Fla. Stat. § 490.001
Short title
This chapter may be cited as the “Psychological Services Act.”
Florida Statutes Chapter 490 — PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
Florida · statute · Fla. Stat. ch. 490 · 23 active provisions
Fla. Stat. § 490.002
Intent
The Legislature finds that as society becomes increasingly complex, emotional survival is equal in importance to physical survival. Therefore, in order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public, the Legislature must provide privileged communication for members of the public or those acting on their beha…
Fla. Stat. § 490.003
Definitions
As used in this chapter:(1) “Board” means the Board of Psychology.(2) “Department” means the Department of Health.(3)(a) “Doctoral degree from an American Psychological Association accredited program” means a Psy.D., an Ed.D. in psychology, or a Ph.D. in psychology from a psychology program at an educational institutio…
Fla. Stat. § 490.004
Board of Psychology
(1) There is created within the department the Board of Psychology, composed of seven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.(2) Five members of the board must be psychologists licensed pursuant to this chapter in good standing in this state. The remaining two members must be citizens of the stat…
Fla. Stat. § 490.005
Licensure by examination
(1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a psychologist shall apply to the department to take the licensure examination. The department shall license each applicant whom the board certifies has met all of the following requirements:(a) Completed the application form and remitted a nonrefundable application fee not to…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0051
Provisional licensure; requirements
(1) The department shall issue a provisional psychology license to each applicant whom the board certifies has met all of the following criteria:(a) Completed the application form and remitted a nonrefundable application fee not to exceed $250, as set by board rule.(b) Submitted to background screening in accordance wi…
Fla. Stat. § 490.006
Licensure by endorsement
(1) The department shall license a person as a psychologist or school psychologist who, upon applying to the department, submitting to background screening in accordance with s. 456.0135, and remitting the appropriate fee, demonstrates to the department or, in the case of psychologists, to the board that the applicant…
Fla. Stat. § 490.007
Renewal of license
(1) The department or, in the case of psychologists, the board shall prescribe by rule a method for the biennial renewal of a license at a fee set by rule, not to exceed $500.(2) Each applicant for renewal shall present satisfactory evidence that, in the period since the license was issued, the applicant has completed…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0075
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact
The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact is hereby enacted and entered into by this state with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACTARTICLE IPURPOSEThis compact is designed to achieve the following purposes and objectives:(1) Increa…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0076
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact; public records and meetings exemptions
(1) A psychologist’s personal identifying information, other than the psychologist’s name, licensure status, or licensure number, obtained from the coordinated licensure information system, as described in Article IX of s. 490.0075, and held by the department or the Board of Psychology is exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0085
Continuing education; approval of providers, programs, and courses; proof of completion
(1) Continuing education providers, programs, and courses shall be approved by the department or, in the case of psychologists, the board.(2) The department or, in the case of psychologists, the board has the authority to set a fee not to exceed $500 for each applicant who applies for or renews provider status. Such fe…
Fla. Stat. § 490.009
Discipline
(1) The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action, as specified in s. 456.072(2) or s. 490.0075:(a) Attempting to obtain, obtaining, or renewing a license under this chapter by bribery or fraudulent misrepresentation or through an error of the board or department.(b) Having a lice…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0111
Sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct by any person licensed under this chapter, in the practice of her or his profession, is prohibited. Sexual misconduct shall be defined by rule.
Fla. Stat. § 490.012
Violations; penalties; injunction
(1)(a) No person shall hold herself or himself out by any professional title, name, or description incorporating the word “psychologist” unless such person holds a valid, active license as a psychologist under this chapter.(b) No person shall hold herself or himself out by any professional title, name, or description i…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0121
Licensed school psychologists; private sector services
It shall not be a violation of s. 112.313(7) for a licensed school psychologist employed by a school district to provide private sector services to students within that district if:(1) The parent, guardian, or adult client is informed in writing prior to provision of services of their eligibility for such free services…
Fla. Stat. § 490.014
Exemptions
(1)(a) No provision of this chapter shall be construed to limit the practice of physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459 so long as they do not hold themselves out to the public as psychologists or use a professional title protected by this chapter.(b) No provision of this chapter shall be construed t…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0141
Practice of hypnosis
A licensed psychologist who is qualified as determined by the board may practice hypnosis as defined in s. 485.003(1). The provisions of this chapter may not be interpreted to limit or affect the right of any person qualified pursuant to chapter 485 to practice hypnosis pursuant to that chapter or to practice hypnosis…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0143
Practice of sex therapy
Only a person licensed by this chapter who meets the qualifications set by the board may hold himself or herself out as a sex therapist. The board shall define these qualifications by rule. In establishing these qualifications, the board may refer to the sexual disorder and sexual dysfunction sections of the most curre…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0145
The practice of juvenile sexual offender therapy
Only a person licensed by this chapter who meets the qualifications set by the board may hold himself or herself out as a juvenile sexual offender therapist, except as provided in s. 491.0144. These qualifications shall be determined by the board. The board shall require training and coursework in the specific areas of…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0147
Confidentiality and privileged communications
(1) Any communication between a psychologist and her or his patient or client is confidential. This privilege may be waived under the following conditions:(a) When the psychologist is a party defendant to a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from a complaint filed by the patient or client, in which case th…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0148
Psychologist and school psychologist records
Each psychologist and school psychologist who provides services as defined in this chapter shall maintain records. The board or, in the case of a school psychologist, the department may adopt rules defining the minimum requirements for such records, including content, length of time such records shall be maintained, an…
Fla. Stat. § 490.0149
Specialties
(1) As used in this section, the term “certified psychology specialist,” “board-certified psychology specialist,” or “psychology diplomate” means a psychologist with recognized special competency acquired through an organized sequence of formal education, training, experience, and professional standing that is recogniz…
Fla. Stat. § 490.015
Duties of the department
(1) All functions reserved to boards under chapter 456 shall be exercised by the department with respect to the regulation of school psychologists and in a manner consistent with the exercise of its regulatory functions.(2) The department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.