Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee Title 1180 - Board of Examiners in Psychology
Title 1180 of the Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee is specifically dedicated to the Board of Examiners in Psychology. This Board is responsible for safeguarding the public's health, safety, and welfare by ensuring that individuals practicing as psychologists or psychological examiners in Tennessee are qualified and adhere to established standards of practice and ethics.
The Board's mission is achieved through:
Licensing: Setting requirements and procedures for licensure for various levels of psychology practitioners.
Regulation: Establishing the scope of practice, ethical standards, and continuing education requirements.
Enforcement: Investigating alleged violations of the practice act and rules, and disciplining licensees found guilty of such violations.
Here's a breakdown of the key chapters and areas covered within Title 1180:
Chapter 1180-01 - General Rules Governing the Practice of Psychologists, Senior Psychological Examiners, Psychological Examiners, and Certified Psychological Assistants: This foundational chapter covers broad regulations applicable to all categories of licensees. Key topics include:
Patient Records (§ 1180-01-.06): Detailed rules on the creation, maintenance, content, security, retention, and destruction of patient records. This includes provisions for patient notification in cases of practitioner departure or abandonment of practice, and requirements for retaining records for specific periods (e.g., 7 years from last contact, longer for minors or incompetent patients).
Retirement and Reactivation of License or Certificate (§ 1180-01-.07): Procedures for changing license status to retired and the requirements for reactivating a retired license, depending on the duration of inactivity.
Continuing Education (§ 1180-01-.08): Requirements for ongoing professional development, often specifying types of acceptable credit hours (e.g., Type I, Type II, Type III) and may include specific hour requirements for cultural diversity and ethics related to Tennessee statutes and rules.
General ethical considerations and professional conduct guidelines.
Chapter 1180-02 - Rules Governing Psychologists: This chapter specifically details the regulations for licensed psychologists, including those with a Health Service Provider (HSP) designation. Key areas include:
Scope of Practice (§ 1180-02-.01): Defines the activities a licensed psychologist is authorized to perform, including psychological testing, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and nervous disorders, as well as counseling, psychotherapy, and behavior analysis. It also specifies the limitations based on the psychologist's training and licensure.
Qualifications for Licensure (§ 1180-02-.02): Outlines the stringent educational and supervised experience requirements, including doctoral degree from an APA-approved or equivalent program, and extensive supervised professional experience (e.g., 3,800 hours, including an internship and post-doctoral hours).
Procedures for Licensure (§ 1180-02-.03): The application process, documentation, and fees.
Examinations (§ 1180-02-.04): Requirements for passing both the national Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Tennessee-specific Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination (an open-book test on state laws, rules, and APA ethical standards).
Temporary and Provisional Licenses (§ 1180-02-.05, § 1180-02-.06): Conditions under which these limited licenses may be issued.
Telepsychology (§ 1180-02-.27): Regulations specifically addressing the practice of psychology via telecommunication technologies.
Chapter 1180-03 - Rules Governing Psychological Examiners and Senior Psychological Examiners: This chapter focuses on the specific requirements and scope of practice for these categories of licensees, including qualifications for upgrading from Psychological Examiner to Senior Psychological Examiner.
Chapter 1180-04 - Rules Governing Certified Psychological Assistants: This chapter outlines the regulations for certified psychological assistants, including their scope of practice and supervision requirements.
Chapter 1180-05 - General Rules Governing the Practice of Licensed Behavior Analysts and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analysts: This newer chapter addresses the growing field of behavior analysis, setting forth rules for the licensure and practice of behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts, including their continuing education requirements (e.g., cultural diversity).
Administrative Context:
The Board of Examiners in Psychology operates under the broader umbrella of the Tennessee Department of Health's Division of Health Related Boards. This division provides administrative support to various health-related licensing boards in the state, ensuring consistent administrative processes and public protection.
Where to Find the Full Text:
The most accurate and up-to-date version of Title 1180 of the Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee can be found on:
Tennessee Secretary of State's Office - Publications Division: This is the primary official source for Tennessee's Administrative Rules. You can typically find them by searching "Tennessee Rules and Regulations" on the Secretary of State's website (sos.tn.gov) or directly through their publications portal (publications.tnsosfiles.com).
Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology Website: The official website for the Board (part of the Tennessee Department of Health: www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/psychology-board/psych-board.html) often provides direct links to the relevant laws and administrative rules.
Legal Information Institute (LII) at Cornell Law School: Provides a comprehensive and user-friendly version: www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/title-1180.
Justia: Another reliable legal resource for state regulations: regulations.justia.com/states/tennessee/title-1180/.
Always consult these official sources for the most current and legally accurate information.
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