Source: http://usvipsychologyboard.com/Law.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 20:10:38+00:00

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The Board of Psychology Examiners receives its powers and authority from the Virgin Islands Code, Title 27, Chapter 2. title 27 V.I.C. Section 169b empowers the Board to adopt rules and regulations.
The Board hereby establishes rules for conducing the business of the Board, including: 1) accepting applications and administering examinations for licensure of psychology professionals; and 2) regulating the practice of psychology in the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands in accordance with the provisions of V.I.C. Title 27 §169 et seq.
(a) “Board” means the U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Psychology.
(b) “Approved continuing education” includes research and training programs, college and university courses, in-service training programs, and seminars and conferences which are approved by the Board.
(c) “Approved supervisor” means a person with a full, active license as a psychologist, or equivalent, as determined by the rules and regulations of the Board. The psychological services within the context of a professional relationship. In the case of individuals with legal guardians (including minors and legally incompetent adults), the legal guardian shall also be considered a client for decision making purposes.
(e) “Practice of psychology” means the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, and modification of human behavior by the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures, for the purpose of preventing or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior and of enhancing interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment, personal effectiveness, behavioral health, but is not limited to, psychological testing and the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics, such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning, counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavior analysis and therapy, diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorder or disability, alcoholism and substance abuse, disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability, and psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation. Psychological services may be rendered to individuals, families, groups and the public. The practice of psychology shall be construed, within the meaning of this definition, irrespective of whether payment is received for services rendered.
(f) “Licensed psychologist” means a person who has been issued and holds a license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The licensed psychologist may independently render those services defined with the practice of psychology.
(g) “Psychological Associate” means an individual, licensed within the meaning of this chapter, who offers to render or renders professional psychological services such as interviewing or administering and interpreting tests of mental abilities, interest, aptitudes, and personality characteristics for such purposes as psychological evaluation, or for educational, vocational or personnel selection, guidance of placement. A psychological associate may engage in overall personality appraisal or classification, personality counseling or personality adjustment techniques. A psychological associate may only practice under supervision as defined in the rules and regulations adopted by the board.
(h) “Associate Psychologist” means an individual who holds a license to engage in the practice of psychology in accordance with the provisions of section 169f(b) of this chapter.
(i) “Psychology Professional” means an individual who is either a licensed psychologist, psychological associate or associate psychologist as provided under this chapter.
(j) “Psychotherapy” means the treatment, diagnosis, testing, assessment, or counseling in a professional relationship to assist individuals or groups to alleviate mental disorders, understand unconscious or conscious motivation, resolve emotional, relationship, or attitudinal conflicts, or modify behaviors which interfere with effective emotional, social, or intellectual functioning.
(k) “Referral” means evaluating and identifying needs of a client to determine the advisability of referral to other specialists, informing the client or patient of such judgment and communicating as requested or deemed appropriate to such referral sources.
(l) “Research” means a systematic effort to collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative or qualitative data that describes how social characteristics and behavior, emotion, cognitions, and interpersonal transactions among individuals and organizations interact.
(m) “Use of a title or description of” means to hold oneself out to the public as having a particular professional status, using signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery, announcements, calling cards or other instruments of identification.
(a) There is established the Board of Psychology Examiners which shall be composed of five members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature.
(b) The board is charged with the responsibility of examining, licensing, and regulating the profession of psychology as provided under this chapter.
(c) Of the first board appointed under the provisions of this chapter, four shall be residents who are eligible for licensure under this chapter and one of the members shall be a resident of the Virgin Islands.
(d) Licensed professional members may be appointed by the Governor from a list submitted to him by the Association of Virgin Islands Psychologists which is a nationally recognized association representing psychologists.
(6) may not have had within two years before appointment a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the board.
(f) Of the first Board members appointed, three shall be appointed for a term of two years and two for a term of three years. Their successors shall be appointed for terms of four years each, except that any person chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the remaining term of the Board member to be succeeded. Upon the expiration of the term of office, a board member shall continue to serve until a successor has been appointed and qualified.
(g) The Governor may remove a member of the board for neglect of duty, malfeasance, incompetence, misconduct, or conviction of a felony, provided, the procedures for such actions have been fully executed. Board members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for the actual inter-island expenses incurred in the performance of official Board business as provided under Title 3, section 65 of this code.
