Minnesota Session Laws - 1997, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 102-S.F.No. 662 
                  An act relating to health professions; establishing licensure 
                  requirements for volunteer practitioners of 
                  psychology; modifying requirements for licensure as 
                  licensed psychologists and for professional 
                  identification; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
                  sections 148.907, subdivisions 2, 3, and 4; and 
                  148.96, subdivisions 1 and 3; proposing coding for new 
                  law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 148.907, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE AS A LICENSED 
        PSYCHOLOGIST.] To become licensed by the board as a licensed 
        psychologist, an applicant shall comply with the following 
        requirements: 
           (1) pass an examination in psychology; 
           (2) pass a professional responsibility examination on the 
        practice of psychology; 
           (3) pass any other examinations as required by board rules; 
           (4) pay nonrefundable fees to the board for applications, 
        processing, testing, renewals, and materials; 
           (5) have attained the age of majority, be of good moral 
        character, and have no unresolved disciplinary action or 
        complaints pending in the state of Minnesota or any other 
        jurisdiction; 
           (6) have a doctoral degree with a major in psychology from 
        a regionally accredited educational institution meeting the 
        standards the board has established by rule; and 
           (7) have completed at least two one full years year or the 
        equivalent in part time of postdoctoral supervised psychological 
        employment. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 148.907, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [MASTER'S LEVEL LICENSURE AS A LICENSED 
        PSYCHOLOGIST AFTER AUGUST 1, 1991.] (a) A person licensed in 
        this state as a licensed consulting psychologist or a licensed 
        psychologist before August 1, 1991, qualifies for licensure as a 
        licensed psychologist, as described in subdivision 2, at the 
        time of license renewal. 
           (b) Providing all other licensure requirements have been 
        satisfactorily met, the board shall grant licensure as a 
        licensed psychologist to a person who: 
           (1) before November 1, 1991, entered a graduate program at 
        a regionally accredited educational institution granting a 
        master's or doctoral degree with a major in psychology which 
        meets the standards the board has established by rule; 
           (2) before December 31, 1997, earned a master's degree or a 
        master's equivalent in a doctoral program at a regionally 
        accredited educational institution and complied with 
        requirements of subdivision 2, clauses (1) to (5), except that 
        the nonrefundable fees for licensure are payable at the time an 
        application for licensure is submitted; and 
           (3) before December 31, 1998, completed at least two one 
        full years year or the equivalent in part time of post-master's 
        supervised psychological employment, which may include a 
        predoctoral internship. 
           (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), the board shall not 
        grant licensure as a licensed psychologist under this 
        subdivision unless the applicant demonstrates that the applicant 
        was a resident of Minnesota on October 31, 1992, and meets all 
        the requirements for licensure under this subdivision. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 148.907, 
        subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [CONVERTING FROM MASTER'S TO DOCTORAL LEVEL 
        LICENSURE.] To convert from licensure as a licensed psychologist 
        at the master's or master's equivalent level to licensure at the 
        doctoral level, a licensed psychologist shall have: 
           (1) completed an application provided by the board; 
           (2) had an official transcript documenting the conferral of 
        the doctoral degree sent directly from the educational 
        institution to the board; 
           (3) paid a nonrefundable fee; 
           (4) successfully completed two one full years year or the 
        equivalent in part time of supervised psychological employment, 
        which shall not include a predoctoral internship, after earning 
        a master's degree or a master's equivalent in a doctoral 
        program; 
           (5) successfully completed a predoctoral internship meeting 
        the standards the board has established by rule; and 
           (6) received a doctoral degree with a major in psychology 
        from a regionally accredited educational institution meeting the 
        standards the board has established by rule. 
           Sec. 4.  [148.909] [LICENSURE FOR VOLUNTEER PRACTICE.] 
           The board, at its discretion, may grant licensure for 
        volunteer practice to an applicant who: 
           (1) is a former licensee who is completely retired from the 
        practice of psychology; 
           (2) has no unresolved disciplinary action or complaints 
        pending in the state of Minnesota or any other jurisdiction; and 
           (3) has held a license, certificate, or registration to 
        practice psychology in any jurisdiction for at least 15 years. 
           Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 148.96, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL 
        IDENTIFICATION.] All licensees, when representing themselves in 
        activities relating to the practice of psychology, including in 
        written materials or advertising, shall identify the academic 
        degree upon which their licensure is based, as well as their 
        level of licensure.  Individuals licensed on the basis of the 
        equivalent of a master's degree in a doctoral program shall 
        similarly use the designation "M. Eq." to identify the 
        educational status on which their licensure is based, as well as 
        their level of licensure. 
           Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 148.96, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [REQUIREMENTS FOR REPRESENTATIONS TO THE PUBLIC.] 
        (a) Unless licensed under sections 148.88 to 148.98, except as 
        provided in paragraphs (b) through (d) (e), persons shall not 
        present represent themselves or permit themselves to be 
        presented represented to the public by: 
           (1) using any title or description of services 
        incorporating the words "psychology," 
        "psychological," "psychological practitioner," or 
        "psychologist"; or 
           (2) representing that the person has expert qualifications 
        in an area of psychology. 
           (b) Psychologically trained individuals who are employed by 
        an educational institution recognized by a regional accrediting 
        organization, by a federal, state, county, or local government 
        institution, agencies, or research facilities, may represent 
        themselves by the title designated by that organization. 
           (c) A psychologically trained individual from an 
        institution described in paragraph (b) may offer lecture 
        services and is exempt from the provisions of this section. 
           (d) A person who is preparing for the practice of 
        psychology under supervision in accordance with board statutes 
        and rules may be designated as a "psychological intern," 
        "psychological trainee," or by other terms clearly describing 
        the person's training status.  
           (e) Former licensees who are completely retired from the 
        practice of psychology may represent themselves using the 
        descriptions in paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), but shall 
        not represent themselves or allow themselves to be represented 
        as current licensees of the board. 
           (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit 
        the practice of school psychology by a person licensed in 
        accordance with chapter 125. 
           Sec. 7.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Sections 1 to 3 are effective the day following final 
        enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 5, 1997 
           Signed by the governor May 6, 1997, 2:43 p.m.