Please support Telehealth.org’s ability to deliver helpful news, opinions, and analyses by turning off your ad blocker. COVID-19 has escalated efforts to support the PsyPact:
- New Hampshire PSYPACT
- PSYPACT Delaware
- Telepsychology: The Oklahoma PSYPACT Becomes Law
- Telepsychology Across State Lines Officially Approved: PSYPACT
On May 8, 2020, ASPPB announced that two more state governors have signed PsyPACT into law.
Virginia became the 13th state to enact COVID-19 PSYPACT on April 11, 2020 with an effective date of January 1, 2021.
Pennsylvania became the 14th state to enact COVID-19 PSYPACT on May 8, 2020 with an effective date of July 7, 2020.
Brief History
Psychologists will recall that in February of 2020, the Association for State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) Board of Directors finalized the E.Passport and Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC) rules.
The E. Passport facilitates the process for licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology across state lines, in states that participate in PSYPACT, without obtaining additional licenses.
The IPC facilitates the process for licensed psychologists to provide temporary psychological services across state lines, in states that participate in COVID-19 PSYPACT, without obtaining additional licenses. Temporary psychological services can be provided up to 30 days per calendar year.
To conduct temporary practice under the authority of COVID-19 PSYPACT, the PSYPACT Commission requires that a psychologist obtains a Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP). The IPC is required in order to obtain a TAP from the PSYPACT Commission.
COVID-19 PsyPact License
Education
Must have a current and active psychology license, based on a doctoral degree, in at least one PSYPACT participating state.
Annual renewal by submission of an established fee, documentation of a current and active license in a PSYPACT participating state, and demonstration of 3 hours of continuing education relevant to the use technology in psychology (continuing education may include academic courses and/or approved sponsor continuing education). Failure to renew will cause the certificate to expire and the certificate holder may not practice if the certificate is expired.
Must have a doctoral degree in psychology from an institution of higher education that was, at the time the degree was awarded: (1) accredited by the American Psychological Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, or designated as a psychology program by the Joint Designation Committee of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and the National Register of Health Service Psychologists; or (2) deemed to be equivalent to (1) above by a foreign credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or by a recognized foreign credential evaluation service.
ASPPB WEBSITE, PHONE: 1-888-201-6360, ASPPB EMAIL.
*Read the ASPPB Mobility Program Policies and Procedures for a comprehensive look at the Mobility Program and requirements. Note: Requirements are subject to change and are determined by the Mobility Committee.
COVID-19 PsyPact Application Checklist
Renewal Requirement
No disciplinary action listed on any psychology license.
Graduate degree transcripts must be sent directly by the degree-granting institution to ASPPB in a sealed envelope with appropriate institutional seals
Examination
Successful completion of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) with a score that meets or exceeds the established ASPPB recommended passing score at the time of application.
In order to practice telepsychology under the authority of COVID-19 PSYPACT, the PSYPACT Commission requires that a psychologist obtains an Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT). The E.Passport is required in order to obtain an APIT from the PSYPACT Commission.
Resources
For details, see ASPPB the E.Passport requirements and IPC requirements outlined in quick guides.
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do we have an updated list on the states participating in this?
Jessica, Thank you for your question. The ASPPB.com and PSYPACT websites carry the most recent updates for the psychology boards.
This sounds really complex. If I go through the process of getting a COVID-19 PsyPact License how long will it be valid for? Will it vanish when Covid vanishes?
Sara, PSYPACT is organized by ASPPB, the association for only psychology regulators. As a social worker, your regulatory association is you may want to contact ASWB for more information. They have invited me to speak at their conference in April, so they definitely are tracking the issue. It always helps for such associations to hear from the people they try to represent. I’d encourage you to write to them to voice your concerns about interjurisdictional practice.
Sara, The PSYPACT is not a time-limited compact. It was conceived a decade ago and received more than 1,000,000 from OAT, the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, the federal office that was tasked with guiding the building of the telehealth infrastructure for the US. PSYPACY started before COVID and will endure well beyond it.
PsyPact seeks to limit telehealth providers to only allow those who have completed APA accredited programs (with other stipulations). This is an arbitrary distinction as APA-approved programs do not have teletherapy training or education as an essential program requirement. Further, the APA only accredits certain colleges or universities. As does PsyPact. The ultimate outcome is that these two organizations (APA and PsyPact) will control all interstate therapy approval for a tiny fraction of the total population of mental health care providers. In short, you will find that your preferred therapist could be unable to maintain treatment with you if you ever travel, move out of state temporarily or permanently. There is no reason these two organizations should control so much power or limit the public’s access to care. None. It is a power grab and they clearly have NOT thought about the negative consequences they will unleash upon the mental health care provider industry or the members of our society who desperately need as much access as possible to the best mental healthcare available.