This message is from NASP President, Patti Harrison, regarding the MLA.
GREAT NEWS:
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This message is to update you on the
outcome regarding the school psychologist exemption in APA’s newly adopted Model Act for State Licensure of
Psychologists (MLA). We are very pleased to report that, earlier
today (February 20, 2010), the
APA Council of Representatives voted to retain the right of both specialist and
doctoral level school psychologists credentialed by State Education Agencies to
use the title “school psychologist.”
Please see the e-mail below from Bonnie Nastasi, President of APA Division 16.
We appreciate the APA Council’s serious attention to this issue and the efforts
of Division 16, and look forward to a shared commitment to ensure appropriate
mental health services for children and families.
Of course we could not have achieved this outcome without you. On behalf of the
entire NASP leadership, thank you for your membership and your role in enabling
NASP to so effectively represent school psychology.
Sincerely,
Patti L. Harrison, PhD, NCSP
NASP President
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From: Bonnie Nastasi [mailto:bonnastasi@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:51 PM
To: Harrison, Patti
Subject: Letter from President Division 16
Colleagues,
The Division of School Psychology was
able to successfully negotiate the following language, passed by the APA’s
Council of Representatives (CoR) today 2/20/2010. This language acknowledges
that State Education Agencies credential and title practitioners who work in the
schools (that may or may not hold a doctoral degree) and acknowledges that
State Boards of Psychology credentials practitioners for independent practice
(where a doctoral degree is required).
Nothing in this act shall be construed
to prevent (cite relevant state education authority or statutory provisions)
from credentialing individuals to provide school psychological services in
those settings that are under the purview of the state education
agency. Such individuals shall be restricted in their practice and the use
of the title so conferred, which must include the word "school", to
employment within those settings. This provision is not intended to
restrict the activities of licensed psychologists.
We are proud of the leadership of our
CoR representatives, Cindy Carlson, Frank Worrell, Beth Doll and MLA Task Force
Liaisons, Deborah Tharinger, Randy Kamphaus and Tammy Hughes, as well as the
support from Steve DeMers from ASPPB on behalf of the school psychology
community.
Sincerely,
Bonnie K. Nastasi, PhD
President, Division 16, APA
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
2007 Percival Stern Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
bnastasi@tulane.edu
bonnastasi@yahoo.com