Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T01:58:53.543Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Licensure Issue in Consulting and I-O Psychology: A Discussion Paper

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2017

Abstract

The Licensure of Consulting and Industrial–Organizational (I-O) Psychologists (LCIOP) Joint Task Force has been examining the controversial issue of licensing I-O and consulting psychologists since 2014. We argue that constructive engagement with licensure is important for setting the future direction of the laws and regulations that govern professional psychology. We review relevant background information, current pressures on regulators, and recent developments in this area. We outline recommendations for jurisdictions’ regulators as well the I-O and consulting psychology communities to consider, discuss, and possibly act on. Others are invited to join the constructive, sometimes vigorous discussions we have enjoyed within the LCIOP Joint Task Force.

Type
Focal Article
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Licensure of Consulting and I-O Psychologists (LCIOP) Joint Task Force

Views expressed in this article are those of the Licensure of Consulting and Industrial– Organizational (I-O) Psychologists (LCIOP) Joint Task Force and have not been endorsed by members’ sponsor organizations. The content of this article represents the collective, negotiated perspective of the LCIOP Joint Task Force. The information, opinions, and recommendations expressed herein have not been endorsed by and do not represent official positions of the LCIOP Joint Task Force's sponsor organizations—the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the Society of Consulting Psychology (SCP), and the Canadian Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (CSIOP)—or of any related organization (e.g., American Psychological Association, Canadian Psychological Association). This article is intended to educate stakeholders on issues related to licensure of I-O and consulting psychologists and promote constructive discussion of the topic and the Joint Task Force's recommendations, which are subject to change. We hope this discussion article and the associated commentaries will be helpful to stakeholders, but the views expressed are in no way binding on any sponsor (or other) organization. The LCIOP Joint Task Force will produce a separate, final report for its sponsors. Also, individual members of the Joint Task Force retain diverse perspectives on this topic and may not necessarily agree with every aspect of the negotiated perspective contained herein.

Members of the LCIOP Joint Task Force: R. Blake Jelley (lead author), CSIOP, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and Faculty of Business, University of Prince Edward Island; Don L. Crowder, ASPPB, Peachtree City, Georgia; Judith S. Blanton, SCP and Blanton Consulting, Pasadena, California; Stephen T. DeMers, ASPPB; Mark S. Nagy, SIOP, Bowling Green, Ohio, and School of Psychology, Xavier University; Cindy Olvey, ASPPB and Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners, Phoenix, Arizona; Daniel A. Schroeder, ASPPB; Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board, Madison, Wisconsin; School of Business, Edgewood College; and Organization Development Consultants, Inc., Brookfield, Wisconsin; Alex Siegel, ASPPB.

Thanks to those who provided feedback on previous versions of this article.

