CHAPTER 455
PSYCHOLOGY EXAMINING BOARD
455.02 License required to practice; use of titles.
455.03 Temporary practice.
455.04 Licensure of psychologists and private practice school psychologists.
455.065 Continuing education requirements.
455.08 Rules and code of ethics.
455.09 Denial, limitation, suspension, revocation and reprimand.
455.10 Injunctive relief.
Ch. 455 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See definitions in s.
440.01.
Ch. 455 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also
Psy, Wis. adm. code.
455.01
455.01
Definitions. In this chapter:
455.01(2)
(2) "Doctoral degree in psychology" means a doctoral degree in a study which involves the application of principles of the practice of psychology. A doctoral degree granted as the result of study involving one or more of the areas of psychological practice recognized by the American psychological association or in any other field recognized by the examining board shall be considered a doctoral degree in psychology.
455.01(3)
(3) "Examining board" means the psychology examining board.
455.01(3m)
(3m) "Fee" means direct or indirect payment or compensation, monetary or otherwise, including the expectation of payment or compensation whether or not actually received.
455.01(4)
(4) "Licensed psychologist" means a person holding a valid license under
s. 455.04 (1).
455.01(5)
(5) "Practice of psychology" means rendering to any person for a fee a psychological service involving the application of principles, methods and procedures of understanding, predicting and influencing behavior, such as the principles pertaining to learning, perception, motivation, thinking, emotions and interpersonal relationships; the methods and procedures of interviewing, counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and biofeedback; and the methods and procedures of constructing, administering and interpreting tests of mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotion and motivation. The application of these principles and methods includes, but is not restricted to, all of the following:
455.01(5)(a)
(a) Psychological diagnosis, prevention and treatment of problems in behavioral, vocational, educational, emotional, sexual, neuropsychological and mental disorders.
455.01(5)(b)
(b) Treatment for alcohol and other substance abuse, disorders of habit and conduct, and the psychological and behavioral aspects of physical illness, accident or other disabilities.
455.01(5)(c)
(c) Any other activity authorized by statute or by rules promulgated by the examining board.
455.01(6)
(6) "Psychotherapy" means the use of learning, conditioning methods and emotional reactions in a professional relationship to assist persons to modify feelings, attitudes and behaviors which are intellectually, socially or emotionally maladjustive or ineffectual.
455.01(7)(a)(a) A person makes a representation to be a psychologist when the person uses publicly any title or description of services incorporating the words "psychology", "psychological" or "psychologist", and when the person makes a declaration to be trained, experienced or an expert in the field of psychology and offers to engage or engages in the practice of psychology for any person for a fee.
455.01(7)(b)
(b) Nothing in this chapter restricts the use of the term "social psychologist" by any person who has been graduated with a doctoral degree in sociology or social psychology from an institution whose credits in sociology or social psychology are acceptable by a recognized educational institution, who has passed comprehensive examinations in the field of social psychology as part of the requirements for a doctoral degree or has had equivalent specialized training in social psychology and who has filed with the examining board a statement of the facts demonstrating compliance with this paragraph.
455.02
455.02
License required to practice; use of titles. 455.02(1m)(1m)
License required to practice. Except as provided in
s. 257.03, no person may engage in the practice of psychology or the private practice of school psychology, or attempt to do so or make a representation as authorized to do so, without a license issued by the examining board.
455.02(2m)
(2m) Exceptions. A license under this chapter is not required for any of the following:
455.02(2m)(a)
(a) A person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, certificate or certification granted by this state.
455.02(2m)(b)
(b) A person providing psychological services as directed, supervised and inspected by a psychologist who has the power to direct, decide and oversee the implementation of the services provided.
455.02(2m)(c)
(c) The performance of official duties by personnel of any of the armed services or federal health services of the United States.
455.02(2m)(d)
(d) A person employed in a position as a psychologist or psychological assistant by an accredited college, junior college or university or other academic or research institution, if the person is performing activities that are a part of the duties for which he or she is employed, is performing those activities solely within the confines of or under the jurisdictions of the institution in which he or she is employed and does not render or offer to render psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she receives for the performance of the official duties with the institution with which he or she is employed. An individual acting under this paragraph may, without obtaining a license under
s. 455.04 (1) or
(4), disseminate research findings and scientific information to others, such as accredited academic institutions or governmental agencies, or may offer lecture services for a fee.
455.02(2m)(e)
(e) A person pursuing a course of study leading to a graduate degree in medicine, social work, marriage and family therapy or professional counseling at an accredited college or university while working in a training program, if the person's activities and services constitute a part of his or her supervised course of study and the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates the training status appropriate to the person's level of training.
