Practicing Without a License; Use of Title; Exceptions

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Professions and Businesses
  4. Psychologists
  5. General Provisions
  6. Practicing Without a License; Use of Title; Exceptions

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A person who is not licensed under this article shall not practice psychology, shall not use the title "psychologist," and shall not imply that he or she is a psychologist. If any person shall practice psychology or hold himself or herself out as being engaged in the practice of psychology and shall not then possess in full force a valid license to practice psychology under the laws of this state, such person shall be in violation of this article. The following are exceptions:

  1. Nothing in this article shall require licensure for a person who is certified as a school psychologist by the Professional Standards Commission while that person is working as an employee in an educational institution recognized by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists as meeting satisfactory accreditation standards, provided that no fees are charged directly to clients or through a third party;
  2. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the teaching of psychology or the conduct of psychological research, provided that such teaching or research does not involve the delivery or supervision of direct psychological services to individuals or groups of individuals by an unlicensed person. Any person holding a doctoral degree in psychology while working as an employee in a research laboratory, college, or university recognized by the board as meeting satisfactory accreditation standards may use the title "psychologist" in conjunction with activities permitted by this paragraph, provided that no fees are charged directly to clients or through a third party;
  3. Nothing in this article shall require licensure for a person who was engaged in the practice of psychology as an employee of an agency or department of the state government, any of its political subdivisions, or community service boards as defined in Code Section 37-2-2 either prior to July 1, 1996, at a state intermediate care or skilled care facility for persons with mental retardation or prior to July 1, 1997, at any other facilities or offices of the entities previously mentioned, but only when that person is engaged in that practice as an employee of such entities;
  4. Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit the activities and services of a person in the employ of or serving for an established and recognized religious organization, provided that the title "psychologist" is not used by a person not licensed and that the person does not imply that he or she is a psychologist;
  5. Persons who hold a doctoral degree in psychology may practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist in order to obtain the experience required for licensure;
  6. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit any person from engaging in the lawful practice of medicine, nursing, professional counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy, as provided for under other state law, provided that such person shall not use the title "psychologist" nor imply that he or she is a psychologist;
  7. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent students, trainees, or assistants from engaging in activities defined as the practice of psychology, provided such persons are under the direct supervision and responsibility of a licensed psychologist and the student, trainee, or assistant does not represent himself or herself to be a psychologist. The board shall establish rules and regulations for the supervision of persons exempted under this paragraph;
  8. An individual licensed to practice psychology in another jurisdiction may practice psychology in Georgia without applying for a license, so long as the requirements for a license in the other jurisdiction are equal to or exceed the requirements for licensure in Georgia, and the psychologist limits that person's practice in Georgia to no more than 30 days per year, as defined in the rules and regulations of the board;
  9. An individual permitted the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology, temporary practice, or both, pursuant to the "Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (Psypact)" set out in Article 2 of this chapter may practice psychology in this state in accordance with the provisions of such compact; and
  10. Nothing in this article shall be construed as prohibiting any person licensed under Chapter 10A of this title from providing services he or she is authorized to perform under Chapter 10A of this title, including, but not limited to, administering and interpreting educational and vocational tests; functional assessments; interest inventories; tests that evaluate marital and family functioning; mental health symptom screening and assessment instruments that evaluate emotional, mental, behavioral, and interpersonal problems or conditions, including substance use, health, and disability; or any other assessments or tests which the person is qualified to employ by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience within the scope of practice of professional counselors. The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists shall have sole authority to regulate assessment and testing performed by persons licensed under Chapter 10A of this title.

(Ga. L. 1951, p. 408, § 6; Ga. L. 1970, p. 511, § 4; Ga. L. 1986, p. 473, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1147, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 355, § 2; Ga. L. 1993, p. 418, § 1; Ga. L. 1994, p. 224, § 2; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 43; Ga. L. 2016, p. 257, § 6/SB 319; Ga. L. 2019, p. 101, §§ 2, 4/HB 26.)

The 2016 amendment, effective April 26, 2016, deleted "and" at the end of paragraph (7); substituted "; and" for a period at the end of paragraph (8); and added paragraph (9).

The 2019 amendment, effective April 23, 2019, substituted "this article" for "this chapter" throughout this Code section; deleted "and" at the end of paragraph (8); added paragraph (9); and redesignated former paragraph (9) as present paragraph (10).

Cross references.

- False or fraudulent advertising, § 10-1-420 et seq.

Editor's notes.

- Ga. L. 2016, p. 257, § 1/SB 319, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "The General Assembly finds that the mental health and wellness needs of Georgia's citizens require the availability of trained mental health professionals who can accurately diagnose, treat, prescribe, and appropriately assess the mental and emotional illnesses, disorders, and conditions from which they suffer and the vocational, educational, interpersonal, and intrapersonal needs essential to living and learning how to live productive and useful lives. It is the intent of the General Assembly to assure geographical and financial access for all of Georgia's citizens to excellent mental health services to the extent that Georgia's resources and regulations permit. To these ends, Georgia regulates its licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers who provide graduate level professional services to Georgia's private and public mental health services and to its public mental health, educational, and vocational support systems. The General Assembly seeks in such regulatory process to protect the public and assure it receives high quality and appropriate services and to define the scopes of practice and diagnostic authority for each of these professional groups consistent with the graduate level training and supervision, or its equivalent, that the members of each profession have sought and successfully completed. The General Assembly has empowered and authorized the Georgia Composite Medical Board, the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, and the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists to fulfill these responsibilities and expects them to work together to assure a continuum of professional services that ensure appropriate diagnostic and assessment functions for each profession and the psychotherapeutic and counseling treatment services appropriate to each profession. The General Assembly recognizes that advances in medicine, science, education, training, and service delivery occur constantly in our modern history and therefore also expects the regulatory boards for each profession to assure that its licensees seek and successfully complete appropriate continuing education and training for the functions and services authorized to each profession."

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Unlicensed psychologist.

- Testimony from an unlicensed psychologist was not rendered inadmissible in a prosecution for child molestation and attempted child molestation based solely on a witness's lack of licensure as Georgia law carved out an exception to the licensing requirements for those witnesses who, like the state's expert, were practicing under supervision in order to obtain a license. Nelson v. State, 279 Ga. App. 859, 632 S.E.2d 749 (2006).

Cited in Cranford v. Cranford, 120 Ga. App. 470, 170 S.E.2d 844 (1969); Gladson v. State, 258 Ga. 885, 376 S.E.2d 362 (1989).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

ALR.

- Single or isolated transactions as falling within provisions of commercial or occupational licensing requirements, 93 A.L.R.2d 90.

Recovery back of money paid to unlicensed person required by law to have occupational or business license or permit to make contract, 74 A.L.R.3d 637.


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