Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
None.
The Psychologists' Certification and Licensing Act of 1969 (Vernon's
Ann. Civ. St., Article 4512c) created the Texas State Board of Examiners of
Psychologists (Senate Bill 667, 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969). This
law regulates all persons practicing psychology or offering psychological
services for compensation, whether to individuals or to corporations. Effective
September 1, 1969, the original bill was declared an emergency
The mission of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists includes the following: establishing education, experience, and examination requirements; adopting professional standards for the practice of psychology; investigating and enforcing compliance with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the board; and serving as a source of information and education to the public, the profession, and governmental entities.
The board has the following powers: certifying and licensing psychologists with doctoral degrees, by means of written and oral examinations and a review of education and experience; licensing psychological associates with master's degrees; suspending or revoking licenses or certificates for violation of the law; monitoring the activity of persons who have apparently violated state law; assisting applicants through the application process; responding to requests from professionals and the general public concerning the practice of psychology.
The board is composed of nine members (increased from six members in 1981), appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. From 1969 to 1993, six of the members had to be psychologists; in 1981, one psychological associate and two members of the general public were added to the board. Since 1993, four of the members must be licensed or certified psychologists active for at least five years (including at least two actively rendering psychological services, one involved in psychological research, and one a faculty member of a training institution in psychology); two members must be licensed psychological associates; and three members must represent the general public.
In accordance with the statute, the board meets at least twice a year (in practice, usually five times a year), and has rule-making power. It was charged with adopting and publishing a Code of Ethics. The board fixes fees for certification, licensing, and renewal; renewal originally was to occur once every two years, but was changed to an annual requirement in 1993. Each April, the board must publish a list of all psychologists certified or licensed in Texas; it must file that list with the Secretary of State, and provide it to each person licensed, and to the general public on request. As of June 1998, 3,169 psychologists were licensed to practice in Texas; another 162 psychologists were licensed to practice under supervision; 1,466 psychological associates were licensed to practice under supervision; and 1,629 specialists in school psychology were licensed to practice in the public schools in Texas.
The Psychologists' Certification and Licensing Act does not apply to: psychologists or psychological associates employed by any government agency, public school district, or regionally accredited institution of higher education; any supervised student, intern, or resident; qualified members of other licensed professions (physicians, surgeons, attorneys, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, occupational therapists, certified social workers, licensed professional counselors, career counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed chemical dependency counselors); duly recognized members of the clergy, if they do not represent themselves to be psychologists; and volunteers working for charitable nonprofit organizations.
The board may cancel, revoke, or suspend a license upon proof of a felony conviction, drug addiction, fraud, or unprofessional conduct. Filing charges leads to a hearing, in which the accused has the right to appear, to produce witnesses or evidence, to cross-examine, and to have subpoenas issued by the board. The board may also impose probation. Beginning in 1993, any hearings are held before the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Appeal of the board's decision may be made in district court.
A number of changes were made in 1993 by Senate Bill 1424, 73rd Legislature, Regular Session. The practice of psychology was defined to include the following: the use of projective techniques, neuropsychological testing, counseling, career counseling, psychotherapy, hypnosis for health care purposes, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback and the evaluation and treatment by psychological techniques and procedures of mental or emotional disorders and disabilities. The board was authorized to employ investigators, lawyers, consultants, and administrative staff. The board was ordered to establish mandatory continuing education programs for persons regulated by the board, as well as a training program for members of the board. The board was to have the written portion of the examination validated by an independent testing professional. The board must keep an information file about each complaint filed with the board (containing a record of all persons contacted in relation to the complaint, a summary of findings made at each step of the complaint process, an explanation of the legal basis and reason for a complaint that is dismissed, and other relevant information). The board must develop a system for monitoring license or certificate holders' compliance with the law.
In 1993, a Psychological Associate Advisory Committee was created, composed of six members appointed by the governor: three licensed psychological associates, one licensed psychologist, and two members of the general public not licensed in health care. This advisory committee was to develop and recommend to the board rules concerning the regulation of psychological associates.
The agency staff consists of 14 full-time equivalent employees, and there were four divisions in 1995: Fiscal/Benefits Division, Operations Division, Investigations/ Enforcement Division, and Legal Division.
(Sources include the
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists examines, licenses, and regulates psychologists and psychological associates practicing in the State of Texas. These records--minutes and agenda, and administrative correspondence--document those functions, dating 1969-2007.
Minutes and agenda document the decisions made at meetings of the board, 1969-2007, and also at meetings of the Psychological Associate Advisory Committee, 1995-2003. The board minutes include the following: summaries of administrative hearings; lists of persons certified by the board as psychologists and as psychological associates; motions made, discussed, and acted upon by the board, concerning both general policy and specific actions; the texts of proposed rules and regulations up for adoption; summaries of complaints considered before the board; full texts of Agreed Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law, and Orders adopted by the board; and other documents included as attachments to the official minutes of the board. Between November 1995 and September 2003, these records also include minutes of the Psychological Associate Advisory Committee to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Agenda were included in the transfers of most minutes between 1995 and 2001. Topics of discussion and action of the board include applications of specific individuals for licensure as psychologists and as psychological associates, requests by licensees (e.g., deferral of oral examinations, waiver of fees, change of inactive status, etc.), disciplinary sanctions, complaints and continuing education violations, changes to administrative rules, budgets, concerns of psychological organizations and training institutions, etc.