(a) The Governor shall designate one board member to serve as the first chairperson. The second, and successive chairpersons shall be elected, from among its members, by the board along with a Vice-chairperson and a Secretary/Treasurer. The manner of election of officers, their duties, and their terms of office shall be as the board determines.
(21) cause criminal prosecution of all persons violating this chapter.
(6) has validated the competencies declared in the Statement of Professional Intent as well as demonstrated knowledge of psychology by passing a written examination given by the board.
(b) In any written examination, each applicant shall be kept anonymous by being given a number to maintain the confidentiality of his name until the examinations have been graded.
(c) An applicant for licensure must pass the current form of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) provided by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and a local examination based on clinical experience, ethics, and theoretical knowledge related to psychology as practiced in the United States Virgin Islands.
(d) The acceptable level of performance for both examinations shall be determined by the board and established in its rules and regulations and separate levels of performance for psychologists and psychological associates shall be established.
(e) The board shall establish rules and regulations regarding re-examination of applicants who have previously failed the examinations.
(5) in the case of an applicant from an institution of higher education located outside the United States, which at the time the applicant was enrolled, and at the time the applicant graduated maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation or can demonstrate equivalent course work; or an institution of higher education located outside the United States, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation. The education and training must have been received in an institution or program of higher education officially recognized by the government of the country in which it is located as an institution or program of higher education that trains students to practice as psychologists or psychotherapists. The burden of establishing that the requirements of the provision have been met shall be upon the applicant, and the board may require documentation, such as, but not limited to, an evaluation by a foreign equivalency determination service, as evidence that the applicant's graduate degree program and education were equivalent to an accredited program in the United States.
(5) in the case of an applicant from an institution of higher education located outside of the United States, has met the same standards as outlined in section 169d(5) of this title. The psychological associate shall only practice under supervision by an approved supervisor, and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the board.
(a) During the first 12 months following the completion of the appointment of all the members, the Board shall issue a psychologist license without examination to (i) one has been a resident of the Virgin Islands for more than two (2) years upon the date of enactment, or (ii) an applicant licensed as a psychologist in another jurisdiction where the requirements for licensure are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of this territory, or (iii) a person who holds the minimum degree required as defined in section 169(d) of this title, and has a minimum of five years of active experience in the practice of psychology, and, meets the requirements of section 169c(1)–(5) of this chapter.
(b) During the first 12 months following the completion of the seating all of the members the Board shall issue an Associate Psychologist license to practice independently and without examination to (i) one has been a resident of the Virgin Islands for more than two (2) years upon the date of enactment, or (ii) any applicant licensed as a psychological associate in another jurisdiction where the requirements for licensure are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of this territory; (iii) a person who holds the minimum degree as defined in section 169e(2) of this chapter and has a minimum of eight years of experience in the practice of psychology and meets the requirements of section 169c(1)–(5), of this chapter.
(a) A minimum fee of $250.00 shall be paid by any person licensed under this chapter to the board for the original license. This fee shall be in addition to any examination fee set by the board. Licenses shall be valid for two years and must be renewed biannually. The fee for a license renewal shall be at least $250.00. Any application for renewal of a license after it has expired shall require payment of an additional late fee of $50.00.
(b) All persons who are licensed under this chapter shall be required to submit at the time of renewal: (1) a license renewal fee, (2) evidence satisfactory to the board of the completion during the previous 24 months of relevant professional continuing education experiences, (3) and an updated Professional Disclosure Statement. The continuing education requirements of the board shall be mailed to all licensed professionals one year prior to the renewal date.
(b) Psychologists, psychological associates, associate psychologists, and anyone under the board's supervision shall conduct their professional activities in conformity with ethical and professional standards promulgated by the board under its rules and regulations.
(24) refusal to appear before the board after having been ordered to do so in writing by the chairman of the board.
(d) The issuance of a license in the first instance may be revoked if the circumstances in subsection (c) of this section apply.
(e) No license may be denied, suspended, or revoked under subsection (c) of this section without prior notice and opportunity for a hearing, except that the board may, without prior notice or hearing, temporarily suspend for up to one month the license of any person convicted of a crime as set forth in subsection (c) of this section. The burden of proof shall be on the board in any proceeding to suspend or revoke a license. No license may be denied, suspended, or revoked under this section except by a majority vote of the board.
(f) Any person may file a complaint with the board seeking denial, suspension, or revocation of a license issued or to be issued by the board. Such complaint shall be in a form prescribed by the board and shall be verified under oath by the complainant. If the board determines that a complaint alleges facts which, if true, would require denial, revocation, or suspension of a license, it shall promptly institute a hearing. Whenever the Board is of the opinion that a complaint does not allege facts which warrant a hearing, the complaint may be dismissed.
