Current through Register Vol. XLII, No. 1, January 3, 2025
Section 17-3-14 - Examinations14.1. The Board adopts the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) provided by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards as the official examination for Psychologists. For School Psychologists, the required examination is the Praxis Exam for School Psychologists.14.2. Licensure requires a passing score on the EPPP. The Board shall determine and set a passing score in consideration of prevailing national standards and in consideration of ensuring the public welfare. As the need arises, the Board may update the passing score and the said updated passing score shall then be in force.14.3. All Supervised-Psychologists are required to take the EPPP at least once during the first 12 months of their status as a supervised-psychologist. Masters Supervised-psychologists must (a) pass the EPPP within 5 years, (b) must take the EPPP at least once per year, and (c) shall only take the EPPP a maximum of five (5) times during the 5-year supervision period. Doctoral degree supervised psychologists must pass the EPPP within two (2) years and shall only take the EPPP a maximum of five (5) times during the 2-year supervision period. Those who fail to pass the EPPP within the designated periods will no longer be eligible for licensure. Those that do not meet this requirement must cease all psychological practice and must stop using the title of "Supervised-Psychologist."14.4. Supervised-psychologists shall also take a Board-prepared written and/or oral examination, which shall cover such matters as professional ethics, legal issues, competency, professionalism, knowledge and judgment, and to assure that the applicant appropriately limits the scope of independent practice to the extent of the applicant's training and supervision experience.14.5. The supervision log as required in § 17-3-9.4 of the Board's Rules shall be made available to the Board upon request. If supervision logs have been provided, they will be returned after the oral examination.14.6. At the supervised-psychologist's oral examination, a minimum of three work samples, a final report of supervision, a demonstrable competency form (completed by the applicant and approved by his or her supervisors) shall be submitted. Work Samples must be submitted in support of each major area of intended practice (i.e. adult therapy, child assessment) and for any areas of intended practice considered specialty areas within the profession (e.g. forensics, neuropsychology, medical psychology, gerontology). Taken together, the work samples must represent the full range of applicant's intended scope of practice. These materials, as well as performance on the oral and/or written examinations shall serve as the basis for the Board's determination of the supervised-psychologist's scope of independent practice. Licensees practice independently only within the specified Board approved scope of practice.14.7. Once licensed, no additions or expansions to the specified scope of independent practice as delineated at the oral examination, can be initiated without prior Board approval. The licensee must submit to the Board a statement describing the new intended practice area(s), and documentation of educational and supervised experience sufficient to support the application for enhanced scope of practice. Unless waived by the Board, requests for expanded scope of practice shall require an oral examination by the Board or a Board committee. Applicants shall be notified in writing of Board action on such requests.14.8. The written and/or oral examination for each applicant shall be scored on pass/fail basis by each member of the Board present at the examination.14.9. A passing score of sixty percent (60%) on the written and/or oral examination derived from the ratings of all examiners shall be required for passing. Percentage of passing scores based on total Board members deliberating shall be rounded up to the next whole number (e.g. When seven Board members vote, 60% equals 4.2, meaning that 5 members must pass the examinee). The results shall be recorded as either P or F only. The Board may choose to continue an individual's oral examination as outlined in 14.11. 14.10. Although the above criteria shall serve as guidelines, the final decision of the Board shall be based on all available information concerning the candidate's professional ability to function as a psychologist within the requirements of the law.14.11. When the Board considers it warranted, an oral examination may be continued for a period up to one year. Such a continuation shall be accompanied by specific requirements for supervision activities and learning objectives that the candidate must complete during the period of the continuation. Obtaining a new supervisor may be a part of the requirements. The Board is not obligated to allow the additional time to prepare for licensure, but may do so if it so chooses. This grace period may be revoked at any time if the examinee fails to follow the Board requirements or directives.14.12. Examinations shall be scheduled at least twice a year.14.13. Those who fail the oral examination are no longer eligible for supervised practice or independent practice in the State of West Virginia.14.14. The Board may require an applicant to retake only part of the oral examination.14.15. If a licensee obtains an additional graduate degree, in most cases this is a master level licensee obtaining a doctoral degree, subsequent to being licensed, the licensee is required to make application to the Board, pay all required fees, submit an official transcript from the university conferring the new degree and complete all other required materials. When, as a result of the additional educational achievement, a licensee intends to expand his or her scope of practice or other aspects of his/her professional practice, the applicant is required to sit for a new oral exam in order for the licensee to be considered licensed at the new degree level. The purpose of the process is to approve the degree as acceptable to the Board, to insure that the degree meets all statutory requirements, and to allow for the licensee to present new or additional competencies and professional practice intentions. Until the process is successfully completed, the licensee shall continue to present himself or herself as the original degree licensee.