CHAPTER 154B
PSYCHOLOGY

 
Enforcement, §147.87, 147.92

Penalty, §147.86

  154B.1  Definition.
  “Practice of psychology” means the application of established principles of learning, motivation, perception, thinking, and emotional relations to problems of behavior adjustment, group relations, and behavior modification, by persons trained in psychology for compensation or other personal gain. The application of principles includes, but is not limited to:  Counseling and the use of psychological remedial measures with persons, in groups or individually, with adjustment or emotional problems in the areas of work, family, school and personal relationships; measuring and testing personality, intelligence, aptitudes, public opinion, attitudes, and skills; and the teaching of such subject matter, and the conducting of research on the problems relating to human behavior.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §154B.1]

  154B.2  Practice not authorized.
  This chapter shall not authorize the practice of medicine and surgery or the practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery by any person not licensed pursuant to chapter 148.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §154B.2]
2008 Acts, ch 1088, §108

  154B.3  Persons not required to qualify.
  The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following persons:
  1.  School psychologists certified by the department of education practicing and functioning within the scope of their employment in either a public or private school or performing as certified school psychologists at any time in either private practice or the public sector, provided they use the title “certified school psychologist”.
  2.  An employee of an accredited academic institution while performing the employee’s teaching, training, and research duties.
  3.  An employee of a federal, state, county or local governmental institution or agency or nonprofit institution or agency, or a research facility, while performing duties of the office or position with such institution, agency, or facility.
  4.  A student of psychology, psychological intern or person preparing for the practice of psychology in a training institution or facility approved by the board, provided the person is designated by the title “psychological trainee” or any similar title, clearly indicating training status.
  5.  A practicing psychologist for a period not to exceed ten consecutive business days or fifteen business days in any ninety-day period, if the person’s residence and major practice are outside the state, and the person gives the board a summary of the person’s intention to practice in the state of Iowa, if the person is certified or licensed in the state in which the person resides under requirements the board considers to be equivalent of requirements for licensing under this chapter, or the person resides in a state which does not certify or license psychologists and the board considers the person’s professional qualifications to be the equivalent of requirements for licensing under this chapter.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §154B.3]

  154B.4  Acts prohibited.
  Commencing July 1, 1975, a person who is not licensed under this chapter shall not claim to be a licensed practicing psychologist, use a title or description, including the term “psychology” or any of its derivatives, such as “psychologist”, “psychological”, “psychotherapist” or modifiers such as “practicing” or “licensed” in a manner which implies that the person is certified under this chapter, or offer to practice or practice psychology, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter. The use by a person who is not licensed under this chapter of such terms is not prohibited by this chapter, except when such terms are used in connection with an offer to practice or the practice of psychology.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §154B.4]

  154B.5  Scope of chapter.
  Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent qualified members of other professional groups such as physicians, osteopathic physicians, optometrists, chiropractors, members of the clergy, authorized Christian Science practitioners, attorneys at law, social workers, or guidance counselors from performing functions of a psychological nature consistent with the accepted standards of their respective professions, if they do not use any title or description stating or implying that they are psychologists or are certified to practice psychology.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §154B.5]
2009 Acts, ch 133, §59

  154B.6  Requirements for licensure.
  1.  Except as provided in this section, an applicant for licensure as a psychologist shall meet the following requirements in addition to those specified in chapter 147:
  a.  Except as provided in this section, after July 1, 1985, a new applicant for licensure as a psychologist shall possess a doctoral degree in psychology from an institution approved by the board and shall have completed at least one year of supervised professional experience under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
  b.  Have passed an examination administered by the board to assure the applicant’s professional competence. The examination of any of its divisions may be given by the board at any time after the applicant has met the degree requirements of this section.
  c.  Have not failed the examination required in paragraph “b” within sixty days preceding the date of the subsequent examination.
  2.  The examinations required in this section may, at the discretion of the board, be waived for holders by examination of licenses or certificates from states whose requirements are substantially equivalent to those of this chapter, and for holders by examination of specialty diplomas from the American board of professional psychology.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §154B.6]
84 Acts, ch 1122, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1184, §96; 2007 Acts, ch 22, §40

  154B.7  Health service provider in psychology.
  A certified health service provider in psychology means a person licensed to practice psychology who has a doctoral degree in psychology, or prior to July 1, 1984 was licensed at the doctoral level with a degree in psychology or its equivalent, or was prior to January 1, 1984 licensed as a psychologist in this state and prior to January 1, 1985 receives a doctoral degree equivalent to a doctoral degree in psychology, and who has at least two years of clinical experience in a recognized health service setting or meets the standards of a national register of health service providers in psychology. A person certified as a health service provider in psychology shall be deemed qualified to diagnose or evaluate mental illness and nervous disorders, and to treat mental illnesses and nervous disorders, excluding those mental illnesses and nervous disorders which are established as primarily of biological etiology with the exception of the treatment of the psychological and behavioral aspects of those mental illnesses and nervous disorders.
84 Acts, ch 1122, §2

  154B.8  Voluntary surrender of license.
  The director of public health may accept the voluntary surrender of license if accompanied by a written statement of intention. The voluntary surrender, when accepted, shall have the same force and effect as an order of revocation.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §154B.7]