(g) A license may expire as a result of failure to comply with section 169g(a) of this chapter.
The board shall establish rules and regulations pertaining to hearings, investigations, disciplinary under this chapter.
(1) The board shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any person may represent themselves before the board or be represented by an attorney. Every vote and official act of the board shall be entered into the official record.
(2) The board shall have the power to administer oaths, hear testimony and receive evidence of matters within its jurisdiction, and require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of all books, papers, and documents relating to any matter under investigation. A subpoena shall be issued by the board upon application by any party to a proceeding before the board and a showing of general relevance and reasonable scope. When a subpoenaed witness fails to appear, the board may apply to the Superior Court for an order requiring the person subpoenaed to appear before the board to testify and produce books, papers, or documents.
(3) One or more board members or a hearing examiner appointed by the board shall preside at the hearings.
(4) As a condition of probation the board may require the probationer to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by a professional designated by the board. The expense of such action shall be borne by the probationer.
(5) The board may, at any time, modify the conditions of the probation, and may include among them any reasonable condition for the purpose of the protection of the public, or for the purpose of the rehabilitation of the probationer, or both.
(6) The board shall have the power to require restitution when necessary.
(7) The board shall have the power to assess the costs of the disciplinary proceedings against the psychologist, associate psychologist, or psychological associate. Costs may be assessed against a complainant, if the Board finds that the complaint is frivolous as defined by Title 5, section 541, subsection (c), Virgin Islands Code.
(8) Any psychologist, psychological associate, associate psychologist or applicant for licensure under this chapter whose license to practice is denied, revoked, suspended or otherwise limited pursuant to this section or section 169b of this chapter, shall have the right to appeal the action of the board within thirty (30) days of the written decision to the Superior Court and the notice of appeal shall be simultaneously filed with the board.
(a) In judicial proceedings, whether civil, criminal, or juvenile, in legislative and administrative proceedings, and in proceedings preliminary and ancillary thereto, a patient or client, or his guardian or personal representative may refuse to disclose or prevent the disclosure of confidential information, including information contained in administrative records, communicated to a psychologist, psychological associate or associate psychologist, licensed under this chapter, or a person otherwise authorized to practice within the mental health field under the laws of this jurisdiction, or to persons reasonably believed by the patient or client to be so licensed, and their agents, for the purpose of diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of any mental or emotional condition or disorder. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the psychologist is presumed authorized to claim the privilege on the patient's or client's behalf.
(8) in the context of investigations and hearings brought by the patient or client and conducted by the Board, where in violations of this subchapter are at issue.
(a) The Board shall issue a license to an applicant who holds a valid license as a psychology professional in another jurisdiction where the requirements for licensure are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of this territory and receive at least a passing grade on the local examination required under section 169c(a)(6) of this chapter.
(b) The Board shall review the application of the applicants for licensure under the chapter from individuals who have earned a post-secondary degree from an educational institution outside the United States. The Board shall grant a license if it determines the applicant's experience and completed academic program meet the standards of an accredited educational institution within the United States and its territories and shall require that the applicant receive at least a passing grade on the local examination as provided in section 169c(a)(6) of this chapter.
A member of the board, or any employee or agent of the board shall not be held subject to civil liability for any act performed in good faith and within the scope of the duties of the board.
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to the activities and services of qualified members of other professions, such as medical or chiropractic physicians, registered nurses, attorneys at law, or social workers performing counseling in a manner consistent with the scope of practice in their license, their training, and the code of ethics of their professions. However, such persons shall not represent themselves by use of any title stating or implying that they are a licensed psychologist, associate psychologist, or psychological associate.
(2) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to the activities, services, and use of an official title on the part of a person employed as a psychologist, by an academic institution, a federal or territorial agency, public or private educational institution, or publicly or governmentally funded non-profit community agency recognized by the board, provided such persons are performing psychological or psychologically related activities within the scope of their employment and that they have a degree that meets the educational requirement of section 169d(a)(2) or (5) or section 169e(2) or (5).
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to the activities and services of a student, intern, or trainee pursuing a course of study in psychology in an accredited institution of higher education or training institution, if these activities are performed under supervision and constitute a part of the supervised course of study, provided that such a person be designated as an “intern,” or “student”.
