Colorado § 12-245-304 - Qualifications - examinations - licensure and registration - rules.

§ 12-245-304. Qualifications - examinations - licensure and registration - rules.

(1) The board shall issue a license as a psychologist to each applicant who files an application in a form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245-205, and furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:

(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;

(b) Is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rules promulgated by the board;

(c) Has completed a doctorate degree with a major in psychology, or the equivalent to that major as determined by the board, from an approved school;

(d) Has had at least one year of postdoctoral experience practicing psychology under supervision approved by the board;

(e) Demonstrates professional competence by passing a single, written examination in psychology as prescribed by the board and a jurisprudence examination administered by the division; and

(f) On and after July 14, 2020, upon the initial application for licensure, has completed a name-based judicial record check, as defined in section 22-2-119.3 (6)(d), with satisfactory results as determined by the board.

(2) (a) The examination by the board described in subsection (1)(e) of this section shall be given not less than twice per year at such time and place and under such supervision as the board may determine.

(b) The examination shall test for knowledge of the following three areas:

(I) General psychology;

(II) Clinical and counseling psychology; and

(III) Application of the practice of clinical and counseling psychology, including knowledge of appropriate statutes and professional ethics.

(c) The board or its designated representatives shall administer and determine the pass or fail status of the examination and take any actions necessary to ensure impartiality. The board shall determine the passing score for the examination based upon a level of minimum competency to engage in the practice of psychology.

(3) (a) The board shall register as a psychologist candidate a person who files an application for registration, accompanied by the fee required by section 12-245-205, and who:

(I) Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person has met the requirements of subsections (1)(a), (1)(b), and (1)(c) of this section; and

(II) Repealed.

(III) Has passed a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.

(b) A psychologist candidate registered pursuant to this subsection (3) is under the jurisdiction of the board. If the requirements of subsections (1)(d) and (1)(e) of this section are not met within three years, the registration of the psychologist candidate is subject to the renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202. Prior to a second or subsequent renewal of a psychologist candidate registration, the registered psychologist candidate shall complete continuing professional development and educational hours to maintain the candidate's registration as a registered psychologist candidate.

(c) On or before December 31, 2024, the board shall begin the rule-making process to promulgate rules that bring the rules pertaining to psychologists into alignment with this part 3, including:

(I) A requirement to take and pass the Colorado jurisprudence examination to obtain a psychologist candidate registration;

(II) The renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202; and

(III) The continuing professional development and educational hours specified in subsection (3)(b) of this section.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1260, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(d), (1)(e), and (3)(b) amended and (1)(f) added, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, pp. 1535, 1548, §§ 23, 54, effective July 14. L. 2022: (1)(f) amended, (HB 22-1270), ch. 114, p. 517, § 15, effective April 21. L. 2024: (3)(a)(II) repealed, (3)(a)(III) and (3)(c) added, and (3)(b) amended, (SB 24-115), ch. 217, p. 1346, § 3, effective August 7.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-304 as it existed prior to 2019.