References

American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.Google Scholar
American Psychological Association. (2010). Model act for state licensure of psychologists. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/model-act-2010.pdf Google Scholar
American Psychological Association. (2014a). Demographic characteristics of Division 13 members by membership status, 2014. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/division/officers/services/div-13-2014.pdf Google Scholar
American Psychological Association. (2014b). Demographic characteristics of Division 14 members by membership status, 2014. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/division/officers/services/div-14-2014.pdf Google Scholar
Association of Canadian Psychology Regulatory Organizations. (2014). ACPRO position statement—National standard for entry to practice. Retrieved from http://www.acpro-aocrp.ca/documents/ACPRO%20Position%20Statement%20-%20National%20Standard%20-%20November%202014.pdf Google Scholar
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. (2010). ASPPB model act for licensure and registration of psychologists. Peachtree City, GA: Author. Retrieved from http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/guidelines/final_approved_mlra_november.pdf?hhSearchTerms=%22model+and+act%22 Google Scholar
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. (2013, August). Board of directors meeting minutes. Peachtree City, GA: Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.Google Scholar
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. (2014). ASPPB guidelines for continuing professional development. Peachtree City, GA: Author. Retrieved from http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/guidelines/asppb_guidelines_for_continu.pdf Google Scholar
Atkinson, D. J. (2000). Legal issues in licensure policy. In Schoon, C. G. & Smith, I. L. (Eds.), The licensure and certification mission: Legal, social, and political foundations (pp. 124144). New York, NY: Professional Examination Service.Google Scholar
Axton, T. R., Porr, B., Dumani, S., & Ferro, M. (2016). Licensing and industrial–organizational psychologists: Member needs and news. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 54 (1). Retrieved from http://www.siop.org/tip/july16/license.aspx Google Scholar
Blanton, J. S. (2014). Supervision practices in consulting and industrial–organizational psychology doctoral programs and consulting firms. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 66 (1), 5376. doi:10.1037/a0035681 Google Scholar
Brannick, J. P. (2014). Context matters: Competencies for the global practice of industrial–organizational psychology. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7 (1), 5458.Google Scholar
Byrne, Z. S., Hayes, T. L., McPhail, S. M., Hakel, M. D., Cortina, J. M., & McHenry, J. J. (2014). Educating industrial–organizational psychologists for science and practice: Where do we go from here? Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7 (1), 214.Google Scholar
Campbell, J., Levy, P. Murphy, K., Schmitt, N., & Weiss, H. (2009). Letter to the SIOP executive committee. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 46 (4), 1112.Google Scholar
Campion, M. (1996, July). Policy on licensure: Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist. Retrieved from http://www.siop.org/tip/backissues/tipjul96/CAMPION1.aspx Google Scholar
Canadian Psychological Association. (2016). Licensure (regulation) of the practice of psychology. Retrieved from http://www.cpa.ca/practitioners/practiceregulation/ Google Scholar
Carroll, S. L., & Gaston, R. J. (1981). Occupational restrictions and the quality of service received: Some evidence. Southern Economic Journal, 47 (4), 959976.Google Scholar
Catano, V. M. (2011). Evidence-based I-O psychology: Lessons from clinical psychology. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 4 (1), 4548.Google Scholar
Bureau, Competition. (2007). Self-regulated professions: Balancing competition and regulation. Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Author. Retrieved from http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/02523.html Google Scholar
Cunningham, M. D. (2016). Mark D. Cunningham, Ph.D., ABPP. Retrieved from http://www.markdcunningham.com/ Google Scholar
DeMers, S. T., & Shaffer, J. B. (2012). The regulation of professional psychology. In Knapp, S. J. (Ed.), APA handbook of ethics in psychology: Vol. 1. Moral foundations and common themes. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/13271-018 Google Scholar
DeMers, S. T., Webb, C., & Horn, J. B. (2014). Psychology licensure and credentialing in the United States and Canada. In Johnson, W. B., Kaslow, N. J., Johnson, W. B., & Kaslow, N. J. (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of education and training in professional psychology (pp. 201213). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Fouad, N. A., & Grus, C. L. (2014). Competency-based education and training in professional psychology. In Johnson, W. B. & Kaslow, N. J. (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of education and training in professional psychology (pp. 105119). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Gibby, R. E., McCance, A. S., Pusilo, C. L., Ducey, A. J., & Biga, A. (2014). Educating industrial–organizational psychologists for practice and science: Where not to go. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7 (1), 7174.Google Scholar