455.02(2m)(f)
(f) A graduate student or psychological intern in psychology pursuing a course of study leading to a graduate degree in psychology at an accredited college or university while working in a training program, if his or her activities and services constitute a part of the supervised course of study and he or she is designated by a title such as "psychological intern", "psychological trainee" or other title clearly indicating the training status appropriate to his or her level of training. The term "psychological intern" shall be reserved for persons enrolled in the doctoral program in psychology at an accredited college or university or engaged in a formal psychology internship program.
455.02(2m)(g)
(g) A person certified by the department of public instruction to provide psychological or counseling services, if the person is performing activities that are a part of the duties for which he or she is employed, is performing those activities solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the school district by which he or she is employed and does not render or offer to render psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she receives for the performance of the official duties with the school district by which he or she is employed.
455.02(2m)(h)
(h) A person who has a doctoral degree in psychology and who has met the examining board's requirements for predoctoral supervised experience under
s. Psy 2.09 (2), Wis. Adm. Code, while employed as a psychology resident by a clinic certified by the department of health services.
Effective date note
NOTE: Section Psy 2.09 (2), Wis. Adm. Code was repealed eff. 7-1-99 by Rule Order CR 98-206 published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register, June, 1999, No. 522.
455.02(2m)(i)
(i) An ordained member of the clergy of any religious denomination or sect who is associated with a church, synagogue or other religious organization, contributions to which are tax deductible for federal and state income tax purposes, if the member of the clergy is engaged in activities that are within the scope of his or her regular duties as a member of the clergy and that are not rendered to the public for a fee over and above the salary or other compensation that the member of the clergy receives for the performance of his or her official duties as a member of the clergy with the church, synagogue or religious organization with which he or she is associated.
455.02(2m)(k)
(k) A person engaged in employment counseling or testing for other than therapeutic purposes.
455.02(2m)(L)
(L) A mental health professional who has met all of the qualifications under
s. DHS 61.96, Wis. Adm. Code, for employment as a mental health professional in an outpatient psychotherapy clinic certified by the department of health services under
s. DHS 61.95, Wis. Adm. Code, if the person is performing activities that are a part of the duties for which he or she is employed by such a certified outpatient psychotherapy clinic and is performing those activities solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the clinic by which he or she is employed.
455.02(2m)(m)
(m) A person providing psychological services as an employee of a federal, state or local governmental agency, if the person is providing the psychological services as a part of the duties for which he or she is employed, is providing the psychological services solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the agency by which he or she is employed and does not provide or offer to provide psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she receives for the performance of the official duties with the agency by which he or she is employed.
455.02(2m)(n)
(n) A person coordinating or participating in the activities of a nonprofit peer support group, if the person performs those activities solely within the confines of the peer support group and does not render or offer to render psychological services to the public for a fee.
455.02(3m)
(3m) Use of titles. Except as provided in
s. 257.03, only an individual licensed under
s. 455.04 (1) may use the title "psychologist" or any similar title or state or imply that he or she is licensed to practice psychology, and only an individual licensed under
s. 455.04 (4) may use the title "private practice school psychologist" or any similar title or state or imply that he or she is licensed to engage in the private practice of school psychology. Except as provided in
s. 257.03, only an individual licensed under
s. 455.04 (1) or
(4) may represent himself or herself to the public by any description of services incorporating the word "psychological" or "psychology".
455.03
455.03
Temporary practice. A psychologist who is licensed or certified by a similar examining board of another state or territory of the United States or of a foreign country or province whose standards, in the opinion of the examining board, are equivalent to or higher than the requirements for licensure as a psychologist in
s. 455.04 (1) may offer services as a psychologist in this state for not more than 60 working days in any year without holding a license issued under
s. 455.04 (1). The psychologist shall report to the examining board the nature and extent of his or her practice in this state if it exceeds 20 working days within a year.
455.03 History
History: 1989 a. 243.
455.04
455.04
Licensure of psychologists and private practice school psychologists. 455.04(1)
(1) The department shall issue a psychologist license to an individual who submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department, pays the fee specified in
s. 440.05 (1) or, if
sub. (3) applies, the fee specified in
s. 440.05 (2), and is found by the examining board to meet all of the following requirements:
455.04(1)(c)
(c) Hold a doctoral degree in psychology from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency approved by the state board of education in the state in which the college or university is located, or have had other academic training or specialized experience, which in the opinion of the board is equivalent thereto. The board may require examinations to determine the equivalence of such training and experience and may also require examinations for individuals holding doctoral degrees in psychology from non-American universities.
455.04(1)(d)
(d) Have had at least one year of appropriate experience in psychological work under conditions satisfactory to the examining board in addition to satisfying
par. (c). However, the examining board may not adopt rules requiring an internship.
455.04(1)(e)
(e) Pass the examination under
s. 455.045 (1) (a). This paragraph does not apply to an applicant who is licensed as a psychologist in another state if the applicant submits proof of completion of continuing educational programs or courses approved under
s. 455.065 (4) for the minimum number of hours required in the rules promulgated under
s. 455.065 (3).
