Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
Title 172 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE
Chapter 155 - PSYCHOLOGY LICENSES
Section 172-155-002 - DEFINITIONS

Universal Citation: 172 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 155 ยง 002

Current through September 17, 2024

Definitions are set out in the Psychology Practice Act, the Uniform Credentialing Act, 172 Nebraska Administrative Code (NAC) 10, and this chapter.

002.01 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER. A licensed psychologist, special licensed psychologist, psychological assistant, psychologist associate, licensed independent mental health practitioner, licensed mental health practitioner, qualified physician, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, or other recognized profession who is licensed, certified, or regulated under the laws of this state, whose scope of practice includes mental health services or mental health service referrals.

002.02 CLIENT OR PATIENT. A recipient of psychological services within the context of a professional relationship. In the case of individuals with legal guardians, including minors and incompetent adults, the legal guardian will also be considered a client or patient for decision-making purposes relating to the minor or incompetent adult.

002.03 CONSULTATION. A professional collaborative relationship between a behavioral health practitioner or behavioral health entity and a consultant who is a licensed psychologist. The consulting psychologist must be qualified by license, training and experience to address the mental health problems of clients who are the subjects of consultation. When a mental health practitioner seeks consultation with a licensed psychologist for clients with major mental disorders, the consultation must be conducted in accordance with 172 NAC 94.

002.04 DIRECT SERVICE. A variety of activities, during the postdoctoral experience associated with a client system, including collateral contacts, for the purpose of providing psychological services.

002.04(A) DIRECT SERVICES. Includes, but are not limited to the following:
(i) Interviewing;

(ii) Therapy;

(iii) Case conferences;

(iv) Behavioral observations and management;

(v) Evaluations;

(vi) Treatment planning;

(vii) Testing;

(viii) Report writing;

(ix) Clinical supervision of graduate students in an American Psychological Association accredited clinical, counseling, or school psychology program;

(x) Consultations;

(xi) Biofeedback and neurofeedback;

(xii) Patient management, such as crisis management, triage, placement referrals, etc.;

(xiii) Classroom teaching of graduate psychology courses in an American Psychological Association accredited clinical, counseling, or school psychology programs that involve examination of psychopathology, psychological assessment, or psychological intervention; and

(xiv) Clinical research that involves examination of psychopathology, psychological assessment, or psychological intervention.

002.04(B) NON-DIRECT SERVICES. Includes, but are not limited to the following:
(i) Insurance or managed care reviews relating to payment;

(ii) Classroom teaching that is not for graduate courses in an American Psychological Association accredited clinical, counseling, or school psychology programs that involve examination of psychopathology, psychological assessment, or psychological intervention;

(iii) Receiving supervision;

(iv) Research that does not involve the examination of psychopathology, psychological assessment, or psychological intervention in clinical situations;

(v) Program evaluation;

(vi) Scheduling client appointments; and

(vii) Administrative tasks related to mental health facilities and programs.

002.05 MAJOR MENTAL DISORDER. Any clinically significant mental or emotional disorder in which symptoms, regardless of specific diagnoses or the nature of the presenting complaint, are associated with present distress or disability or present significantly increased risk of suffering, death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. No diagnosis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association, nor any diagnosis from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) published by the World Health Organization, of the edition or version used on the effective date of this chapter, is excluded from the category of Major Mental Disorder if the contemporary assessment indicates severe symptoms, as outlined in this section. These documents are available by contacting the publishing organizations. This includes currently observed or assessed dysfunction or impairment that portends danger to self or others, a disabling deterioration of function that seriously impairs daily functioning to include food, clothing, and shelter or an inability to establish or maintain a personal support system. Such disorders may take many forms and have varying causes but must be considered a manifestation of behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the person. Behavioral or psychological disorder symptoms include one or more of the following:

(A) Persistent or severe suicidal or homicidal thinking or behaviors injurious to self or others;

(B) Psychotic symptoms which include delusions, hallucinations, or formal thought disorders, including evidence of frequent substitution of fantasy for reality;

(C) Physical complaints or signs suggesting deterioration or anomaly in physiological, psychophysiological, or neuropsychological functioning;

(D) Feeling, mood or affect in which the emotion is clearly disruptive in its effects on other aspects of a person's life. A marked change in mood, depression or anxiety that incapacitates a person;

(E) Severe impairment in concentration and thinking, persistence, and pace. Frequent or consistently impaired thinking; or

(F) Consistent inability to maintain conduct within the limits prescribed by law, rules, and strong mores or disregard for safety of others or destructive to property.

002.06 NATIONAL REGISTER. The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP) is a credentials bank that verifies that the psychologist applying for licensure in Nebraska has previously submitted primary source documentation demonstrating completion of specific education and training, holds an active unrestricted license, and has maintained professional and ethical standards.

002.07 NATIONAL STANDARDIZED EXAMINATION. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) or the Enhanced Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EEPPP) developed by the Professional Examination Service (PES) or another examination that is substantially equivalent and approved by the Board.

002.08 NEBRASKA JURISPRUDENCE EXAMINATION. The examination relating to statutes and regulations governing psychology in Nebraska and relevant federal laws and ethical standards in psychology.

002.09 POSTDOCTORAL EXPERIENCE. Psychology experience or practice under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist qualified to offer the services provided. To be postdoctoral, the experience must follow the formal awarding of the doctoral degree by an appropriate institution of higher education. Such experience must be compatible with knowledge and skills acquired during formal doctoral or postdoctoral education in accordance with professional requirements and relevant to the intended area of practice.

002.10 QUALIFIED PHYSICIAN. An individual with a current license to practice medicine and surgery and has specialized training in mental health treatment or is a Board Certified Psychiatrist.

002.11 REGULAR EMPLOYMENT. For purposes of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-3113, regular employment is:

(A) Work done in the context of an employer-employee relationship;

(B) That the school system directly pays the school psychologist for all services rendered; and

(C) That the agreed-upon school psychological services are provided in the context of a comprehensive service delivery system, are not limited to any specific type of service and include opportunities for follow-up and continuing consultation.

002.12 SUPERVISING LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST. A Nebraska licensed psychologist, not a special licensed psychologist, who provides supervision.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska 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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