The Board proposes a rule amendment to provide additional information regarding supervised experience requirements regarding telehealth.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Psychology

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B19-11.005Supervised Experience Requirements

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes a rule amendment to provide additional information regarding supervised experience requirements regarding telehealth.

SUMMARY: The amendment addresses supervised experience requirements regarding telehealth.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board concluded that this rule change will not have any impact on licensees and their businesses or the businesses that employ them. The rule will not increase any fees, business costs, personnel costs, will not decrease profit opportunities, and will not require any specialized knowledge to comply. This change will not increase any direct or indirect regulatory costs. Hence, the Board determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 490.004(4) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 490.005(1) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allen Hall, Executive Director, Board of Psychology, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3255.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B19-11.005 Supervised Experience Requirements.

The law requires 2 years or 4,000 hours of supervised experience for licensure by examination. The Board recognizes that the applicant’s internship satisfies 1 year or 2,000 of those hours. This rule concerns the remaining 1 year or 2,000 hours.

(1) Definitions. Within the context of this rule, the following definitions apply:

(a) through (b) No change. 

(c) “Supervisor.” A supervisor is either a licensed Florida psychologist in good standing with the Board, a psychologist practicing in Florida under an E-passport pursuant to the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact per section 490.0075, F.S., a telehealth provider registered in Florida pursuant to section 456.47, F.S., or a doctoral-level psychologist licensed in good standing in another state or United States territory or Canada providing supervision for licensure in that state or territory. However, where the psychology resident or post-doctoral fellow is on active duty with the armed services of the United States, employed full time by the United States as a civilian psychology resident or post-doctoral fellow to provide services to the armed services or to a veterans administration facility, or employed full time with the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons, the supervisor may be a doctoral-level psychologist licensed in good standing in any state or territory, regardless of where the supervision is conducted.  A supervisor may provide post-doctoral supervision to a resident or fellow who is providing services at a location other than the supervising psychologist’s premises. However, the supervisor must be licensed in the State or territory where the resident or fellow is providing services and the resident or fellow may not engage in the independent, private practice rendering of psychological services if there is not a seperate psychologist actually rendering psychological services on the premises where the resident or fellow is providing services. If an out-of-state telehealth provider registered under section 456.47, F.S., or a psychologist practicing in Florida under an E-passport under section 490.0075, F.S., is serving as a supervisor via remote supervision to a resident or fellow providing services in Florida, there must be an additional Florida licensed psychologist immediately accesible and available to the resident or fellow in case of emergency.

(d) through (e) No change.

(2) Requirements and Prohibitions. All applicants for licensure must complete at least 1 year or 2,000 hours of post doctoral experience under a supervisor whose supervision comports with subsection (3) of this rule.

(a) through (c) No change.

(d) A psychology resident or post-doctoral fellow may meet the aforementioned experience requirements through the use of synchronouns or asynchronouns telecommunications technology so long as they are doing so under the authority and supervision of a Supervisor pursuant to this rule. A resident or fellow may not use asynchronous telecommunications technology while obtaining the 900 hours in activities related to direct client contact.

(3) through (4) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 490.004(4) FS. Law Implemented 490.005(1) FS. History–New 11-18-92, Amended 7-14-93, Formerly 21U-11.007, Amended 6-14-94, Formerly 61F13-11.007, Amended 1-7-96, Formerly 59AA-11.005, Amended 12-4-97, 8-5-01, 7-27-04, 3-4-10, 8-15-11, 9-24-13, 3-1-17, 2-6-19, 6-4-23,                          .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Psychology

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Psychology

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 19, 2024

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: January 24, 2024