Chapter 455

subch. I of ch. 455 SUBCHAPTER I

REGULATION OF PSYCHOLOGY

455.01 455.01 Definitions. In this subchapter:

455.01(1) (1) “Authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology” has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (b).

455.01(2) (2) “Doctoral degree in psychology” means a doctoral degree in a study which involves the application of principles of the practice of psychology. A doctoral degree granted as the result of study involving one or more of the areas of psychological practice recognized by the American psychological association or in any other field recognized by the examining board shall be considered a doctoral degree in psychology.

455.01(2m) (2m) “E.Passport” has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (g).

455.01(3) (3) “Examining board” means the psychology examining board.

455.01(3m) (3m) “Fee,” when used other than in reference to a fee for a credential, means direct or indirect payment or compensation, monetary or otherwise, including the expectation of payment or compensation whether or not actually received.

455.01(3r) (3r) “Interjurisdictional practice certificate” has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (im).

455.01(5) (5) 

455.01(5)(a) (a) “Practice of psychology” means the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, prediction, or modification of human behavior by the application of psychological principles, methods, or procedures for any of the following purposes, in exchange for a fee:

455.01(5)(a)1. 1. Preventing, eliminating, evaluating, assessing, or predicting symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior and promoting adaptive health maintaining behavior or psychological functioning.

455.01(5)(a)2. 2. Assisting in legal decision-making.

455.01(5)(b) (b) “Practice of psychology” includes all of the following if done in exchange for a fee:

455.01(5)(b)1. 1. Psychological testing and the evaluation or assessment of a person’s characteristics, including intelligence; personality; cognitive, physical, or emotional abilities; skills; interests; aptitudes; or neuropsychological functioning.

455.01(5)(b)2. 2. Counseling, consultation, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, behavior therapy, and applied behavior analysis.

455.01(5)(b)3. 3. The diagnosis, treatment, or management of mental and emotional disorders or disabilities, substance use disorders, disorders of habit or conduct, and the psychological aspects of physical illnesses, accidents, injuries, or disabilities.

455.01(5)(b)4. 4. Psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, or remediation.

455.01(5)(b)5. 5. Consultation with other psychologists, physicians, or other health care professionals and with a patient regarding all available treatment options with respect to the provision of care for a specific patient or client.

455.01(5)(b)6. 6. The supervision of anything specified in subds. 1. to 5.

455.01(6) (6) “Psychotherapy” means the diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders, conditions, or addictions through the application of methods derived from established psychological or systemic principles, including for the purpose of assisting individuals with modifying their behaviors, cognitions, emotions, or personality characteristics, or for the purpose of understanding unconscious processes or intrapersonal, interpersonal, or psychosocial dynamics.

455.01(9) (9) “Temporary authorization to practice” has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (o).

455.01 History History: 1977 c. 192, 273, 418; 1989 a. 243; 1995 a. 188; 2021 a. 22, 131.

455.02 455.02 License required to practice; use of titles.

455.02(1m) (1m) License required.

455.02(1m)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (2m) and ss. 257.03 and 455.03, no person may engage in the practice of psychology, or attempt to do so or make a representation as authorized to do so, without a license issued by the examining board.

455.02(1m)(b) (b) Except as provided in sub. (2m) and ss. 257.03 and 455.03, only an individual licensed under s. 455.04 (1) or (2) may use the title “psychologist” or any similar title or state or imply that he or she is licensed to practice psychology. Except as provided in sub. (2m) and ss. 257.03 and 455.03, only an individual licensed under s. 455.04 (1) or (2) may represent himself or herself to the public by any description of services incorporating the word “psychological” or “psychology.”

455.02(2m) (2m) Exceptions. A license under this subchapter is not required for any of the following:

455.02(2m)(a) (a) A person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, certificate or certification granted by this state.

455.02(2m)(b) (b) A person providing psychological services as directed, supervised and inspected by a psychologist who has the power to direct, decide and oversee the implementation of the services provided.

455.02(2m)(c) (c) The performance of official duties by personnel of any of the armed services or federal health services of the United States.

455.02(2m)(d) (d) A person employed in a position as a psychologist or psychological assistant by a regionally accredited higher educational institution, if the person is performing activities that are a part of the duties for which he or she is employed, is performing those activities solely within the confines of or under the jurisdictions of the institution in which he or she is employed, and does not render or offer to render psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she receives for the performance of the official duties with the institution with which he or she is employed. An individual acting under this paragraph may teach the practice of psychology, conduct psychological research, present lectures on the practice of psychology, perform any consultation required by his or her academic or research functions, or provide expert testimony in court related to his or her field of expertise. A person employed in a position under this paragraph may utilize or represent himself or herself by the academic or research title conferred upon him or her by the administration of the laboratory, school, college, or university or use the title “psychology professor” or “academic psychologist.”

455.02(2m)(e) (e) A person pursuing a course of study leading to a graduate degree in medicine, social work, marriage and family therapy or professional counseling at an accredited college or university while working in a training program, if the person’s activities and services constitute a part of his or her supervised course of study and the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates the training status appropriate to the person’s level of training.

