LA Psych Juris cheat sheet

Practice of psychology in Louisiana is regulated under the Louisiana Psychology Practice Act (La. R.S. 37:2351 et seq.), administered by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

"Practice of psychology" is defined broadly to include diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and consultation for psychological disorders or adjustment problems, whether or not compensation is received.

Title protection: only licensees may use "psychologist," "psychological," or abbreviations suggesting licensure; unlicensed persons may not offer or render psychological services.

Exemptions from licensure are narrow and typically cover certain school employees acting within school scope, clergy, and professionals in other regulated fields not holding out as psychologists.

Confidentiality of client records is grounded in statute and rules; records must be maintained for the period set by Board rule and released only with valid authorization or legal compulsion.

Mandatory reporting duties include suspected child abuse or neglect under Louisiana Children's Code (La. Ch.C. art. 603 et seq.); the privilege belongs to the client and may be waived by the client or legal representative.

Supervision of unlicensed persons providing psychological services requires a Board-approved supervisor, documented supervision plan, and specified supervision hours and ratios.

Scope-of-practice limits: prescribing psychotropic medication is not within psychologist scope in Louisiana; delegated prescriptive authority exists only for specifically trained medical psychologists under medical board oversight.

The Board of Examiners of Psychologists is composed of governor-appointed members, a majority of whom are licensed psychologists, plus a consumer member; members serve staggered terms.

Doctoral licensure requires an APA- or equivalent-accredited doctoral degree in psychology, an approved internship, supervised postdoctoral experience (commonly two years), and passing the EPPP plus a jurisprudence examination.

Louisiana requires a jurisprudence exam covering state law and Board rules in addition to the national EPPP; both must be passed for licensure.

Provisional or temporary permits allow supervised practice while completing postdoctoral hours; practice outside the permit's terms is unlicensed practice.

License renewal is annual or biennial per Board rule and requires continuing education units in specified content areas, including ethics, plus attestation of lawful practice.

Continuing education credits must come from Board-approved sponsors; carryover of excess hours is limited, and lapsed licenses require reinstatement fees and possible re-examination.

Reciprocity and endorsement pathways allow licensure of psychologists licensed in other jurisdictions with substantially equivalent requirements, subject to Board review of credentials.

The Board may issue subpoenas, conduct investigations, and hold adjudicative hearings; final orders are subject to judicial review under the Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act.

Louisiana adopts the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct as enforceable standards, supplemented by Board rules where state law is stricter.

Informed consent must precede assessment, treatment, and research; it must disclose nature, risks, benefits, alternatives, fees, and limits of confidentiality in understandable language.

Multiple relationships are prohibited when they could impair objectivity or exploit the client; sexual intimacies with current clients, students, or supervisees are categorically prohibited.

Competence rule: psychologists practice only within boundaries of training and experience and obtain consultation or refer when client needs exceed competence.

Test security and test data: instruments must be used per publisher qualifications, and raw data release is governed by ethics code and copyright considerations.

Fee arrangements and bartering are permitted only when not exploitative; contingency fees for therapeutic services are prohibited.

Advertising must be accurate and not misleading; testimonials and solicitation of vulnerable persons require heightened scrutiny.

Ethical obligation to protect client welfare includes duty to plan for interruption or termination of services and to avoid abandonment.

Any person may file a complaint with the Board; the Board screens complaints to determine jurisdiction and whether the allegations state a violation of law or rule.

Investigative process typically includes notice to the licensee, an opportunity to respond, and possible informal resolution or formal charges.

Grounds for discipline include fraud in obtaining a license, incompetence, negligence, unprofessional conduct, violation of confidentiality, and practicing while impaired.

Available sanctions range from reprimand, consent order, probation with conditions, suspension, and revocation, plus civil fines and costs.

Summary suspension may be imposed when continued practice poses an imminent risk to public health or safety, followed by a hearing.

Licensees must self-report certain events, such as arrests, convictions, or disciplinary actions by other jurisdictions, within the time set by Board rule.

Failure to cooperate with a Board investigation is itself a separate ground for discipline.

Disciplinary actions may be reported to national databases and PSYPACT, affecting practice authority in other states.

PSYPACT is an interstate compact that allows licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology across member-state lines under an E.Passport issued by ASPPB.

Authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology requires a doctoral-level license in psychology, no disqualifying history, and completion of the E.Passport application plus jurisprudence training.

The home state retains primary disciplinary authority; the client's physical location determines which state's laws and rules govern the service at the time of the session.

The Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP) allows in-person, temporary practice in another member state for a limited number of days per year, subject to notification.

Louisiana's participation in PSYPACT is contingent on compact membership; psychologists must verify current member states before providing services.

Psychologists practicing under PSYPACT must comply with the home state's continuing education and ethics requirements and report disciplinary actions.

PSYPACT does not authorize practice in non-member states; those require separate licensure or a state-specific telehealth exception.

E.Passport and TAP privileges can be suspended or revoked by the home state or by the compact, and the psychologist must cease practice immediately upon notice.