A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending the psychology practice act to clarify requirements for permanent licensure.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑270.4(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e)	Subject to subsection (g) of this section, nothing in this Article shall be construed to prevent a qualified member of other professional groups licensed or certified under the laws of this State from rendering services within the scope of practice, as defined in the statutes regulating those professional practices, provided the person does not hold himself or herself out to the public by any title or description stating or implying that the person is a psychologist or licensed, certified, or registered to practice psychology."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 90‑270.4(g) reads as rewritten:
"(g)	Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if a person who is otherwise exempt from the provisions of this Article and not required to be licensed under this Article is or becomes licensed under this Article, he or she shall comply with all  Board rules and statutes applicable to all other psychologists licensed under this Article. These requirements apply regardless of whether the person holds himself or herself out to the public by any title or description stating or implying that the person is a psychologist, a licensed psychological associate, or licensed to practice psychology."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 90‑270.6 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑270.6.  Psychology Board; appointment; term of office; composition.
For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Article, there is created a North Carolina Psychology Board, which shall consist of seven members appointed by the Governor. At all times three members shall be licensed psychologists, two members shall be licensed psychological associates, and two members shall be members of the public who are not licensed under this Article. The Governor shall give due consideration to the adequate representation of the various fields and areas of practice of psychology and to adequate representation from various geographic regions in the State. Terms of office shall be three years. All terms of service on the Board expire June 30 in appropriate years. As the term of a psychologist member expires, or as a vacancy of a psychologist member occurs for any other reason, the North Carolina Psychological Association, or its successor, shall, having sought the advice of the chairs of the graduate departments of psychology in the State, for each vacancy, submit to the Governor a list of the names of three eligible persons. From this list the Governor shall make the appointment for a full term, or for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any. Each Board member shall serve until his or her successor has been appointed. As the term of a member expires, or if one should become vacant for any reason, the Governor shall appoint a new member within 60 days of the vacancy's occurring. No member, either public or licensed under this Article, shall serve more than three complete consecutive terms."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 90‑270.13(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Upon application and payment of the  required fee, the Board shall grant permanent licensure at the appropriate level to any person who, at the time of application meets all of the following requirements:
(1)	Is licensed or certified as a psychologist by a similar psychology licensing board in another jurisdiction.
(2)	The license or certification is in good standing.
(3)	Is a graduate of an institution of higher education.
(4)	Who passes an examination prescribed by the Board.
(5)	Meets the definition of a senior psychologist as that term is defined by the rules of the Board."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 90‑270.13 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(a1)	Upon application and payment of the required fee, the Board shall grant permanent licensure at the appropriate level to any person who, at the time of application meets all of the following requirements:
(1)	Is licensed or certified as a psychologist by a similar psychology licensing board in another jurisdiction.
(2)	The license or certification is in good standing.
(3)	Possesses a doctoral degree in psychology from an institution of higher education.
(4)	Passes an examination prescribed by the Board.
(5)	Has no unresolved complaints in any jurisdiction at the time of application in this State.
(6)	Holds a current credential for psychology licensure mobility, as defined in rules adopted by the Board."
SECTION 6.  G.S. 270.13(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	The Board may deny licensure to any person otherwise eligible for permanent licensure under this section upon documentation of conduct specified in G.S. 90‑270.15."
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.