2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 6: TEACHERS › Chapter 502: CREDENTIALING OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL › 20-A §13022. School psychologists

§13022. School psychologists
1.  Definitions.
For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "School psychologist" means a professional certified by the department as a school psychologist who provides school psychological services consistent with the national standards articulated in current federal and state education regulations and rules and under the domains of practice in the current Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services developed and published by the National Association of School Psychologists. "School psychologist" includes a school psychologist - doctoral and a school psychologist - specialist.   [PL 2021, c. 228, §6 (AMD).]
B. "School psychologist - doctoral" means a professional who meets the qualifications established in subsection 3 and holds a doctoral degree in psychology or a related field as determined by the advisory committee established in subsection 7.   [PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
C. "School psychologist - specialist" means a professional who meets the qualifications established in subsection 3 and holds a master's degree or specialist-level degree.   [PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2021, c. 228, §6 (AMD).]
1-A.  Scope of services.
A school psychologist delivers services to children from birth to grade 12 who are eligible to be enrolled in educational and intermediate educational units, special education programs and approved private schools. The services delivered are the services articulated under the domains of practice in the current Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services developed and published by the National Association of School Psychologists.
[PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (NEW).]
2.  Certification by commissioner.
The commissioner shall certify school psychologists pursuant to rules adopted by the state board. The rules must include practice standards for certified school psychologists that follow national standards set forth by the National Association of School Psychologists or a successor organization and ethics standards set forth by the National Association of School Psychologists or a successor organization and the American Psychological Association or a successor organization, violation of which constitutes grounds for suspension or revocation of the certification.
[PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
3.  Qualifications.
State board rules governing the qualifications for a school psychologist certificate must require that a certificate be issued only to an applicant who has met the academic and preprofessional requirements established by the state board for the provision of school psychological services and who, at a minimum:
A. Holds a graduate degree from an accredited program in school psychology that was approved by the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Psychological Association in School Psychology or the department at the time the degree was awarded;   [PL 2021, c. 228, §7 (AMD).]
B. Has completed graduate work that is determined by the commissioner to be substantially similar to the programs referred to in paragraph A; or   [PL 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
C. Holds a valid license from the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists with demonstrated competency in the area of school psychology through training and experience.   [PL 2021, c. 228, §7 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 228, §7 (AMD).]
4.  Term of issuance.
The commissioner shall issue a school psychologist certificate for a term of years consistent with rules adopted by the state board. The school psychologist certificate may be renewed in accordance with academic and professional requirements established by the state board. A certificate holder must be supervised for the first year following initial certification at no additional cost to the school administrative unit or the department. Supervision of the first-year school psychologist must be in accordance with supervision standards established by the National Association of School Psychologists or a successor organization and provided by a person who is certified as a school psychologist.
A. [PL 2021, c. 228, §8 (RP).]
B. [PL 2021, c. 228, §8 (RP).]
[PL 2021, c. 228, §8 (AMD).]
5.  Exclusive regulatory authority.
The provisions of Title 32, chapter 56 do not apply to persons certified as school psychologists under this section except to the extent that the persons are also licensed or seek licensure under that chapter, engage in the practice of psychology beyond the scope of this section or hold themselves out as psychologists or psychological examiners.
[PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
6.  Designation.
Persons certified under this section may hold themselves out as school psychologists but must include the word "school" in the designation, or as nationally certified school psychologists if they hold the credentials as designated by the National Association of School Psychologists or a successor organization. Persons certified under this section may not hold themselves out as psychologists, psychological examiners or any business name incorporating variations of those titles other than school psychologists or nationally certified school psychologists unless they are appropriately licensed under Title 32, chapter 56.
[PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
7.  Advisory committee.
There is established within the department, in accordance with Title 5, section 12004‑I, the Advisory Committee on School Psychologists, referred to in this subsection as "the committee."
A. The duties of the committee are:
(1) To advise the state board in the adoption of rules and a code of ethics and practice standards for school psychologists; and
(2) To assist the commissioner in:
(i) Certifying school psychologists;
(ii) Investigating alleged violations of the code of ethics and practice standards adopted by the state board; and
(iii) Investigating alleged violations of section 13020 and certification rules governing school psychologists.   [PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
B. The committee consists of 9 members appointed by the commissioner. The membership consists of 2 certified school psychologists, 2 licensed psychologists, one faculty member from a graduate program in school psychology, one educator from a public school or approved private school and 3 parents or guardians of students.   [PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
C. Three members of the committee must be initially appointed for a term of one year, 3 for a term of 2 years and 3 for a term of 3 years. All appointments must be for a term of 3 years thereafter. Any member may serve beyond the expiration date of that member's term until a successor has been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy on the committee must be filled for the unexpired portion of the term. The committee shall elect its own chair.   [PL 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
D. Members of the committee are entitled to receive compensation according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379.   [PL 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD).]
8.  Transition.
Persons certified as school psychological service providers and school psychological examiners on or after October 13, 1993 may continue to provide the services authorized by their respective certificates until the scheduled expiration of those certificates.
[PL 2021, c. 228, §9 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 207, §3 (NEW). PL 2011, c. 386, §2 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 228, §§6-9 (AMD).