Goldacre, B. (2010). Bad science: Quacks, hacks, and big pharma flacks. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: McClelland & Stewart.Google Scholar
Hamm, M. S. (2000). Establishing and demonstrating the value of a credential. In Schoon, C. G. & Smith, I. L. (Eds.), The licensure and certification mission: Legal, social, and political foundations (pp. 3152). New York, NY: Professional Examination Service.Google Scholar
Herman, M., & Sharer, N. (2013). Trying to summarize state licensure laws for psychologists: Burial by grains of salt. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 7 (2), 123133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogg, A., & Olvey, C. (2007) State psychological association creates a postdoctoral residency and internship training program. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38 (6), 705713.Google Scholar
Hopkins, B. R. (2000). The meaning of tax-exempt status in the work of certification organizations. In Schoon, C. G. & Smith, I. L. (Eds.), The licensure and certification mission: Legal, social, and political foundations (pp. 1630). New York, NY: Professional Examination Service.Google Scholar
Howard, A., & Lowman, R. L. (1985). Should industrial/organizational psychologists be licensed? American Psychologist, 40 (1), 4047.Google Scholar
Howell, W. C. (1986). Industrial/organizational psychology issues on credentialing: Licensure and state board relations. Professional Practice of Psychology, 7 (1), 3748.Google Scholar
Jeanneret, D. (2009). Letter to the editor. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 47 (1), 4445.Google Scholar
Jelley, R. B. (2013). Advocating for a more inclusive licensing framework. Psynopsis: Canada's Psychology Magazine, 35 (1), 12, 18.Google Scholar
Jelley, R. B. (2014, June). Building roads through mountains: Licensure, accreditation, and industrial-organizational psychology. Symposium presented at the annual convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Google Scholar
Jelley, R. B. (2015). Update on activities of the Joint Task Force on Licensure of Consulting and I-O Psychologists. The Canadian Industrial & Organizational Psychologist, 31 (4), 2022.Google Scholar
Jelley, R. B., Bonaccio, S., & Chiocchio, F. (2014). Educating industrial–organizational psychologists for science and practice: A Canadian perspective. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7 (1), 5154.Google Scholar
Kleiner, M. M. (2006). Licensing occupations: Ensuring quality or restricting competition? Kalamazoo, MI: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.Google Scholar
Kleiner, M. M. (2013). Stages of occupational regulation: Analysis of case studies. Kalamazoo, MI: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.Google Scholar
Kleiner, M. M. (2015). Guild-ridden labor markets: The curious case of occupational licensing. Kalamazoo, MI: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.Google Scholar
Kleiner, M. M., & Krueger, A. B. (2013). Analyzing the extent and influence of occupational licensing on the labor market. Journal of Labor Economics, 31 (2), S137S202.Google Scholar
Knox, R. (2010). Who can work where: Reducing barriers to labour mobility in Canada. C. D. Howe Institute (Backgrounder No. 131). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: C. D. Howe Institute.Google Scholar
Latham, G. P. (2009). Becoming the evidence-based manager: Making the science of management work for you. Boston, MA: Davies-Black.Google Scholar
License to compete: Occupational licensing and the state action doctrine. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary , 114 Cong. (2016).Google Scholar
Licensure of Consulting and Industrial–Organizational Psychologists (LCIOP) Joint Task Force. (2016a, May). Coursework reference list with industrial/organizational psychology competencies and course titles: Board of directors meeting minutes. Peachtree City, GA: Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.Google Scholar
Licensure of Consulting and Industrial–Organizational Psychologists (LCIOP) Joint Task Force. (2016b, May). Licensing issues for consulting and industrial–organizational psychologists: Board of directors meeting minutes. Peachtree City, GA: Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.Google Scholar
Macey, W. H. (2002). The licensing of I-O psychologists. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 39 (3), 1115.Google Scholar
Miller, G. A. (1969). Psychology as a means of promoting human welfare. American Psychologist, 24 (12), 10631075.Google Scholar
Mueller-Hanson, R. (2014). An alternative to formal certification for improving the quality of experiential learning. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7 (1), 8284.Google Scholar
Neimeyer, G. J., Taylor, J. M., & Orwig, J. P. (2013). Do continuing education mandates matter? An exploratory study of the relationship between CE regulations and disciplinary actions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 44 (2), 99104.Google Scholar
North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission, 574 U.S. 13-534 (2015).Google Scholar
Olvey, C., Hogg, A., & Counts, W. (2002). Licensure requirements: Have we raised the bar too far? Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33 (3), 323329. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.33.3.323 Google Scholar
