Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 510 - RULES OF STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS
Chapter 510-2 - LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION
Rule 510-2-.01 - Application for Licensure Effective November 1, 2020

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 510-2-.01

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024

(1) Application.

The following requirements must be met in order to be licensed as a psychologist in this jurisdiction.

(a) A doctoral degree from an American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited doctoral program in applied psychology (as defined below under Education) or from an I/O or international program (as defined below under Education).

(b) Successful completion of an APA or CPA accredited or Association of Psychology and Internship Centers (APPIC) member internship, or its equivalent (as defined below under Education).
1. An applicant who was enrolled in a APA or CPA approved program prior to May of 2003, and who was a student in good standing, will be deemed to have met the above noted internship requirement, provided the applicant completed/graduated from the program within a seven (7) year period from the date of enrollment.

(c) Successful completion of a 1500 hour postdoctoral supervised work (SWE) experience (as defined in Board Rule 510-2-.04 Education).

(d) Completed Application Initiation Form including all supporting documents and the fee made payable to the Georgia Board.

(e) Once registered with the Georgia Board, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) will notify applicants to register for participation in their Psychology Licensure Universal System (PLUS) program application process. Instructions on the PLUS program titled" General Instructions for Application by Examination or Endorsement" may be found on the Board website on the Application/Forms Downloads webpage.

(f) Once your application is completed and submitted for approval to the Georgia Board by ASPPB, and approval is granted by the Georgia Board, applicants will be notified to begin the examination process. Georgia Board approved applicants will be required to take and pass the following examinations, in the following order:
1. The first examination is a two-part national licensing exam developed and owned by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) designed to measure knowledge and skills of psychology relevant to practice. The Board will accept the standard passing score set by ASPPB for each administration of the Examination for the Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP). This examination is administered online and procedural information is available from the office of the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

A person must apply for licensure and be approved by the Board as a licensure candidate in order to take the national licensing exam. EPPP Part 1 is a computer-based examination that assesses the knowledge needed for entry level licensure. Part 1 may be taken after all course work has been completed (prior to internship and post-doctoral supervised work experience). EPPP Part 2 is a computer-based examination that assesses the skills needed for entry level licensure. Part 2 may be taken after all requirements for the doctoral degree including the internship have been completed.

(i) After three unsuccessful attempts to pass either part of the two-part national examination, the applicant will be required to earn, in person, a minimum of three semester hours of Board approved graduate level coursework in psychology at a regionally accredited institution, or 15 hours of Board approved APA, CPA or GPA approved continuing education prior to retaking the failed examinations. Documentation of attendance must be by letter from the instructor or by official APA, CPA or GPA certificate.

(ii) After six unsuccessful attempts to pass either part of the two-part national examination, the applicant will be required to earn, in person, a minimum of 9 semester hours of Board approved graduate level course work in psychology at a regionally accredited institution or 45 hours of Board approved APA, CPA or GPA approved continuing education prior to retaking the failed examinations. Documentation of attendance must be by letter from the instructor or by APA, CPA or GPA official certificate.

2. The second examination, prepared by the Georgia Board of Examiners of Psychologists, consists of a timed, multiple choice, closed book Jurisprudence Examination covering current law, rules and regulations, and general provisions. A licensure candidate can be scheduled to take this exam after the two-part national licensing exam has been passed and while the SWE is being completed. This information is available at the web site at www.sos.state.ga.us. The Board shall set a passing score for this examination. Exam candidates who fail the Jurisprudence Examination must wait 30 days before they can register to retake the exam again.

3. The third examination is the oral exam given by the Georgia Board of Examiners or their representatives. The licensure candidate may be scheduled to take the oral exam after the licensure candidate has passed all examinations, and is within 2 months of satisfactorily completing the SWE. The licensure candidate may be granted a license to practice psychology only after having successfully completed and obtained Board approval of the SWE and after having passed the oral examination. The Board reserves the right to re-administer the oral exam to individuals who do not satisfactorily complete the SWE.
(i) The licensure candidate must personally appear before a subcommittee of the Board for an oral examination which will be based on a work sample of material from their intended area of practice provided by the licensure candidate. The work sample must have been generated within six months preceding the oral examination or within six months of the most recent professional practice. Licensure candidates must bring the SWE log to the oral exam (see below under Education for exceptions).