455.02(2m)(f) (f) A person providing psychological services as part of a psychology training program, if his or her activities and services constitute a part of the supervised course of study and are performed under the supervision of a psychologist licensed under this subchapter and the person does not provide or offer to provide psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she may receive for the performance of the official duties with the employing agency or organization. A person providing services under this paragraph may use the title “psychology student,” “psychology intern,” or “psychology resident.”

455.02(2m)(g) (g) A person certified by the department of public instruction to provide psychological or counseling services, if the person is performing activities that are a part of the duties for which he or she is employed, is performing those activities solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the school district by which he or she is employed and does not render or offer to render psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she receives for the performance of the official duties with the school district by which he or she is employed.

455.02(2m)(i) (i) An ordained member of the clergy of any religious denomination or sect who is associated with a church, synagogue or other religious organization, contributions to which are tax deductible for federal and state income tax purposes, if the member of the clergy is engaged in activities that are within the scope of his or her regular duties as a member of the clergy and that are not rendered to the public for a fee over and above the salary or other compensation that the member of the clergy receives for the performance of his or her official duties as a member of the clergy with the church, synagogue or religious organization with which he or she is associated.

455.02(2m)(k) (k) A person whose activities are limited to educational or vocational counseling or testing that is performed in a human resources, personnel, or educational setting.

455.02(2m)(L) (L) A mental health professional who has met all of the qualifications under s. DHS 61.96, Wis. Adm. Code, for employment as a mental health professional in an outpatient psychotherapy clinic certified by the department of health services under s. DHS 61.95, Wis. Adm. Code, if the person is performing activities that are a part of the duties for which he or she is employed by such a certified outpatient psychotherapy clinic and is performing those activities solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the clinic by which he or she is employed.

455.02(2m)(m) (m) A person providing psychological services as an employee of a federal governmental agency, if the person is providing the psychological services as a part of the duties for which he or she is employed, is providing the psychological services solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the agency by which he or she is employed, and does not provide or offer to provide psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she receives for the performance of the official duties with the agency by which he or she is employed.

455.02(2m)(n) (n) A person coordinating or participating in the activities of a nonprofit peer support group, if the person performs those activities solely within the confines of the peer support group and does not render or offer to render psychological services to the public for a fee.

455.02(2m)(o) (o) A person providing psychological services as an employee of a state or local governmental agency, if the person is providing the psychological services as a part of the duties for which he or she is employed, is providing the psychological services solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the agency by which he or she is employed, does not provide or offer to provide psychological services to the public for a fee over and above the salary that he or she receives for the performance of the official duties with the agency by which he or she is employed, and has received a master’s degree in psychology from a regionally accredited higher educational institution or has fulfilled requirements commensurate with a master’s degree, as determined by the examining board. The examining board may promulgate rules to further establish requirements for exemptions under this paragraph for persons who do not hold a master’s degree in psychology. A person providing services under this paragraph may use the title “psychological associate.”

455.02(2m)(p) (p) A person providing psychological services under the supervision of a psychologist licensed under this subchapter as part of a formal psychology fellowship program that meets the program standards of an organization as determined by the examining board. A person providing services under this paragraph may use the title “psychology fellow.”

455.02(2m)(q) (q) A person whose activities are limited to testifying in a court in this state regarding services rendered in another state.

455.02(2m)(r) (r) A person engaging in the private practice of school psychology who holds a valid private practice school psychologist license issued under s. 455.04 (4), 2019 stats. A person acting under this paragraph may use the title “private practice school psychologist.”

455.02(2m)(s) (s) A person who holds a doctoral degree in psychology but does not engage in the practice of psychology. A person described in this paragraph may use the title “psychologist” or “doctor of psychology.”

455.02 History History: 1979 c. 162 ss. 30, 38 (7); 1989 a. 243; 1995 a. 27 ss. 9126 (19), 9145 (1); 1995 a. 188; 1995 a. 225 s. 466; 1997 a. 35, 261; 2001 a. 38, 104; 2005 a. 96; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 42, 180; 2021 a. 22, 131.

455.025 455.025 Practice of medicine and surgery. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize a psychologist to engage in the practice of medicine and surgery.

455.025 History History: 2021 a. 22.

455.03 455.03 Temporary practice; telepsychology.

455.03(1) (1) 

455.03(1)(a) (a) In this subsection, “day” means any part of a day during which psychological services are rendered.

455.03(1)(b) (b) A psychologist who is licensed or certified by a similar examining board of another state or territory of the United States or of a foreign country or province whose standards, in the opinion of the examining board, are equivalent to or higher than the requirements for licensure as a psychologist in s. 455.04 (1) may provide psychological services in this state on not more than 60 days in any year without holding a license issued under s. 455.04 (1). The psychologist shall report to the examining board the nature and extent of his or her practice in this state if it exceeds 20 days within a year.

455.03(2) (2) An individual who holds a valid interjurisdictional practice certificate may exercise the temporary authorization to practice in this state, subject to ss. 455.50 (5) and 455.51 (2) (a) 1. and (b) 1.