(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to the activities and services of a non-resident psychology professional rendered not more than thirty (30) days during any calendar year, provided, that such person is licensed to perform such activities and services under the laws of the state or territory of that person's residence.
(5) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to activities and services of a rabbi, priest, minister, or clergy person of any religious denomination or sect, provided, such activities and services are within the scope of the performance of regular or specialized ministerial duties.
(2) materially refuses to furnish the board information or records required or requested pursuant to this chapter.
(b) willfully engages in any unlawful act enumerated in this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for each offense, and may be imprisoned for not more twelve (12) months. The third or any subsequent conviction for violation of this section during a thirty-six (36) month period shall constitute a felony.
(7) in the case of a licensed psychological associate, the name, title, business address, and business telephone number of the supervisor shall also appear on the Professional Disclosure Statement.
The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any part of the chapter is declared invalid or unconstitutional, such a declaration shall not affect the parts which remain.
—Added Dec. 30, 1994, No. 6042, § 2, Sess. L. 1994, p. 275.
(a) A mentally disturbed, intoxicated or drug dependent person who (1) has threatened, attempted, or inflicted physical harm on himself or another and is likely to inflict physical harm on himself or another unless committed, or (2) is incapacitated by alcohol or drugs, may be committed to an approved public treatment facility for emergency treatment. A refusal to undergo treatment does not constitute evidence of lack of judgment as to the need for treatment.
(b) The certifying physician, mental health professional, spouse, guardian, or relative of the person to be committed, or any other responsible person with personal knowledge of the person sought to be committed, may make a written application under oath for commitment under this section, directed to the Administrator of the approved public treatment facility. The application shall state facts establishing reasonable grounds to believe that the person sought to be committed is mentally disturbed such that immediate emergency commitment and treatment is necessary to avoid a danger of physical harm or injury to the person himself, or to others, or of damage to property.
Upon such written application, a mental health professional shall immediately undertake an evaluation of such person, whether in the field, in the home or in the public treatment facility. If it is determined by the mental health professional, after such evaluation and observation that the person does, in fact, pose a danger of physical harm or injury to himself, or to others, or of damage to property, such person shall be committed for examination and emergency treatment. In this event, the Administrator or mental health professional of the approved public treatment facility may request that a peace officer or the emergency service patrol, as established in section 726 of this chapter, take the person to an approved treatment facility for emergency examination and/or treatment by a licensed psychiatrist, and if one is not readily available, then by a physician.
(c) A person taken to a facility for emergency examination and/or treatment, shall be examined by an emergency room physician within two hours of his arrival at the treatment facility in order to determine if the person is either severely mentally disturbed or disabled and in need of immediate treatment. If it is determined that the person poses a danger of harm or injury to himself or others and that he is in need of emergency treatment, the psychiatrist shall so certify by filing a written certification to that effect which certification shall be placed in the person's record. Pursuant to such certification, such person may be detained at the treatment facility for up to forty-eight hours. Provided, however, that a psychiatrist may extend such period of detention for an additional three (3) days (72 hours) for a maximum of five (5) days, not including holidays and weekends, if, in his judgment, such extension is deemed medically advisable. After the expiration of the five (5) day maximum period, any further detention of such person shall be obtained by Court order only pursuant to section 723 of this title. Any person committed under this section may be transferred to another appropriate public or private treatment facility, until discharged under this subsection or subsection (e) of this section.
(d) The Administrator in charge of an approved public treatment facility shall refuse an application if in his opinion the application and certificate fail to sustain the grounds for commitment.
(e) When on the advice of the medical staff the Administrator determines that the grounds for commitment no longer exist, he shall discharge a person committed under this section. No person committed under this section may be detained in any treatment facility for more than five days, not including holidays and weekends. If a petition for involuntary commitment under section 723 of this title has been filed within five days and the Administrator in charge of an approved public treatment facility finds that grounds for emergency commitment still exist, he may detain the person until the petition has been heard and determined, but no longer than ten days after filing the petition.
(f) A copy of the written application for commitment and of the physician's certificate and a written explanation of the person's right to counsel, shall be given to the person within twenty-four hours after commitment by the Administrator, who shall provide a reasonable opportunity for the person to consult counsel.
—Added Aug. 5, 1977, No. 4039, § 1, Sess. L. 1977, p. 229; amended Apr. 16, 1984, No. 4929, § 1, Sess. L. 1984, p. 100; Jan. 23, 1990, No. 5495, § 2, Sess. L. 1990, p. 3.
