TCA § 63-11-206 — Unlicensed practice — Penalties — Supervised practice — Evaluation techniques — Temporary licenses — Provisional licenses

Any person who engages in the practice of psychology and does not then possess in full force and virtue a valid license to practice as psychological examiner or, psychologist or senior psychological examiner or a certificate to practice as a psychological assistant under this chapter and chapter 1 of this title commits a Class B misdemeanor. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent members of other recognized professions that are licensed, certified or regulated under the laws of this state from rendering services consistent with their professional training and code of ethics; provided, that they do not represent themselves to be psychologists or, psychological examiners or, senior psychological examiners or certified psychological assistants. Duly recognized members of the clergy shall not be restricted from functioning in their ministerial capacity; provided, that they do not represent themselves to be psychologists or psychological examiners or senior psychological examiners or certified psychological assistants. Students of psychology, psychological interns and other persons preparing for the profession of psychological examiner or, psychologist or, senior psychological examiner or certified psychological assistant may perform as a part of their training the functions in §§ 63-11-202 and 63-11-203, but only under qualified supervision. A person practices as a “certified psychological assistant” within the meaning of this chapter when the person claims to be a certified psychological assistant and/or renders to individuals or to the public for remuneration any service involving the application of recognized principles, methods and procedures of the science and profession of psychology and only under the direct employment and supervision of either the psychologist or senior psychological examiner employing the certified psychological assistant or the employing community mental health center or state governmental agency. Any and all work performed by a certified psychological assistant is supervised by a psychologist or senior psychological examiner as determined by the board. Use of psychological techniques by governmental institutions and by business and industrial organizations for employment placement, evaluation, promotion or job adjustment of their own officers or employees or by employment agencies for the evaluation of their own clients prior to recommendation for employment is also specifically allowed; however, no industrial or business firm or corporation may sell or offer to the public or to other firms or corporations for remuneration any psychological services as specified in §§ 63-11-202 and 63-11-203, unless such services are performed or supervised by individuals duly and appropriately licensed under this chapter. A temporary license may be issued by the board for an applicant who has successfully completed the academic course work and training for the license sought and who is scheduled for initial written examination. No temporary permit for a psychological examiner shall be issued for applications received by the board after December 31, 2004. The temporary license will allow the applicant to perform the functions specified in §§ 63-11-202 and 63-11-203, for which the applicant is seeking licensure under qualified supervision. In order to receive a temporary license, the applicant must submit a completed application for a temporary license with the applicant's completed application for the desired license, and all appropriate fees, to the board. A temporary license may be issued by the board for an applicant who has a current license from another state or territory. The temporary license will allow the applicant to perform under qualified supervision the functions specified in §§ 63-11-202 and 63-11-203. In order to receive a temporary license, the applicant must submit a completed application for a temporary license with the applicant's completed application for the desired license, and all appropriate fees, to the board. Applications for temporary licenses for applicants currently licensed in another state or territory shall be reviewed and approved or denied by a current member of the board designated by the board to perform this function. If an applicant is issued a temporary license, the license shall remain valid until the board grants or denies the license application. However, no person shall be issued more than one (1) temporary license nor shall any temporary license be valid for a period of more than one (1) year. Such a temporary license may be issued to allow an applicant to perform the functions specified in § 63-11-203 if the applicant has: Successfully completed an approved American Psychological Association academic course of study; Previously taken and passed, according to Tennessee standards, the national licensing examination; A current license in another state or territory in good standing. Such a temporary license with designation as a health service provider may be issued to an applicant who meets the requirements of subdivision (e)(2)(B) and has: Successfully completed an American Psychological Association-approved internship; and Had at least one (1) year of full-time postdoctoral experience delivering health services. Such a temporary license may be issued to allow an applicant to perform the functions specified in § 63-11-202 if the applicant has: Previously taken and passed, according to Tennessee standards, the national licensing examination; and A current license in another state or territory in good standing. The fee for all temporary licenses shall be set by the board in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100). Until such time as the board establishes a fee by rule, the fee shall be fifty dollars ($50.00). Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to expand or limit in any way the practice of psychological examiners as provided in § 63-11-202 or, senior psychological examiners as provided in § 63-11-202 or certified psychological assistants as provided in subdivision (c)(2) and § 63-11-207(b), nor shall this chapter limit the use of the title “psychological examiner” for persons duly licensed as psychological examiners. Notwithstanding subsection (a), persons providing services in programs of the department of mental health and substance abuse services or the department of intellectual and developmental disabilities either as employees or through contract agencies are not engaged in the practice of psychology and need not be licensed or certified under this chapter unless they provide services as a psychological examiner or as a psychologist, or as a senior psychological examiner or certified psychological assistant. A provisional license to practice as a psychologist with the designation as a health service provider may be issued by the board of examiners in psychology to an applicant who has successfully completed the academic and internship requirements of § 63-11-208(c)(3) and (d)(1)(A) and who is to be engaged in a one-year post-doctoral experience required by § 63-11-208(d)(2)(A). Such provisional licensure will allow the applicant to perform the functions specified in §§ 63-11-203 and 63-11-208(d)(2)(B) under the qualified supervision of a psychologist acceptable to the board and who is licensed in Tennessee with a designation as a health service provider in good standing. In order for a provisional license to remain valid, the licensee must take and pass the examination for professional practice in Tennessee (EPPP) at the level set for licensure as a psychologist in Tennessee within one (1) year of the issuance of the provisional license unless the applicant previously passed the EPPP at that level. A second failure of the EPPP after the issuance of a provisional license shall result in its revocation. In order for the provisional license to remain valid, the licensee must take and pass the oral and/or jurisprudence examination developed by the board within two (2) years of the issuance of the provisional license. The second failure of the oral and/or jurisprudence examination will result in the revocation of the provisional license. The board may consider petitions of the licensee regarding extraordinary circumstances that would necessitate delay in taking the written or oral examination.