Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63, Chapter 11.

Present law requires a licensed psychologist who provides or offers health services to the public to be designated by the board of examiners in psychology as a health service provider. In addition to the requirements for licensure as a psychologist, an applicant for designation as a health service provider must generally demonstrate to the board that the applicant has had at least a one-year internship of no less than 1,900 hours in psychology at a site where health services are normally provided and that is part of an organized integrated training program. Such internships must be approved by the American Psychological Association or listed by the Association of Psychological Post-Doctoral and Internship Centers, or equivalent standards as are determined by the board. This bill removes the minimum requirement of 1,900 hours in psychology in order for a licensed psychologist applicant to be designated as a health service provider. Additionally, this bill authorizes the board to designate as a health service provider, a person who has held a valid license or certificate in another state to practice psychology for at least 10 years within the last 15 years preceding the date of application and whose previous license or certification required training that is generally equivalent to the licensing standards of a doctoral degree in psychology; one year of internship in an organized integrated training program at a site delivering health services; and one year of postdoctoral training delivering health services. The applicant further must have never been the subject of disciplinary action and have engaged in practice as a health service provider in psychology in another state. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 953, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 authorizes the board of examiners in psychology to promulgate emergency rules in order to effectuate the licensing standards required under this bill. This amendment also changes the effective date of this bill to upon becoming a law for purposes of rule promulgation and January 1, 2024, for all other purposes.