201 KAR 26:230. Examinations

      Section 1. (1) The national examination shall be the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) examination contractor and owned by the ASPPB.

      (a) The EPPP shall be taken by computer administration.

      (b) The board shall submit to the ASPPB examination contractor a list of applicants eligible to sit for the examination.

      (2) The structured examinations shall cover Kentucky mental health law, ethical principles, and professional practice.

 

      Section 2. General Requirements. (1) An applicant for examination shall:

      (a) Submit a completed application as required by 201 KAR 26:155, Section 1 or 26:280, Section 1; and

      (b) Pay the applicable fee established in 201 KAR 26:160.

      (2) The applicant shall sit for the national (EPPP) examination within one (1) year of the notice of the application being approved by the board. An applicant may sit for the national (EPPP) examination at any approved ASPPB examination contractor testing center in the United States, U.S. Territories and Canada, but shall register and apply for licensure in only one (1) jurisdiction.

      (3) If an applicant loses eligibility to sit for the national (EPPP) examination because of failure to reschedule, cancel or appear to take the examination as stated in subsection (2) of this section:

      (a) The applicant shall forfeit all fees paid; and

      (b) Any temporary license issued to the applicant shall be terminated.

 

      Section 3. Examination for Licensure as a Licensed Psychologist. (1) The applicant shall pass:

      (a) The national (EPPP) examination in accordance with subsection (2) of this section; and

      (b) The structured examinations on Kentucky mental health law, ethical principles, and professional practice.

      (2) The applicant shall obtain an EPPP scaled score of 500 or greater or shall have obtained a previous national EPPP passing score which satisfied the doctoral licensure requirement as to criterion level at the time of that examination. The applicant shall be notified by the board of the score, as well as of passing or failing the examination.

      (3) If an applicant for licensure as a licensed psychologist fails the national (EPPP) examination, the candidate shall reapply to the board, pay the appropriate fee to the ASPPB examination contractor and be deemed eligible by the board to be permitted to sit again for the national (EPPP) examination.

      (a) The candidate shall continue to function under the supervision of the board-approved supervisor until:

      1. The national (EPPP) examination and structured examinations on Kentucky mental health law, ethical principles, and professional practice are successfully completed; or

      2. The temporary license is terminated.

      (b) The applicant for licensure as a licensed psychologist shall not be scheduled for the examination on Kentucky mental health law until the national (EPPP) examination has been successfully passed and the board has determined that the requirements for supervised experience for licensure as a licensed psychologist have been met.

      (4) In addition to demonstrating an acceptable level of knowledge of Kentucky mental health law, an applicant for licensure as a licensed psychologist shall submit to a structured oral examination administered by two (2) licensed psychologists approved by the board. The structured oral examination shall not be required for an applicant who holds a Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) issued by the ASPPB or a successor organization or is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) or a successor organization or holds a current license in good standing from a jurisdiction with a reciprocity agreement with this board.

      (a) This structured oral examination shall cover ethical principles and professional practice. The applicant shall demonstrate an acceptable level of knowledge in each of the areas in order to pass the examination.

      (b) Each examiner shall independently rate the applicant's performance.

      (c) An applicant who receives a pass rating from each of the examiners shall have successfully passed the structured oral examination.

      (5) If the applicant fails the first structured oral examination, the applicant may reapply with a remediation plan.

      (a) Upon completion of the remediation plan approved by the board, the applicant shall be administered a structured oral examination by a second team composed in the same manner as the first team.

      (b) If the second structured oral examination is failed, the applicant may reapply with a remediation plan approved by the board.

      (c) Upon completion of the approved remediation plan, the applicant shall be administered a structured oral examination by a team of the licensed psychologist members of the board and appointed examiners as needed.

      (d) A majority of the examining team shall rate the applicant as having passed or failed the structured oral examination on ethical principles and professional practice.

      (6) If the applicant for licensure as a licensed psychologist fails to pass the structured oral examination, and wishes to apply to be credentialed as a licensed psychological associate, a completed application and the appropriate fee, as required by 201 KAR 26:160, shall be submitted. The board shall accept the applicant's previous examination results to satisfy the requirements as to criteria level.

