SETTING UP AND MAINTAINING AN INTER-JURISDICTIONAL REGISTRY

1. SETTING UP AND MAINTAINING AN INTER-JURISDICTIONAL REGISTRY Stephen T. DeMers, Ed.D. Executive Director Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

2. WHAT IS ASPPB? An international association of all psychology regulatory bodies throughout the United States and Canada (62 member jurisdictions). Major Program Areas Examinations and Assessment of Competence Repository of Disciplinary Data Provision of Model Laws & Procedures Promoting Professional Mobility & Mutual Recognition of Standards Providing a Regulatory Perspective to Other Professional Psychology Associations Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

3. WHY ESTABLISH AN INTER-JURISDICTIONAL REGISTRY • To Assist Member Boards to Screen for Prior Disciplinary Actions • To Facilitate Transfer of Examination Scores Between Jurisdictions • To Address Long Standing Obstacles to Professional Mobility • To Provide an International Data Base on Numbers and Characteristics of Licensed Psychologists Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

4. Major Pieces of ASPPBRegistry • Score Transfer Service: • Repository and score reporting service for all candidates examination scores • Disciplinary Data System: • Web based reporting/reviewing of all disciplinary actions • Certificate of Professional Qualification • Individually based mobility program • Credentials Bank • Vehicle for students in training, interns, post doctoral residents and licensed psychologists to archive licensure related documents Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

5. ESTABLISHING REGISTRY AN EVOLVING PROCESS, NOT AN EVENT • ASPPB established in 1961 to offer one national examination for entry to practice • Disciplinary Data System launched in 1983 • Agreement on Reciprocity started in 1990 • Score Transfer Service created around 1995 (previously offered through Professional Exam Service) • Individual Certification (CPQ) and Credentials Bank Programs launched in 1998 Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

6. Establishing the CPQ Program • 1995 • ASPPB Board of Directors approved exploration of an individual certification approach to facilitate mobility. • 1996 • Certification Committee appointed & key personnel visited NCARB and other professions’ certification/mobility programs • 1997 • Certification Committee drafted criteria for CPQ and held focus groups with member boards on likely acceptability • 1998 • Staff hired, forms created, software developed & marketing program planned. • 1998 (August) Program launched. Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

7. PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED • Resistance from Member Boards • We’ll be swamped with bad apples • CPQ criteria don’t match our requirements • Reluctance to change licensing law • Don’t want to be first to adopt • Limited Interest from Psychologists • Unfamiliar with ASPPB/Value of Credential • Don’t believe they will have trouble moving • Not interested until more states/provinces accept it • Have no immediate plans to move Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

8. PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED • Unexpected Gaps in Verification Data Bases • Regional accreditation/APA & CPA accreditation • Deciphering Transcripts for Program Completed • Missing records/closed training programs • Software/Hardware Problems • Source code had to be modified frequently to obtain desired results • Imaging equipment incompatible with software Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

9. HOW WERE PROBLEMS ADDRESSED • Individual Meetings with Boards • Sent Director of Professional Affairs with local figure when possible for consistent message/point of contact • Increased $ for Marketing Campaign • Direct mail, paid ads in journals, visits to state/provincial associations as exhibitor, “branding” of ASPPB as recognized credible entity • Had CPQ Program Build New Databases • Tracking Regional accreditation of colleges/schools • Documenting accredited status of training programs • Retained outside IT vendor • Expensive but resolved functionality problems Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

10. CURRENT STATUS OF CPQ PROGRAM • 50 of 62 jurisdictions will accept (35 today, 15 more making legislative changes) • 4000 CPQ’s issued (out of 90,000 psychs) • Current Fees: $175 to apply, $80 renewal fee every 2 years. $25/yr for students to open Credentials record applied to $175 fee • Marketing campaign switched from “veterans” to “recruits” Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

11. Suggestions for Others Considering an Inter-jurisdictional Registry • Personal contact with boards crucial to address resistance • Find a local respected advocate • Fine line between “encouraging” & “pushing” • Retain the best IT services possible • Expect new program to drain rather than provide revenue at first- renewals key • Have a well planned marketing strategy Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

12. FOR MORE INFORMATION • Visit the ASPPB Web Site at www.asppb.org • Contact Janet Pippin, Mobility Program Coordinator, at 334-832-4580 or jpippin @asppb.org • Contact me at same number or sdemers @asppb.org Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual Conference September 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona