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            As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the meaning ascribed in this Section:

            (1) “Applicant” means any person who has submitted an application form to the board, paid the application fee, and who has provided such additional information as the board may require.

            (2) “Board” means the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

            (3) “Candidate” means any person whose application and related materials have been approved by the board. Only candidates are eligible to take the written and oral examination.

            (4) “Licensed specialist in school psychology” means any person licensed as a specialist in school psychology who applies his knowledge of both psychology and education during consultation and collaboration with others and engages in specific services for students, such as direct and indirect interventions that focus on academic skills, learning, socialization, and mental health.

            (5) “Persons” includes an individual, firm, partnership, association, or corporation.

            (6) “Practice of licensed specialist in school psychology” is defined as the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Licensed specialists in school psychology collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen the connection between home, school, and the community for all students. They apply their knowledge of both psychology and education during consultation and collaboration with others and conduct effective decision making using a foundation of assessment and data collection. Licensed specialists in school psychology provide services to schools and families that enhance the competence and well-being of children, including promotion of effective and safe learning environments, prevention of academic and behavior problems, response to crises, and improvement of the collaboration between schools and families. The key foundations for all services provided by licensed specialists in school psychology are understanding of diversity in development and learning, research and program evaluation, and legal, ethical, and professional practices. The types of evaluations performed by a licensed specialist in school psychology will be those that are germane to the current state educational bulletins, including but not limited to Louisiana Bulletins 1508 and 1706. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to permit a licensed specialist in school psychology to diagnose mental disorders as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or diseases as defined by the International Classification of Diseases.

            (7) “Practice of psychology” is defined as the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, and modification of human behavior, by the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures, for the purpose of eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior, and of improving interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment, personal effectiveness, behavioral health, and mental health. The practice of psychology includes but is not limited to psychological testing and evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning; counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, hypnosis, stress management, biofeedback, behavior analysis and therapy; diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorder or disability, alcoholism and substance abuse, and of the psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability; psycho educational evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation. Psychological services may be rendered to individuals, families, groups, institutions, organizations, and the public. The practice of psychology shall be construed within the meaning of this definition without regard to whether payment is received for services rendered.

            (8) “Provisional licensed psychologist” means a person provisionally licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

            (9) “Psychologist” means any person licensed as a psychologist in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. A person represents himself to be a psychologist by using any title or description of services incorporating the words “psychology”, “psychological”, or “psychologist”, or by using any other terms which imply that he is qualified to practice psychology or that he possesses expert qualification in any area of psychology, or if that person offers to the public or renders to individuals or to groups of individuals services defined as the practice of psychology in this Chapter.

            (10) “School” or “college” means any regional accredited university or other institution of higher learning offering a full-time doctoral course of study in psychology that is approved by the board.

            (11) “School system” means any institution or facility which provides for education of children in grades one or above, which may include kindergarten or prekindergarten attached thereto.

            Added by Acts 1964, No. 347, §2. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 403, §1; Acts 1987, No. 915, §2, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 2014, No. 136, §1; Acts 2014, No. 137, §1; Acts 2018, No. 206, §3; Acts 2022, No. 271, §2.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1987, NO. 915, §3.}}