 

      Section 4. Examination for Licensure as a Licensed Psychological Practitioner. (1) The applicant shall pass:

      (a) A national (EPPP) examination unless the applicant’s previous examination results for the national (EPPP) examination satisfied the doctoral licensure requirement as to criterion level at the time of that examination; or

      (b) The applicant shall obtain a computerized national (EPPP) scaled score of 500 or greater. The applicant shall be notified by the board of the score, as well as of passing or failing the examination.

      (2) Pursuant to KRS 319.050(3), an applicant for licensure as a licensed psychological practitioner who has been approved to sit for the national (EPPP) examination shall continue to be supervised until all requirements for licensure as a licensed psychological practitioner have been completed.

      (3) If an applicant for licensure as a licensed psychological practitioner fails to obtain a scaled score of 500 or greater on the EPPP examination, the candidate may reapply to the board, pay the appropriate fee to the ASPPB examination contractor and be permitted to sit for the national (EPPP) examination again.

      (4) The applicant for licensure as a licensed psychological practitioner shall not be scheduled for the examination on Kentucky mental health law until the national (EPPP) examination has been successfully passed and the required five (5) years of supervised experience or its equivalent have been approved by the board.

      (5) In addition to demonstrating an acceptable level of knowledge of Kentucky mental health law, an applicant for licensure as a licensed psychological practitioner shall submit to a structured oral examination administered by an examination team consisting of at least one (1) licensed psychologist and either a certified psychologist with autonomous functioning or a licensed psychological practitioner.

      (a) This structured oral examination shall cover ethical principles and professional practice. The applicant shall demonstrate an acceptable level of knowledge in each of the areas in order to pass the examination.

      (b) Each examiner shall independently rate the applicant's performance, using the same criteria as the structured oral examination for licensed psychologist candidates.

      (c) An applicant who receives a pass rating from each of the examiners shall have successfully passed the structured oral examination.

      (6) If the applicant fails the first structured oral examination, the applicant may reapply and shall be administered a structured oral examination by a second team composed in the same manner as the first team.

      (7) If the applicant fails the second oral examination, the applicant may reapply and shall be administered a structured oral examination by a team of the licensed members of the board and appointed examiners as needed. A majority of the examining team shall rate the applicant as having passed the examination.

 

      Section 5. Examination for Licensure as a Psychological Associate. (1) The applicant shall:

      (a) Obtain a national (EPPP) scaled score of 400 or greater; or

      (b) Have obtained an EPPP passing score for licensure at the master's level in effect at the time of the applicant's previous national (EPPP) examination.

      (c) The applicant shall be notified by the board of the score, as well as of passing or failing the examination.

      (2) Pursuant to KRS 319.064(3), an applicant for licensure as a licensed psychological associate who has been approved to sit for the national (EPPP) examination and whose supervisory arrangement has been approved by the board shall be considered to be functioning under a temporary license.

      (3) If an applicant for licensure as a psychological associate fails the national (EPPP) examination, the applicant shall:

      (a) File a remediation plan, cosigned by the supervisor within thirty (30) days of notice of failure; and

      (b) Be eligible to retake the national (EPPP) examination upon approval of the plan by the board. (14 Ky.R. 528; eff. 10-2-87; Am. 15 Ky.R. 1685; eff. 3-10-89; 24 Ky.R. 1132; 1667; eff. 2-17-98; 28 Ky.R. 1481; 1817; eff. 2-7-2002; 31 Ky.R. 1012; 1514; eff. 3-8-05; 37 Ky.R. 1535; 1985; eff. 3-4-2011.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 319.032(1)(a), 319.050, 319.053, 319.064

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 319.032(1)(a)

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 319.032(1)(a) requires the board to promulgate an administrative regulation establishing the examination requirements for an applicant for licensure. KRS 319.050(1) and 319.064(1)(c) require an applicant to successfully complete the required examination prior to licensure. This administrative regulation establishes the examination requirements.