(ii) The licensure candidate who fails the subcommittee-administered oral examination will be scheduled for a Full Board Exam. A Full Board oral examination is defined as an oral exam in which the majority of Board members are present.

(iii) The licensure candidate who fails the Full Board oral examination may take a second Full Board Exam after the expiration of a six month period following the date on which the licensure candidate failed the Full Board oral examination.

(iv) The licensure candidate who fails the second Full Board oral examination will be denied licensure. Any consideration for subsequent licensure will require submission of a new application, fees and documentation. The applicant must meet all requirements that are in effect on the date on which the Board receives the new application.

(v) The licensure candidate who passes the subcommittee-administered oral examination and has successfully completed the SWE will be granted a license to practice psychology in the State of Georgia.

(2) Time and Place of Examinations.

(a) The Office of the Division Director, Professional Licensing Boards Division, designates the specific time and location where examinations are administered. The applicant will be notified in writing of the exact time and place of the examination. The applicant must appear in person for the examinations and bring government issued picture identification.

(3) Americans with Disabilities Act.

(a) The Board will provide reasonable accommodation to the qualified applicant with a disability in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The request for an accommodation by an individual with a disability must be made in writing on a form provided by the Board and received in the Board office by the application deadline along with the appropriate documentation, as indicated in the Request for Disability Guidelines.

(4) Application for Non-Renewable Provisional License.

(a) A licensure candidate who has passed the written examinations and who has completed all other requirements for licensure except the post-doctoral supervised work experience requirement and the oral examination may apply for a provisional license. The applicant for provisional license must submit:
1. Completed Application Initiation Form including all supporting Documents and the fee made payable to the Georgia Board.

2. Once registered with the Georgia Board, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) will notify applicants to register for participation in their Psychology Licensure Universal System (PLUS) program application process. Instructions on the PLUS program titled" General Instructions for Application by Examination or Endorsement" may be found on the Board website on the Application/Forms Downloads webpage.

(b) Denial of Provisional License Application.
1. If the applicant for provisional license is denied, the applicant may petition the Board, within 60 days of the date of the letter of denial, to reconsider the application. After 60 days the file will be closed; to reapply the applicant must submit a new application, a non-refundable application fee, and all required documentation.

2. If the Board requests additional information from the applicant, the applicant has 30 days to respond. Failure to respond will result in denial of the application and closing of the applicant's file. The applicant who re-applies for licensure at a later date must submit a new application, an on-refundable application fee, and all required documentation.

3. A provisional license is subject to revocation if the Board determines that the requirements of the supervised work experience are not being satisfactorily met.

Revocation of a provisional license shall not be considered a contested case within the meaning of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, but a holder of a provisional license shall have the right to appear before the Board for appeal.

(c) Scope of Provisional License. A Provisional license carries all the weight and privileges of licensure except for the requirement of continued supervision for all professional activities throughout the experience (See supervised work experience). A provisional license is non-renewable and will expire in 24 months unless the Board grants an exception.

(5) Denial of Application.

(a) The applicant will be informed in writing of the Board's decision regarding approval or denial of an application for licensure.

(b) If the Board requests additional information from the applicant, the applicant has 30 days to respond.

(6) Fees.

(a) Licensure application fees are non-refundable. Fees are designated on a separate Fee Schedule. Fees may be reviewed and changed at the discretion of the Board. Indebtedness to the Board caused by a returned check will be handled in accordance with Code Section 16-9-20 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-2, 43-1-7, 43-1-19, 43-1-25, 43-39-5(d), 43-34-8(b)(4), 43-34-9, 43-34-10, 43-34-13.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Georgia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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