EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0911*
HOUSE BILL 911
J2 2lr2741
By: Delegate Bagnall Delegates Bagnall, Belcastro, Bhandari, Carr, Chisholm,
Cullison, Hill, Johnson, Kaiser, Kelly, Kerr, Kipke, Landis, R. Lewis,
Morgan, Reilly, Rosenberg, Saab, Sample–Hughes, Szeliga, and K. Young
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2022
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 10, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Occupations – Psychologists – Doctoral Degrees Licensure Qualifications 2
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “doctoral degree in psychology” to include a 3
certain postdoctoral respecialization certificate for purposes of licensure the 4
qualifications an individual must have to be licensed as a psychologist by the State 5
Board of Examiners of Psychologists; and generally relating to the licensure of 6
psychologists and doctoral degrees. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Health Occupations 9
Section 18–101(c) and 18–302(f) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2021 Replacement Volume) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Health Occupations 15
18–101. 16
(c) (1) “Doctoral degree in psychology” means: 17
2 HOUSE BILL 911
(i) A degree received from a program that at the time the degree was 1
awarded: 2
1. Is accredited by the American Psychological Association or 3
the Canadian Psychological Association; or 4
2. Is listed in the designated doctoral programs in psychology 5
published by the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in 6
Psychology; [or] 7
(II) A POSTDOCTORAL RESPECIALIZAT ION CERTIFICATE FROM 8
A PROGRAM THAT AT TH E TIME THE CERTIFICA TE WAS AWARDED WAS O FFERED 9
THROUGH A DEGREE PRO GRAM THAT IS ACCREDI TED BY THE AMERICAN 10
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION A DEGREE RECEIVED FROM A DOCTORAL PROGRAM 11
IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM A SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY THAT, AT THE TIME THE DEGR EE 12
WAS AWARDED , HAD A REGIONAL ACCRE DITATION RECOGNIZED BY THE COUNCIL 13
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION OR THE CANADIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL 14
ASSOCIATION; OR 15
[(ii)] (III) A doctoral degree in psychology that the Council for the 16
National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology determines meets its criteria 17
for a doctoral degree in psychology, if the degree was received from a doctoral program in 18
psychology that: 19
1. Is located outside the United States and Canada; 20
2. Is currently accredited or designated in accordance with 21
item (i) of this paragraph, but was not accredited or designated at the time the degree was 22
awarded; 23
3. Was completed prior to 1981 for United States programs; 24
4. Was completed prior to 1988 for Canadian programs; or 25
5. Is no longer in existence. 26
(2) (i) A determination by the Council under paragraph [(1)(ii)] (1)(III) 27
of this subsection that a doctoral degree in psychology meets its criteria shall be considered 28
by the Board as prima facie evidence that the degree meets those criteria. 29
(ii) In determining whether the degree in psychology meets the 30
criteria described in paragraph [(1)(ii)] (1)(III) of this subsection and subparagraph (i) of 31
this paragraph, the Board may consider the completion of postdoctoral course work in 32
psychology, not to exceed 9 semester hours. 33
18–302. 34 HOUSE BILL 911 3
(f) In addition to the other requirements of this section, to qualify to be a licensed 1
psychologist, an applicant [shall] MUST HAVE: 2
(1) (I) [Have a] A doctoral degree in psychology AS DEFINED IN § 3
18–101(C)(1)(I) OR (III) OF THIS TITLE; and 4
[(2)] (II) [Have at] AT least 2 years of professional, supervised experience 5
in psychology that is approved by the Board in accordance with regulations adopted by the 6
Board; OR 7
(2) (I) A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN P SYCHOLOGY AS DEFINED IN § 8
18–101(C)(1)(II) OF THIS TITLE; 9
(II) RECEIVED A POSTDOCTOR AL RESPECIALIZATION 10
CERTIFICATE FROM A D EPARTMENT OF PSYCHOL OGY THAT, AT THE TIME THE 11
CERTIFICATE WAS ISSU ED, HAD A DEGREE PROGRAM THAT WAS ACCREDITED BY THE 12
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OR THE CANADIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL 13
ASSOCIATION; 14
(III) COMPLETED A MINIMUM O F 1,500 HOURS OF 15
POSTCERTIFICATION AD VANCED TRAINING HOUR S OR PRECERTIFICAT ION HOURS 16
OF SERVICE AS A REGI STERED PSYCHOLOGY AS SOCIATE IN ACCORDANC E WITH 17
REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD; AND 18
(IV) AT LEAST 2 YEARS OF PROFESSIONA L, SUPERVISED 19
EXPERIENCE IN PSYCHO LOGY THAT IS APPROVE D BY THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE 20
WITH REGULATIONS A DOPTED BY THE BOARD. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 22
October 1, 2022. 23
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.