (1) Submission of a completed application for temporary licensure, including a brief description of the type of psychological service to be provided which is acceptable to the Board and the requested time period for the temporary license; (2) Submission of the required fee; (3) Submission of proof that the applicant holds current licensure to practice as a licensed psychologist or a licensed psychological associate in another state where licensing requirements are substantially equivalent to the Act and Rules of the Board; (4) Submission of documentation directly from the state in which the applicant is currently licensed indicating that the applicant is in good standing; and (5) The applicant provides documentation that the applicant has passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology at the Texas cut-off for the type of temporary license sought. (b) Licensed psychologists and licensed psychological associates with temporary licenses must practice in adherence to the Board rule §465.2 (i) [ (h) ] of this title (relating to Supervision), and may consult with the supervising Texas licensed psychologist. (c) The specific period of time for which the applicant is issued a temporary license is stated in the Board's approval letter which issues the temporary license. (d) Substantial equivalency of the other state may be documented by the applicant providing a copy of the other board's rules and regulations with pertinent sections highlighted to indicate training and exam requirements for a particular type of license. This material is then reviewed for substantial equivalency by the Board. (e) A temporary license is not available to an applicant for permanent licensure in this state. Upon receipt of an application for a permanent license, the Board nullifies a temporary license and the individual can no longer practice legally in Texas. (f) The holder of a temporary license will not be further notified as to the ending date of the temporary license, other than the ending date that is provided in the initial issuance letter. Practicing with an expired temporary license is illegal and may subject the individual to disciplinary review by the Board. (g) Purposes for which a temporary license may be issued include: to serve as an expert witness in court, to assist a patient in transition to a mental health practitioner in Texas, and otherwise as approved by the Board. (h) Applicants for temporary licenses who hold current status as Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology , National Health Service Provider, or American Board of Professional Psychology may have documentation from the credentialing entity sent directly to the Board as compliance with and in lieu of subsection [ subsections ] (a)(3) and (5) of this section. (i) An applicant for temporary license may be waived from the oral examination requirement of substantial equivalency per subsection (d) of this section, provided that: (1) the applicant has been actively licensed for the independent practice of psychology at the doctoral level in another state for at least the five years immediately preceding application for temporary licensure and has no disciplinary action from any health licensing board, provided that documentation of this status is provided directly to the Board from the other state licensing agency; or (2) the applicant was required to take an oral examination in order to provide independent practice of psychology at the doctoral level and to obtain licensure as a licensed psychologist in another state provided that confirmation of passage of that exam is provided to the Board from the other state.