The correspondence documents alleged violations of the law prohibiting the misrepresentation of persons practicing psychology or offering psychological services for compensation without being so certified by the State of Texas. This correspondence consists of incoming and outgoing letters, with attachments (mainly copies of advertisements, especially in the newspapers or the telephone yellow pages), dating 1987-1991. The letters include complaints by the general public, initial warnings from the board sent by certified mail, and responses from alleged violators defending their advertisements or detailing their efforts to correct the situation.
These records are organized into two series, as maintained by the agency:
(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Paul Beck, October 1993, June 1995
Tony Black, December 1996, March 1998, February 1999, June 2000, November 2001, April 2003, October 2003, March 2005, April 2008
Accession numbers: 1993/220, 1994/022, 1995/126, 1996/063, 1996/064, 1996/076, 1997/011, 1998/012, 1999/065, 2000/164, 2001/026, 2002/075, 2003/147, 2004/031, 2004/165, 2005/123, 2006/080, 2007/154, 2008/115
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists on August 12, 1993; October 26, 1993; June 1, 1995; February 23, 1996; March 19, 1996; September 4, 1996; September 25, 1997; December 3, 1998; June 21, 2000; October 9, 2000; November 13, 2001; April 15, 2003; October 6, 2003; November 4, 2004; December 21, 2005; April 5, 2007; and April 2, 2008; and by the Texas Legislative Reference Library on June 10, 2004.
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists has mounted its
more recent minutes on the agency web site (
The record copies of minutes and agenda are maintained by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
Additions to the minutes and agenda are transferred to the Texas State Archives on at least an annual basis. Administrative correspondence, however, has been an obsolete series since 1991.
Texas State Archives staff completed an appraisal of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists in May 1996. Five series on the agency’s retention schedule were determined to be archival: board meeting minutes and agenda, administrative correspondence, biennial budget requests, organizational charts, and strategic plans.
The archival requirement for the biennial budget requests, organization charts, and strategic plans is fulfilled by sending copies of the biennial budget requests (which contain organization charts) and strategic plans to the State Publications Depository Program of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The Texas Documents Collection holds biennial budget requests/legislative appropriations requests dating 1983-2004 (for FY 1984-2007); and strategic plans for 1995-1999, 1997-2001, 1998-2003, and 2001-2005.
Administrative correspondence is no longer an active series (since 1991), according to agency staff.
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists examines, licenses, and regulates psychologists and psychological associates practicing in the State of Texas. These records consist of copies of meeting minutes and agenda, plus attachments, which document the decisions made at meetings of the board, 1969-2007, and also at meetings of the Psychological Associate Advisory Committee, 1995-2003. The board minutes include the following: summaries of administrative hearings; lists of persons certified by the board as psychologists and as psychological associates; motions made, discussed, and acted upon by the board, concerning both general policy and specific actions; the texts of proposed rules and regulations up for adoption; summaries of complaints considered before the board; full texts of Agreed Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law, and Orders adopted by the board; and other documents included as attachments to the official minutes of the board. Between November 1995 and September 2003, these records also include minutes of the Psychological Associate Advisory Committee to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Agenda were included in the transfers of most minutes between 1995 and 2001. Topics of discussion and action of the board include applications of specific individuals for licensure as psychologists and as psychological associates, requests by licensees (e.g., deferral of oral examinations, waiver of fees, change of inactive status, etc.), disciplinary sanctions, complaints and continuing education violations, changes to administrative rules, budgets, concerns of psychological organizations and training institutions, etc.
These records are arranged into two groups (board and advisory committee), and within each group chronologically, as maintained by the agency.
(Identify the item), Meeting minutes and agenda, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1996/063, 1996/064, 1996/076, 1997/011, 1998/012, 1999/065, 2000/164, 2001/026, 2002/075, 2003/147, 2004/031, 2004/165, 2005/123, 2006/080, 2007/154, 2008/115
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists on February 23, 1996; March 19, 1996; September 4, 1996; September 25, 1997; December 3, 1998; June 21, 2000; October 9, 2000; November 13, 2001; April 15, 2003; October 6, 2003; November 4, 2004; December 21, 2005; April 5, 2007; and April 2, 2008; and by the Texas Legislative Reference Library on June 10, 2004.
Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Tony Black, December 1996, March 1998, February 1999, June 2000, November 2001, April 2003, October 2003, March 2005, April 2008
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (among other duties) monitors activities by persons allegedly violating the Psychologists' Certification and Licensing Act, including those portions of the Act relating to the advertising of psychological services. This correspondence documents alleged violations of the law prohibiting the misrepresentation of persons practicing psychology or offering psychological services for compensation without being so certified by the State of Texas. This correspondence consists of incoming and outgoing letters, with attachments (mainly copies of advertisements, especially in the newspapers or the telephone yellow pages), dating 1987-1991. The letters include complaints by the general public, initial warnings from the board sent by certified mail, and responses from alleged violators defending their advertisements or detailing their efforts to correct the situation. The series has been obsolete since 1991.
These records are arranged chronologically by year or group of years, then alphabetically by last name of person or organization under investigation, as they were maintained by the agency.
(Identify the item), Administrative correspondence, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1993/220, 1994/022, 1995/126
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists on August 12, 1993; October 26, 1993; and June 1, 1995.
None.
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Paul Beck, October 1993, June 1995