A person other than a licensed psychologist may be employed by a licensed psychologist, by a licensed physician and surgeon who is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, by a clinic that provides mental health services under contract pursuant to Section 5614 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, by a psychological corporation, by a licensed psychology clinic as defined in Section 1204.1 of the Health and Safety Code, or by a medical corporation to perform limited psychological functions if all of the following apply:
(a)
The person is termed a “psychological assistant.”
(b)
The person (1) has
completed a master’s degree in psychology or education with the field of specialization in psychology or counseling psychology, or (2) has been admitted to candidacy for a doctoral degree in psychology or education with the field of specialization in psychology or counseling psychology, after having satisfactorily completed three or more years of postgraduate education in psychology and having passed preliminary doctoral examinations, or (3) has completed a doctoral degree that qualifies for licensure under Section 2914, in an accredited or approved university, college, or professional school located in the United States or Canada.
(c)
The person is at all times under the immediate supervision, as defined in regulations adopted by the board, of a licensed psychologist, or board certified psychiatrist, who shall be responsible for insuring that the extent, kind, and quality of the psychological services he or she performs are consistent with his
or her training and experience and be responsible for his or her compliance with this chapter and regulations duly adopted hereunder, including those provisions set forth in Section 2960.
(d)
(1)The licensed psychologist, board certified psychiatrist, contract clinic, psychological corporation, or medical corporation, has registered the psychological assistant with the board. The registration shall be renewed annually in accordance with regulations adopted by the board.
(2)
No licensed psychologist may register, employ, or supervise more than three psychological assistants at any given time unless specifically authorized to do so by the board. No board certified psychiatrist may register, employ, or supervise more than one psychological assistant at any given time. No contract clinic, psychological corporation, or medical corporation may employ more than 10
assistants at any one time. No contract clinic may register, employ, or provide supervision for more than one psychological assistant for each designated full-time staff psychiatrist who is qualified and supervises the psychological assistants. No psychological assistant may provide psychological services to the public except as an employee of a licensed psychologist, licensed physician, contract clinic, psychological corporation, or medical corporation.
(e)
The psychological assistant shall comply with regulations that the board may, from time to time, duly adopt relating to the fulfillment of requirements in continuing education.
(f)
No person shall practice as a psychological assistant who is found by the board to be in violation of Section 2960 and the rules and regulations duly adopted pursuant to that section.