Chapter 502: CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL
§13022. School psychologists
1.Definitions.
For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "School psychologist" means a professional certified by the department as a school psychologist who provides school psychological
services consistent with the national standards articulated by the most current Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School
Psychological Services as published by the National Association of School Psychologists. "School psychologist" includes a
school psychologist - doctoral and a school psychologist - specialist. [2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
B. "School psychologist - doctoral" means a professional who meets the qualifications established in subsection 3 and holds a
doctoral degree in psychology or a related field as determined by the advisory committee established in subsection 7. [2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
C. "School psychologist - specialist" means a professional who meets the qualifications established in subsection 3 and holds
a master's degree or specialist-level degree. [2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
1-A.Scope of services.
A school psychologist delivers services to children from birth to grade 12 who are eligible to be enrolled in educational
and intermediate educational units, special education programs and approved private schools. The services delivered are the
services articulated under the domains of practice in the current Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological
Services developed and published by the National Association of School Psychologists.
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW)
.]
2.Certification by commissioner.
The commissioner shall certify school psychologists pursuant to rules adopted by the state board. The rules must include practice standards for certified school psychologists that follow national standards set forth by the National Association of School Psychologists
or a successor organization and ethics standards set forth by the National Association of School Psychologists or a successor
organization and the American Psychological Association or a successor organization, violation of which constitutes grounds for suspension or revocation of the certification.
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
3.Qualifications.
State board rules governing the qualifications for a school psychologist certificate must require that a certificate be issued only to an applicant who has met the academic and preprofessional requirements
established by the state board for the provision of school psychological services and who, at a minimum:
A. Holds a graduate degree from an accredited program in school psychology that was approved by the National Association of School
Psychologists/National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education or the American Psychological Association in School
Psychology at the time the degree was awarded; [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
B. Has completed graduate work that is determined by the commissioner to be substantially similar to the programs referred to
in paragraph A; or [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
C. Holds a valid license from the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists with demonstrated competency in the area of school
psychology as established by the state board. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
4.Term of issuance.
The commissioner shall issue a school psychologist certificate for a term of years consistent with rules adopted by the state board. The length of the term may vary among
certificate holders so as to be coterminous with any other professional license or certificate held by the school psychologist. The school psychologist certificate may be renewed in accordance with academic and professional requirements established by the state board. A certificate holder must be supervised for the first year following initial certification at no additional cost to the school
administrative unit or the department. The state board shall require evidence of supervision prior to renewing a first-year
certificate. Supervision of the first-year school psychologist must be in accordance with supervision standards established
by the National Association of School Psychologists or a successor organization and provided by a person who is certified
as a school psychologist under subsection 2 and is:
A. A member of the Maine Association of School Psychology or a successor organization; or [2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
B. Employed by or under contract with a school administrative unit. [2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
5.Exclusive regulatory authority.
The provisions of Title 32, chapter 56 do not apply to persons certified as school psychologists under this section except to the extent that the persons are also licensed or seek licensure under that chapter, engage in the practice of psychology beyond the scope of
this section or hold themselves out as psychologists or psychological examiners.
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
6.Designation.
Persons certified under this section may hold themselves out as school psychologists but must include the word "school" in the designation, or as nationally certified school psychologists if they
hold the credentials as designated by the National Association of School Psychologists or a successor organization. Persons
certified under this section may not hold themselves out as psychologists, psychological examiners or any business name incorporating
variations of those titles other than school psychologists or nationally certified school psychologists unless they are appropriately licensed under Title 32, chapter 56.
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
7.Advisory committee.
There is established within the department, in accordance with Title 5, section 12004-I, the Advisory Committee on School Psychologists, referred to in this subsection as "the committee."
A. The duties of the committee are:
(1) To advise the state board in the adoption of rules and a code of ethics and practice standards for school psychologists; and
(2) To assist the commissioner in:
(i) Certifying school psychologists;
(ii) Investigating alleged violations of the code of ethics and practice standards adopted by the state board; and
(iii) Investigating alleged violations of section 13020 and certification rules governing school psychologists. [2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
B. The committee consists of 9 members appointed by the commissioner. The membership consists of 2 certified school psychologists, 2 licensed psychologists, one faculty member from a graduate program in school psychology, one educator from a public school
or approved private school and 3 parents or guardians of students. [2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
C. Three members of the committee must be initially appointed for a term of one year, 3 for a term of 2 years and 3 for a term
of 3 years. All appointments must be for a term of 3 years thereafter. Any member may serve beyond the expiration date of
that member's term until a successor has been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy on the committee must be filled for the
unexpired portion of the term. The committee shall elect its own chair. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
D. Members of the committee are entitled to receive compensation according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379. [1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
8.Transition.
Persons certified as school psychological service providers and school psychological examiners on or after October 13, 1993 may continue to provide the services authorized by their respective certificates until the scheduled expiration of those
certificates. The state board's rules must contain a schedule affording all certified school psychological service providers a reasonable amount of time to meet the requirements of the certificate authorized by subsection 2.
[
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD)
.]
SECTION HISTORY
1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).
2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).
Data for this page extracted on 10/16/2012 08:29:43.