The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists adopts new rule §463.11, Licensed Psychologist. The rule is adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the December 25, 2015, issue of the Texas Register (40 TexReg 9447) and will be republished.

The new rule is being adopted to ensure the protection and safety of the public.

The new rule as adopted is intended to replace the current version of the rule and reflects a collaborative effort by the Board and its stakeholders to consolidate the rules governing supervision into a more intuitive format. The adopted new rule requires applicants to complete a formal internship as part of their doctoral program, complete a total of 3,500 hours of supervised experience, and expands the number of formal internship programs specifically recognized by rule. The adopted new rule also requires the post-doctoral supervised experience be obtained as a provisional trainee or provisionally licensed psychologist, and clearly identifies the time frames for obtaining supervised experience. Lastly, the adopted new rule simplifies and clarifies the procedure for addressing gaps in an applicant's supervised experience.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of the new rule.

The new rule is adopted under Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Subtitle I, Chapter 501, which provides the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists with the authority to make all rules, not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of this State, which are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of its duties and regulations of proceedings before it.