South Carolina Code 40-55-340. Compact privilege to practice telepsychology
(B) To exercise the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology under the terms and provisions of this compact, a psychologist licensed to practice in a compact state must:
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-55-340
- Adverse action: means any action taken by a state psychology regulatory authority which finds a violation of a statute or regulation that is identified by the state psychology regulatory authority as discipline and is a matter of public record. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- Authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology: means a licensed psychologist's authority to practice telepsychology, within the limits authorized under this compact, in another compact state. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- commission: means the national administration of which all compact states are members. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- Compact state: means a state, the District of Columbia, or United States territory that has enacted this compact legislation and which has not withdrawn pursuant to § 40-55-430(C) or been terminated pursuant to § 40-55-420(B). See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- Department: means the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation;
(5) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation or the director's official designee;
(6) "Licensee" means a person granted an authorization to practice pursuant to this article and refers to a person holding a license, permit, certification, or registration granted pursuant to this article;
(7) "Licensing act" means the individual statute or regulations, or both, of each regulated profession or occupation which include, but are not limited to, board governance, the qualifications and requirements for authorization to practice, prohibitions, and disciplinary procedures;
(8) "Person" means an individual, partnership, or corporation;
(9) "Profession" or "occupation" means a profession or occupation regulated or administered, or both, by the department pursuant to this article. See South Carolina Code 40-1-20 - Home state: means a compact state where a psychologist is licensed to practice psychology. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- Identity history summary: means a summary of information retained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or other designee with similar authority, in connection with arrests and, in some instances, federal employment, naturalization, or military service. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- License: means authorization by a state psychology regulatory authority to engage in the independent practice of psychology, which would be unlawful without the authorization. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- Psychologist: means an individual licensed for the independent practice of psychology. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- Receiving state: means a compact state where the client/patient is physically located when the telepsychological services are delivered. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- State: means a state, commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- Telepsychology: means the provision of psychological services using telecommunication technologies. See South Carolina Code 40-55-320
(1) hold a graduate degree in psychology from an institute of higher education that was, at the time the degree was awarded:
(a) regionally accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to grant graduate degrees, or authorized by Provincial Statute or Royal Charter to grant doctoral degrees; or
(b) a foreign college or university deemed to be equivalent to item (1)(a) by a foreign credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or by a recognized foreign credential evaluation service; and
(2) hold a graduate degree in psychology that meets the following criteria:
(a) the program, wherever it may be administratively housed, must be clearly identified and labeled as a psychology program. Such a program must specify in pertinent institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train professional psychologists;
(b) the psychology program must stand as a recognizable, coherent, organizational entity within the institution;
(c) there must be a clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas whether or not the program cuts across administrative lines;
(d) the program must consist of an integrated, organized sequence of study;
(e) there must be an identifiable psychology faculty sufficient in size and breadth to carry out its responsibilities;
(f) the designated director of the program must be a psychologist and a member of the core faculty;
(g) the program must have an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree;
(h) the program must include supervised practicum, internship, or field training appropriate to the practice of psychology;
(i) the curriculum shall encompass a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study for a doctoral degree and a minimum of one academic year of full-time graduate study for a master’s degree; and
(j) the program includes an acceptable residency as defined by the rules of the commission;
(3) possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice psychology in a home state which is a compact state;
(4) have no history of adverse action that violates the rules of the commission;
(5) have no criminal record history reported on an identity history summary that violates the rules of the commission;
(6) possess a current, active E. Passport;
(7) provide attestations in regard to areas of intended practice, conformity with standards of practice, competence in telepsychology technology, criminal background, and knowledge and adherence to legal requirements in the home and receiving states, and provide a release of information to allow for primary source verification in a manner specified by the commission; and
(8) meet other criteria as defined by the rules of the commission.
(C) The home state maintains authority over the license of any psychologist practicing into a receiving state under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology.
(D) A psychologist practicing in a receiving state under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology will be subject to the receiving state’s scope of practice. A receiving state may, in accordance with that state’s due process law, limit or revoke a psychologist’s authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology in the receiving state and may take any other necessary actions under the receiving state’s applicable law to protect the health and safety of the receiving state’s citizens. If a receiving state takes action, the state shall promptly notify the home state and the commission.
(E) If a psychologist’s license in any home state, another compact state, or any authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology in any receiving state, is restricted, suspended, or otherwise limited, the E. Passport shall be revoked and therefore the psychologist shall not be eligible to practice telepsychology in a compact state under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology.