GA Psych Juris cheat sheet

Georgia Psychology Licensure Law and Board Rules (Jurisprudence)

• Georgia psychology licensure is administered by the Georgia Board of Examiners of Psychologists under the Professional Standards Commission umbrella; the Board adopts rules in Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 510, and the governing statute is O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 39.

• Core licensure pathway: doctoral degree in psychology from a regionally accredited program (or equivalent), plus a supervised predoctoral internship and postdoctoral supervised experience, plus passing the EPPP and the Georgia jurisprudence examination; applications are reviewed by the Board.

• Scope of practice is defined by the 'practice of psychology' statute: diagnosis, treatment, and assessment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, plus psychological testing and consultation; the title 'psychologist' and related titles are restricted to licensees.

• Confidentiality: Georgia law and Board rules require written informed consent before releasing records, with exceptions including client waiver, court order, imminent danger to self or others, and mandated reporting of child abuse or neglect under O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5.

• Mandated reporting: Georgia requires reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of disabled adults; the psychologist reports to the appropriate agency (DFCS or Adult Protective Services) and is immune from liability for good-faith reports.

• Continuing education: licensees must complete the Board-required CE hours each renewal cycle, including specified hours in ethics and in Georgia jurisprudence; CE providers and activities must meet Board approval criteria, and records must be retained for audit.

• Informed consent and records: Board rules require that clients be informed of the nature of services, fees, confidentiality limits, and the psychologist's credentials; records must be maintained for the Board-specified retention period and released per law.

• Unprofessional conduct and discipline: grounds include practicing outside competence, impairment, sexual misconduct with clients, failure to supervise adequately, and fraud; sanctions range from reprimand and probation to suspension or revocation, and the Board may impose fines and CE conditions.

• Supervision rules: supervisors must be licensed psychologists who are qualified and registered with the Board, must document supervision hours and content, and remain professionally responsible for supervisees' services; supervision of unlicensed persons for licensure follows the Board's specified hour and format requirements.