Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee Title 1180 - Board of Examiners in Psychology
The Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee, Title 1180 - Board of Examiners in Psychology, establish the legal framework for the licensure, practice, and professional conduct of psychologists, senior psychological examiners, psychological examiners, and certified psychological assistants within Tennessee. This title ensures the protection of the public's health, safety, and welfare by setting standards for qualification and practice.
Here's a breakdown of the key chapters and what they generally cover:
Chapter 1180-01 - General Rules Governing the Practice of Psychologists, Senior Psychological Examiners, Psychological Examiners, and Certified Psychological Assistants: This is the foundational chapter and covers a wide range of critical topics, including:
Definitions: Clarifies terms used throughout the regulations, such as "practice of psychologist," "health service provider (HSP)," "internship," and different license categories.
Necessity of Licensure and Certification: Outlines who needs a license or certification to practice psychology in Tennessee and the titles they are permitted to use.
Fees: Details the various application, licensure, and renewal fees.
Application Review, Approval, Denial, and Interviews: Describes the process for applying for a license, including educational requirements (doctoral degree from an APA-approved or National Register-designated program), supervised professional experience (SPE) hours (e.g., 1900 pre-doctoral internship, 1900 post-doctoral for HSP designation), and examinations (EPPP and Tennessee Jurisprudence Exam).
Renewal of License or Certification: Procedures for renewing licenses, including payment of fees and compliance with continuing education requirements.
Patient Records: Specific rules regarding the creation, content, transfer, retention (minimum 7 years, longer for minors or incompetent patients), and destruction of patient records. This includes what information must be included in records and what is not considered part of the patient record (e.g., raw test data).
Retirement and Reactivation of License or Certificate: How to retire a license and the requirements for reactivating it after periods of non-practice.
Continuing Education: Crucial for renewal. Psychologists, Senior Psychological Examiners, and Psychological Examiners are generally required to obtain 40 hours of continuing education (CE) credit every two years. Specific requirements include:
A minimum of 20 hours must involve "real-time interaction."
At least 9 hours must be from an APA-approved sponsor.
3 hours must pertain to cultural diversity.
3 hours must pertain to a combination of Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 11 (Statutes), Official Compilation, Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee, Chapters 1180-01, 1180-02, 1180-03, and 1180-04, and professional ethics for psychologists.
Professional Ethics: Refers to the ethical standards for psychologists, often aligning with the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct published by the American Psychological Association (APA), which are considered enforceable rules in Tennessee.
Disciplinary Grounds, Actions, Civil Penalties, Settlements, and Screening Panels: Outlines the reasons for disciplinary action, the types of penalties the Board can impose (fines, suspension, revocation), and the process for investigations and hearings.
License or Certificate: General information regarding the issuance and display of licenses.
Change of Address and/or Name: Procedures for updating licensee information.
Mandatory Release of Patient Records: Conditions under which patient records must be released.
Board Meetings, Officers, Consultants, Records, and Declaratory Orders: Rules governing the operations of the Board itself.
Advertising and Other Public Statements: Regulations concerning how licensees can advertise and make public statements to ensure they are not false or deceptive.
Consumer Right-to-Know Requirements: Information that must be provided to consumers.
Chapter 1180-02 - Rules of Procedure for Hearing Contested Cases: Details the formal legal process for administrative hearings when a licensee contests a disciplinary action or a license application is denied.
Chapter 1180-03 - Rules for Certified Psychological Assistants: Specific regulations pertaining to the certification and scope of practice for certified psychological assistants, including supervision requirements.
Chapter 1180-04 - Supervisors of Psychological Assistants: Rules outlining the responsibilities and qualifications of psychologists who supervise certified psychological assistants.
Key highlights for individuals seeking licensure or practicing psychology in Tennessee:
Doctoral Degree: A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-approved or National Register-designated program is a fundamental requirement.
Supervised Experience: Significant supervised experience hours (e.g., 3,800 total for HSP designation) are mandatory, including both pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral hours.
Examinations: Passing the national EPPP exam and the Tennessee Jurisprudence Exam is required.
Continuing Education: Strict continuing education requirements must be met biennially for license renewal, including specific hours in cultural diversity and Tennessee law/ethics.
Ethical Conduct: Adherence to the APA's Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct is paramount and enforceable by the Board.
Patient Record Keeping: Detailed regulations govern the creation, content, and retention of patient records.
Where to find the full text of these rules and regulations:
Tennessee Secretary of State Publications: This is the most official and up-to-date source for the rules: oards (Psychology Board): This official state website provides information, statutes, and rules related to the Board of Examiners in Psychology:
Legal Information Institutes (LII) like Cornell Law School or Justia: These platforms often provide compilations of state regulations:
It is highly advisable for anyone practicing or seeking to practice psychology in Tennessee to regularly consult these official resources for the most current and accurate information.
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