Fees, advertising, and business practices regulated by statute
Fees, advertising, and business practices
This domain tests the business side of practice: truthful advertising, clear fees, and prohibitions on exploitative arrangements. The Board regulates these areas as professional conduct.
Core rules
- Fees must be disclosed in advance and must not be misleading. Avoid surprise charges and improper collection practices.
- Advertising must be accurate and not false, deceptive, or misleading. Do not claim specialties you cannot document, guarantee outcomes, or use sensational testimonials.
- Only licensed psychologists may use the title 'psychologist.' Unlicensed persons may not imply licensure.
- Fee splitting for referrals and patient brokering are prohibited. Bartering requires a written agreement and must not exploit the client.
- Business records and billing must protect confidentiality.
Worked example
A psychologist offers 'guaranteed anxiety cure in three sessions' and pays a physician $50 per referral. Both practices are risky: the guarantee is misleading, and the referral payment may violate fee-splitting rules. The psychologist should revise the advertisement and stop the payment arrangement.
Traps
Do not assume a disclaimer fixes a misleading ad. Do not let a collection agency disclose clinical information. Do not call a service a 'coaching' product to avoid licensure if it is actually psychotherapy.