PA Psych Juris flashcards
PA Psych Juris · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Act 52 of 1972
- Pennsylvania's Professional Psychologists Practice Act, which establishes licensure, scope of practice, and Board authority over psychologists in the Commonwealth.
- 49 Pa. Code Chapter 41
- The State Board of Psychology's regulations implementing the Practice Act, covering licensure requirements, supervision, continuing education, and disciplinary procedures.
- Practice of psychology definition
- Application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures to understand, predict, or influence behavior, including assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy.
- Title protection
- Only licensed psychologists may use the title 'psychologist' or represent themselves as such; unlicensed use violates the Act.
- Board composition
- The State Board of Psychology includes psychologist members and public members appointed by the Governor to regulate the profession and protect the public.
- Statute versus regulation
- The Act is statutory law; Chapter 41 regulations implement it and cannot exceed statutory authority. Where they conflict, the statute controls.
- Board rulemaking authority
- The Board may promulgate regulations to carry out the Act, including standards for licensure, supervision, continuing education, and ethical conduct.
- Doctoral degree requirement
- Licensure generally requires a doctoral degree in psychology from a regionally accredited institution or an equivalent program approved by the Board.
- Supervised experience requirement
- Applicants must complete Board-specified supervised postdoctoral experience with documented hours and supervisor qualifications before licensure.
- EPPP examination
- The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology is the national licensure exam that Pennsylvania applicants must pass as part of licensure.
- Biennial renewal and CE
- Pennsylvania psychology licenses renew biennially, and licensees must complete Board-required continuing education to maintain active status.
- Disciplinary sanctions
- The Board may reprimand, suspend, revoke, place on probation, fine, or require remediation for violations of the Act or regulations.
- Grounds for discipline
- Bases for Board action include unlicensed practice, fraud, incompetence, unethical conduct, impairment, and violations of the Act or regulations.
- Licensure by endorsement
- Psychologists licensed in other jurisdictions may seek Pennsylvania licensure by endorsement if they meet the Board's standards.
- Complaint investigation
- The Board may investigate complaints from the public or professionals and on its own motion, with authority to subpoena records and witnesses.
- Unlicensed practice defined
- Performing reserved psychological functions, such as assessment, diagnosis, or psychotherapy, without a valid Pennsylvania license.
- Supervised exception
- Students, interns, and supervisees may perform psychological functions under Board-approved supervision without holding an independent license.
- Misleading credentials
- Using titles, abbreviations, or advertisements that imply licensure when none exists can constitute misrepresentation or unlicensed practice.
- Employer liability
- Employers and supervisors may face consequences for permitting unlicensed persons to perform functions reserved to licensed psychologists.
- Telepsychology licensure
- Providing psychological services to clients located in Pennsylvania generally requires Pennsylvania licensure or an authorized interstate pathway.
- Penalties for unlicensed practice
- The Board may refer unlicensed practice for prosecution, and the Act authorizes civil fines and injunctive relief.
- Immoral or unprofessional conduct
- Broad statutory category covering sexual misconduct, exploitation, dishonesty, and conduct harming the public or the profession.
- APA Ethics Code
- Ethical standards incorporated by reference; violations may be disciplined even when not separately enumerated in the Act.
- Confidentiality limits
- Disclosure of client information is permitted only with consent, as required by law, or to prevent serious harm.
- Multiple relationships
- Secondary relationships with clients or their relatives must be avoided when they could impair objectivity or exploit the client.
- Informed consent
- Clients must be informed of the nature, risks, and alternatives of services and agree before treatment, assessment, or research participation.
- Record integrity
- Falsifying records or misrepresenting credentials constitutes unprofessional conduct subject to Board discipline.
- Out-of-practice misconduct
- Conduct outside professional practice, such as criminal convictions or fraud, may be disciplined if it bears on fitness to practice.
- Prevailing practice standard
- The standard is what a reasonably prudent psychologist with similar training would do under similar circumstances.
- Good faith clinical judgment
- Judgment evaluated by the decision process and documented rationale, not solely by outcome; consultation and guidelines support the defense.
- Valid assessment instruments
- Tests must be reliable, valid, and appropriate to the population and purpose, with interpretation consistent with norms and limitations.
- Documentation standards
- Records should include informed consent, diagnosis, interventions, progress, risk assessment, and safety planning to demonstrate good faith judgment.