New Jersey Psychological Association

NJPA-BoPE Report

New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners: June 8,2015 Session

  1. NJPA Regulation Recommendations

The BoPE accepted the NJPA regulations recommendations for review and will hold them for consideration. However, the Board will only make minor changes to the regulations before they expire in July 2016. The BoPE is concerned that making major changes before the sunset of the regulations may jeopardize their adoption and result in no regulations for the practice of psychology. The BoPE agreed to work with NJPA on reviewing and revising the regulations beginning in October, 2015.

  1. Temporary Permits

Three-year temporary permits were approved for 13applicants. One applicant was approved for a one-year permit.

  1. Correspondence

Correspondence was approved for extension of two three-year supervised permits and for acceptance of an applicant’s dissertation as “psychological in nature.”

NJPA’s Jurisprudence Webinar and the included disclaimer werediscussed, as was an alternative to the NJPA Webinar and current Jurisprudence Exam entitled, “Jurisprudence Orientation.” The BoPE will not use the NJPA Webinar because the Board cannot be viewed as having any kind of marketing relationship with NJPA. Also, the Webinar was to be used by out-of-state applicants but an issue was raised at this meeting that there must be consistency between the evaluation requirements of in-state and out-of-state licensure applicants. Therefore the NJPA Webinar will not be used.

Further, the current Jurisprudence Examination utilized by the BoPE may be dropped completely in favor of a Jurisprudence Orientation. “Orientations” using a “Q and A format” are starting to be used by other NJ State Professional Boards.

  1. Report of Permit Conference

Results of three permit conferences were discussed and accepted.

  1. Executive Director Report

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The license renewal process is underway and continuing.

  1. Public Comments

Barry Mitchell, PhD, NJPA President-Elect and Keira Boertzel-Smith, Esq. NJPA

Executive Director attended this BoPE meeting. Dr. Mitchell addressed the Board regarding the Regulations Recommendations from NJPA. The Board agreed to work with NJPA regarding reviewing and revising the Psychology regulations beginning October 2015 but the BoPE will only consider making minor changes before the sunset of the regulations. Dr. Mitchell and Keira Boertzel-Smith were available for questions and discussion during this Board meeting.

VII. The next meeting of the BoPE will be on Monday August 3, 2015.

Respectfully submitted.

Dennis Finger

NJPA-BoPE Liaison