Originally published: . Volume 2, No. 9. Source pages: 4.
In an April 22, letter addressed to Louisiana Senators in the Commerce Committee, Executive Director for Professional Practice in APA, Dr. Katherine Nordal wrote saying, “APA is strongly opposed to combining licensing boards for different mental health professions,” and that “The most serious problem with the ‘omnibus’ board structure is that it attempts to combine into one group different disciplines with different educational and training standards, scopes of practice, and ethical principles.”
“This raises questions about the ability of such a board to ensure public protection,” she noted.
Nordal also wrote that “…it is essential that the licensing board and disciplinary body for a profession be comprised of individuals who themselves are thoroughly educated and trained in the discipline.” And, “Not only does the education and training for psychology differ from that of MFTs and LPCs, but it is significantly more extensive and variable.”
She wrote that there is little support for this approach, and that “attempts to develop this type of legislation have been defeated in states such as Alaska, California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. Colorado had such a system in place and dismantled it in 1998.”
“…SB 226 would not serve the citizens of Louisiana well…” she wrote and urged the Senators to reject the proposed structure.
For a copy of this letter contact thepsychologytimes @drjulienelson.com.
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