(a) A person may be committed to the custody of the Department of Health by the Superior Court upon the petition of his spouse or guardian, a relative, the certifying physician, mental health professional or the Administrator in charge of any approved public treatment facility. The petition shall allege that the person is mentally disturbed or an alcoholic or drug dependent person who habitually lacks self-control due to his disturbed condition or to the use of alcoholic beverages or drugs and that he (1) has threatened, attempted, or inflicted physical harm on himself or another and that unless committed is likely to inflict physical harm on another; or (2) is incapacitated by alcohol or drugs. A refusal to undergo treatment does not constitute evidence of lack of judgment as to the need for treatment. The petition shall be accompanied by a certificate of a licensed physician or mental health professional who has examined the person within two days before submission of the petition, unless the person whose commitment is sought has refused to submit to a medical examination, in which case the fact of refusal shall be alleged in the petition. The certificate shall set forth the physician or mental health professional's findings in support of the allegations of the petition.
(b) Upon the filing the petition, the court shall fix a date for a hearing no later than two days after the date the petition was filed. A copy of the petition and of the notice of the hearing, including the date fixed by the court, shall be served on the petitioner, the person whose commitment is sought, his next of kin other than the petitioner, a parent or his legal guardian if he is a minor, the Administrator in charge of the approved public treatment facility to which he has been committed for emergency care, and any other person the court believes advisable. A copy of the petition and certificate shall be delivered to each person notified.
(c) At the hearing the court shall hear all relevant testimony, including, if possible, the testimony of at least one licensed physician or a mental health professional who has examined the person whose commitment is sought. The person shall be present unless the court believes that his presence is likely to be injurious to him; in this event the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent him throughout the proceeding. The court shall examine the person in open court, or if advisable, shall examine the person out of court. If the person has refused to be examined by a licensed physician or mental health professional, he shall be given an opportunity to be examined by a court-appointed licensed physician or mental health professional. If he refuses and there is sufficient evidence to believe that the allegations of the petition are true, or if the court believes that more medical evidence is necessary, the court may make a temporary order committing him to the Department of Health for a period of not more than five days for purposes of a diagnostic examination.
(d) If after hearing all relevant evidence, including the results of any diagnostic examination by the Department of Health, the court finds that grounds for involuntary commitment have been established by clear and convincing proof, it shall make an order of commitment to the Department of Health. It may not order commitment of a person unless it determines that the Department of Health is able to provide adequate and appropriate treatment for him and the treatment is likely to be beneficial.
(e) A person committed under this section shall remain in the custody of the Department of Health for treatment for either a time certain established by the court or for an indefinite period, in which latter case the person's commitment shall be subjected to close periodic judicial scrutiny designed to protect said person from prolonged and unnecessary commitment.
(f) The Department of Health shall provide for adequate and appropriate treatment of a person committed to its custody. The Department of Health may transfer any person committed to its custody from one approved public treatment facility to another if transfer is medically advisable.
(2) In case of a severely mentally disturbed or an alcoholic or drug dependent person committed on the grounds of the need of treatment and incapacity, that the incapacity no longer exists, further treatment will not be likely to bring about significant improvement in the person's condition, or treatment is no longer adequate or appropriate.
(h) The court shall inform the person whose commitment is sought of his right to contest the application, be represented by counsel at every stage of any proceedings relating to his commitment, and have counsel appointed by the court or provided by the court if he wants the assistance of counsel and is unable to obtain counsel. If the court believes that the person needs the assistance of counsel, the court shall require, by appointment if necessary, counsel for him regardless of his wishes. The person whose commitment is sought shall be informed of his right to be examined by a licensed physician or mental health professional of his choice. If the person is unable to obtain a licensed physician or mental health professional and requests examination by a physician or mental health professional, the court shall employ a licensed physician or mental health professional for that purpose.
(i) If a private treatment facility agrees with the request of a competent patient or his parent, sibling, adult child, or guardian to accept the patient for treatment, the Administrator of the public treatment facility shall transfer him to the private treatment facility.
(j) A person committed under this chapter may at any time seek to be discharged from commitment by writ of habeas corpus.
—”Added Aug. 5, 1977, No. 4039, § 1, Sess. L. 1977, p. 230; amended Apr. 16, 1984, No. 4929, § 2, Sess. L. 1984, p. 100; Jan. 23, 1990, No. 5495, § 3, Sess. L. 1990, p. 3.

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