Unregulated Mental Health Workers in Schools | Psychologist Loses License to Practice for Drug Use - so Applies to become a "Certified" School Psychologist
State regulators ask, "Can she do that?" Yes, yes, she can.
I could barely ask for a better illustration of the state board of education demonstrating they have no business introducing mental health workers into public schools. Not only do they not have specialized expertise in supervising mental health workers, or enforcing standards of practice and care for mental health services, but they literally have no understanding how their own certification of mental health workers actually works.
The professional practices advisory committee to the Arizona state board of education is responsible for regulating the certification of teachers and other employees, including school counselors, social workers and psychologists, in Arizona’s public schools. The committee advises the state board of education and has the power to investigate applications for certification, evaluate misconduct complaints, hold hearings, make determinations of fact and conclusions of law, and recommend disciplinary sanctions that, on approval by the state board, have the binding force of law. They are, quite literally, the frontline regulators of public education in Arizona.
And at a December 13 committee meeting, I learned they do not know that school psychologists are not required to be licensed by the state Board of Psychologist Examiners.
The following is ported from Twitter(X) with minimal edits added for clarity and cohesiveness.
At a hearing to consider an application for certification as a school psychologist, the AZ Dept of Ed's professional practices advisory committee, responsible for reviewing teacher misconduct and applications for certification to work in Arizona schools, learns that school psychologists do NOT require licenses from the state Board of Psychologist Examiners.
Former board-licensed psychologist w/history of drug use, arrest records for DUI, shoplifting, loses license to practice psychology in AZ under a consent agreement with Board of Psychologist Examiners
Believing she does not need a license to become a "school psychologist" and expressing her love for "working with kids" - she applies to the ADE
Her application is flagged when she admits to losing her board license, an investigation is made, and a hearing is held
At the hearing, lawyer for ADE confronts applicant with prohibition (in the consent agreement) on holding herself out as a "licensed psychologist" and "practicing psychology"
Applicant admits to ban, but says consent agreement "does not say school psychologist...it says 'licensed' psychologist. This is not an application for licensure, it's for certification."
Click to watch the first video to see the committee members expression - and the lawyer's stunned silence.
There's more. In this second video, you’ll see the following exchange among committee meetings who are perplexed by the applicants statement that school psychologists do not need to be licensed by the Board of Psychologist Examiners.
After direct examination, the committee has an opportunity to ask questions and discuss.
The committee chair, confused, asks the applicant to clarify
“You’re saying you don’t need a psychologist license to be a school psychologist. Have I misunderstood that?”
Applicant: I’m not sure, “my understanding is that I could be certified through the board of education to do school psychology. I personally know school psychologists who are not doctors and are not licensed through the board of behavioral health examiners or the board of psychology.”
Then adds: “Maybe that’s a question one of you can provide me with.”
Committee chair: “Okay….Not me.”
Committee member #1: “That was one of my questions. Isn’t a license required to further be a school psychologist. That was my question [to the chair].”
Committee member #2 says, hesitantly: “The ADE language is absent on whether you need a license…you just need a masters or a terminal degree in psychology, if I remember accurately.”
Committee member #3: “If I may,…I think that’s right. I’m looking at the ADE website about the requirements for school psychologist, and I don’t know that you need to be licensed psychologist in order to be a school psychologist. I think then the question is ‘Can you practice psychology’ which is listed as one of the prohibitions [against the applicant] in [her consent] agreement with the Board. Then the question is…‘Is a school psychologist practicing psychology? I think we can set the other aside, because at least in mind, it looks that way.”
The committee then votes to NOT approve her certification as a school psychologist. I watch this committee - they are all, without exception, professional, diligent and very sharp. I have the upmost respect for what they do and HOW they do their jobs.
But to hear today they didn't all know that school psychologists do not need a board license is...amazing.
End.