O'Neill, T. A., & Jelley, R. B. (2012). Toward evidence-based practice in organizations. Psynopsis: Canada's Psychology Magazine, 34 (2), 1617.Google Scholar
Pratt, A. K., & Massman, A. J. (2014). Where do we go from here? Let's ask organizations to help. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7 (1), 7476.Google Scholar
Professions and Occupations–Psychologists–Exemptions, 40 S.C. Code Ann. § 90 (C) (1998). Retrieved from http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t40c055.php Google Scholar
Reaves, R. P. (2006). The history of licensure of psychologists in the United States and Canada. In Vaughn, T. J. (Ed.), Psychology licensure and certification: What students need to know (pp. 1726). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/11477-002 Google Scholar
Reynolds, D. (2012). A message from your president. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 50 (2), 79.Google Scholar
Rubin, N. J., Bebeau, M., Leigh, I. W., Lichtenberg, J. W., Nelson, P. D., Portnoy, S., . . . Kaslow, N. J. (2007). The competency movement within psychology: An historical perspective. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38 (5), 452462. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.38.5.452 Google Scholar
Sackett, P. R. (1986). I/O psychology: The state of the practice. Professional Practice of Psychology, 7 (1), 1526.Google Scholar
Sackett, P., Thomas, J., Borman, W., & Campion, M. (1995, July). Proposed revision of SIOP policy on licensure: Call for comments. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist. Retrieved from http://www.siop.org/TIP/backissues/tipjuly95/sioplic.aspx Google Scholar
Schmitt, N. (1991). Report on efforts to revise SIOP's licensure position. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 29 (1), 3350.Google Scholar
Schoon, C. G., & Smith, I. L. (2000a). The licensure and certification mission: Foundations. In Schoon, C. G. & Smith, I. L. (Eds.), The licensure and certification mission: Legal, social, and political foundations (pp. 115). New York, NY: Professional Examination Service.Google Scholar
Schoon, C. G., & Smith, I. L. (2000b). The meaning and implications of the credentialing mission. In Schoon, C. G. & Smith, I. L. (Eds.), The licensure and certification mission: Legal, social, and political foundations (pp. 214233). New York, NY: Professional Examination Service.Google Scholar
Scontrino, M. P., Gormanous, G., & Blanton, J. S. (2010). A guide for I-O students (and faculty) about licensure. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 47 (3), 1115.Google Scholar
Branaman, Serafine v., No. 14-51151 (U.S. 5th Cir. January 12, 2016).Google Scholar
Shen, W. (2016). CSIOP members’ views on licensure. The Canadian Industrial & Organizational Psychologist, 33 (4), 13.Google Scholar
Shimberg, B. (2000). The role that licensure plays in society. In Schoon, C. G. & Smith, I. L. (Eds.), The licensure and certification mission: Legal, social, and political foundations (pp. 145163). New York, NY: Professional Examination Service.Google Scholar
Silzer, R., Erickson, A., & Cober, R. (2009). Practice perspectives: Licensing and industrial-organizational psychologists. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 46 (3), 8999.Google Scholar
Silzer, R., & Jeanneret, R. (2011). Individual psychological assessment: A practice and science in search of common ground. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 4 (3), 270296.Google Scholar
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. (1999). Guidelines for education and training at the doctoral level in industrial–organizational psychology. Bowling Green, OH: Author. Retrieved from http://www.siop.org/PhDGuidelines98.aspx Google Scholar
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. (2011). SIOP 2011 membership survey: Licensed vs. not licensed report. Bowling Green, OH: Author. Retrieved from http://www.siop.org/userfiles/image/2011MemberSurvey/Licensed_vs_Not_Licensed_Report.pdf Google Scholar
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. (2016). Guidelines for education and training in industrial–organizational psychology. Bowling Green, OH: Author. Retrieved from http://www.siop.org/ETguidelines.aspx Google Scholar
Sund, A., Smith, R., Bastos, M., Small, P., Mills, N., & Chaudhuri, A. (2014). A case against internship certification. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7 (1), 8082.Google Scholar
Thayer, P., & Goldstein, I. L. (1991). Licensing and accreditation. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 29 (1), 5051.Google Scholar
Thayer, P. W., & Hirsch, H. R. (1986). Industrial/organizational psychology issues and credentialing. Professional Practice of Psychology, 7 (1), 2736.Google Scholar
Tippins, N. T. (2006, June). Commentary from the field: An I-O psychologist's perspective on licensure. Psychological Science Agenda. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2006/06/tippins.aspx Google Scholar
Vandaveer, V. (1991). A letter to my pro-exemptionist colleagues. The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, 29 (1), 5158.Google Scholar
Walton, A. G. (2013). The internship match gets an overhaul. Monitor on Psychology, 44 (7), 36.Google Scholar
White House. (2015). Occupational licensing: A framework for policymakers. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/licensing_report_final_nonembargo.pdf Google Scholar