2020 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions And Occupations
Article 245. Mental Health
Section 12-245-304. Qualifications - examinations - licensure and registration.

(1) The board shall issue a license as a psychologist to each applicant who files an application in a form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245205, and furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:

1. Is at least twenty-one years of age;

2. Is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rules promulgated by theboard;

3. Has completed a doctorate degree with a major in psychology, or the equivalent tothat major as determined by the board, from an approved school;

4. Has had at least one year of postdoctoral experience practicing psychology undersupervision approved by the board;

5. Demonstrates professional competence by passing a single, written examination inpsychology as prescribed by the board and a jurisprudence examination administered by the division; and

6. On and after July 14, 2020, upon the initial application for licensure has completed aname-based criminal history record check, as defined in section 22-2-119.3 (6)(d), with satisfactory results as determined by the board.

(2) (a) The examination by the board described in subsection (1)(e) of this section shall be given not less than twice per year at such time and place and under such supervision as the board may determine.

(b) The examination shall test for knowledge of the following three areas:

1. General psychology;

2. Clinical and counseling psychology; and

3. Application of the practice of clinical and counseling psychology, including knowledge of appropriate statutes and professional ethics.

(c) The board or its designated representatives shall administer and determine the pass or fail status of the examination and take any actions necessary to ensure impartiality. The board shall determine the passing score for the examination based upon a level of minimum competency to engage in the practice of psychology.

(3) (a) The board shall register as a psychologist candidate a person who files an application for registration, accompanied by the fee required by section 12-245-205, and who:

1. Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person has met the requirementsof subsections (1)(a), (1)(b), and (1)(c) of this section; and

2. Has not been previously registered as a psychologist candidate by the board.

(b) A psychologist candidate registered pursuant to this subsection (3) is under the jurisdiction of the board. The psychologist candidate may, but is not required to, register with the database of unlicensed psychotherapists pursuant to section 12-245-703. If the requirements of subsections (1)(d) and (1)(e) of this section are not met within four years, the registration of the psychologist candidate expires and is not renewable unless the board, in its discretion, grants the candidate an extension. A person whose psychologist candidate registration expires is not precluded from applying for licensure or registration with any other mental health board for which the person is qualified.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1260, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(d), (1)(e), and (3)(b) amended and (1)(f) added, (HB 201206), ch. 304, pp. 1535, 1548, §§ 23, 54, effective July 14.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-304 as it existed prior to 2019.