455.03(3) (3) An individual who holds a valid E.Passport may practice under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology as provided in and subject to ss. 455.50 (4) and (6) and 455.51 (2) (a) 2. and (b) 2.

455.03 History History: 1989 a. 243; 2021 a. 22, 131.

455.04 455.04 Licensure of psychologists.

455.04(1) (1) Subject to s. 455.09, the examining board shall grant a psychologist license to an individual who submits an application for the license, pays the fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9), and satisfies all of the following requirements:

455.04(1)(a) (a) Be at least 18 years of age.

455.04(1)(b) (b) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, not have a conviction record.

455.04(1)(c) (c) Hold a doctoral degree in psychology from a program accredited by an organization approved by the examining board, or have had other academic training that the examining board determines to be substantially equivalent on the basis of standards established by rule. The examining board may require examinations to determine the equivalence of training for individuals holding doctoral degrees in psychology from non-American universities.

455.04(1)(d) (d) Complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised graduate-level experience in the practice of psychology under conditions satisfactory to the examining board and established by rule. Supervised hours shall consist of all of the following:

455.04(1)(d)1. 1. At least 1,500 hours of experience in a successfully completed internship, which shall be accrued after the completion of all doctoral level coursework.

455.04(1)(d)2. 2. At least 1,500 hours of experience consisting of any combination of the following, as established by the examining board by rule:

455.04(1)(d)2.a. a. Pre-internship hours that occur after the completion of the first year of the doctoral program or at any time while in a doctoral program after the completion of a master’s degree in psychology or its equivalent, as defined by the examining board by rule.

455.04(1)(d)2.b. b. Hours accrued in the internship described in subd. 1. that are in excess of the 1,500 hours required under subd. 1.

455.04(1)(d)2.c. c. Post-internship hours accrued after the completion of the internship under subd. 1., but before the conferral of the doctoral degree.

455.04(1)(d)2.d. d. Postdoctoral hours obtained after the conferral of the doctoral degree.

455.04(1)(e) (e) Pass the examination under s. 455.045 (1) (a).

455.04(1)(f) (f) Pass the examination under s. 455.045 (1) (b).

455.04(2) (2) Subject to s. 455.09, the examining board shall grant an interim psychologist license to an individual who submits an application for the license, pays the fee specified under s. 440.05 (6), and satisfies the requirements for a license under sub. (1) (a) to (c), (d) 1., and (f). An individual licensed under this subsection may provide psychological services only under the supervision of qualified supervisors, as determined by the examining board.

455.04(3) (3) The examining board may waive the requirements of sub. (1) (c) to (e) if an applicant holds a certificate or license of an examining board of some other state or territory or foreign country or province, if the standards of such other examining board are deemed by the members of this examining board to be substantially equivalent to the standards of this state.

455.04(4) (4) An individual who, on May 31, 2021, held a valid private practice school psychologist license under s. 455.04 (4), 2019 stats., may continue to renew that license as provided in s. 455.06. The examining board may not grant any initial private practice school psychologist license on the basis of an application received on or after June 1, 2021.

455.04(5) (5) Applicants for licensure under this section may be required to appear before the examining board in person prior to licensure to allow the examining board to make such inquiry of them as to qualifications and other matters as it considers proper.

455.04 History History: 1971 c. 213 s. 5; 1975 c. 198; 1977 c. 192; 1981 c. 380; 1981 c. 391 s. 211; 1987 a. 403; 1989 a. 243 ss. 6 to 9, 12, 13; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 188; 1997 a. 27; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2021 a. 22.

455.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Psy 2, Wis. adm. code.

455.045 455.045 Examinations.

455.045(1) (1) In order to qualify for a psychologist license under s. 455.04 (1), an applicant must have passed all of the following examinations:

455.045(1)(a) (a) A written examination on the professional practice of psychology.

455.045(1)(b) (b) A written examination on state law related to the practice of psychology.

455.045(3) (3) The examining board shall set passing scores for examinations under sub. (1) (a) or (b). The examining board may adopt passing scores recommended by test developers.

455.045 History History: 1989 a. 243; 2021 a. 22.

455.045 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Psy 2, Wis. adm. code.

455.06 455.06 Renewals.

455.06(1) (1) 

455.06(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the renewal dates for licenses issued under this subchapter or under s. 455.04 (4), 2019 stats., are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fee for such licenses is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

455.06(1)(b) (b) A license issued under s. 455.04 (2) is valid for 2 years or until the individual obtains a license under s. 455.04 (1) and may not be renewed, except that the examining board may promulgate rules specifying circumstances in which the examining board, in cases of hardship, may allow an individual to renew a license issued under s. 455.04 (2). Notwithstanding sub. (2), an individual holding a license issued under s. 455.04 (2) is not required to complete continuing education.

455.06(2) (2) An applicant for renewal of a license issued under this subchapter or under s. 455.04 (4), 2019 stats., shall include with his or her application proof in the form specified by the examining board that he or she has completed the hours of continuing education required under s. 455.065.

455.06 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 162; 1989 a. 243; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 188; 2007 a. 20; 2021 a. 22, 131.

455.06 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Psy 4, Wis. adm. code.