Overview of Licensure Requirements to Meet "High Standard" in the United States and Canada.

Abstract

Ithough the history of licensure is well chronicled in other chapters of this book, it is important for students to understand that licensure has been established by the legislative bodies of each jurisdiction (U.S. state or Canadian province) for the purpose of protecting the public, not the profession (Hess, 1977). In enacting licensure for professionals, legislative bodies established requirements for the title and usually for the scope of practice of the professions they have chosen to regulate. The public can be assured that any person licensed in a profession has met the requirements of education, supervised experience, and independent examination required by law and is therefore entitled to publicly claim the title and practice the profession within the state or province. Unless specifically exempted from the law, a person who does not meet these requirements cannot legally refer to him-or herself as being a member of the profession, use the title, or practice in any area denned as within the scope of practice of the profession (Meyer & Altmaier, 1985;Wiens, 1983;Wiens & Dorken, 1986). Charlatans cannot and will not be licensed. Through this vehicle of professional licensure, the legislative bodies do no less than warranty the public trust.Licensure laws are generic. As such, all of the requirements for obtaining a license in psychology pertain to all

Considerations of Administrative Licensure, Provider Type, and Leadership Quality

“…Several states also require applicants to pass a jurisprudence/ethics exam (ASPPB, n.d.-b). Most states require 2 years of supervised experience (Vaughn, 2006), completed either prior to, or after, earning the doctoral degree. Continuing education is required to maintain the license in 43 states plus D.C. (ASPPB, n.d.-a).…”