AN ACT to allow licensed psychological associates to practice independently if certain requirements are met.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑270.139 reads as rewritten:

§ 90‑270.139.  Application; examination; supervision; provisional and temporary licenses.

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(e)        A Except as provided in subsection (e1) of this section, a licensed psychological associate shall be supervised by a qualified licensed psychologist, or other qualified professionals, in accordance with Board rules specifying the format, setting, content, time frame, amounts of supervision, qualifications of supervisors, disclosure of supervisory relationships, the organization of the supervised experience, and the nature of the responsibility assumed by the supervisor. A Except as provided in subsection (e1) of this section, a licensed psychological associate who provides health services shall be supervised, for those activities requiring supervision, supervised by a qualified licensed psychologist holding health services provider certification or by other qualified professionals under the overall direction of a qualified licensed psychologist holding health services provider certification, in accordance with Board rules. Except as provided below, supervision, including the supervision of health services, is required only when a licensed psychological associate engages in: assessment of personality functioning; neuropsychological evaluation; psychotherapy, counseling, and other interventions with clinical populations for the purpose of preventing or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior; and, the use of intrusive, punitive, or experimental procedures, techniques, or measures. The Board shall adopt rules implementing and defining this provision, and as in the practice of psychology evolves, may identify additional activities requiring supervision in order to maintain acceptable standards of practice.psychology.

(e1)      A licensed psychological associate is not subject to supervision by a qualified licensed psychologist and may engage in independent practice if the licensed psychological associate meets all of the following requirements:

(1)        Has 3,000 hours of post‑graduate degree experience in the delivery of psychological services under the supervision of one or more qualified licensed psychologists within a time period of at least 24 consecutive months and less than 60 consecutive months.

(2)        Submits an application for independent practice with proof of the required supervision experience in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(e2)      The Board shall approve a licensed psychological associate to engage in independent practice if the licensed psychological associate meets the requirements of subsection (e1) of this section.

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SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 90‑270.153 reads as rewritten:

§ 90‑270.153.  Provision of health services; certification as health services provider.

(a)        Health services, as defined in G.S. 90‑270.136(4) and G.S. 90‑270.136(8), may be provided by qualified licensed psychological associates, qualified licensed psychologists holding provisional, temporary, or permanent licenses, or qualified applicants. Qualified licensed psychological associates, qualified Qualified licensed psychologists holding provisional or temporary licenses, or qualified applicants may provide health services only under supervision as specified in the duly adopted rules of the Board.

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SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2021.