SB251 - Revises provisions relating to psychological assistants, psychological interns and psychological trainees. (BDR 54-714)

- 83rd Session (2025) Senate Bill No. 251–Senators Scheible; Cruz-Crawford, Doñate, Nguyen, Ohrenschall, Pazina and Taylor CHAPTER.......... AN ACT relating to psychologists; providing for the issuance of a provisional license instead of a registration to psychological assistants and psychological interns; revising provisions governing the registration of psychological trainees; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law: (1) requires a person who wishes to obtain certain postdoctoral experience in psychology to register with the Board of Psychological Examiners as a psychological assistant; and (2) authorizes a person who is in a doctoral training program or certain doctorate-level training and who wishes to engage in a predoctoral internship or to perform professional activities under the supervision of a psychologist outside of a formal internship to register with the Board as a psychological intern or psychological trainee, respectively. (NRS 641.226) Section 13 of this bill: (1) provides for psychological assistants and psychological interns to instead obtain a provisional license; and (2) revises the provisions governing the registration of psychological trainees. Section 13 provides that a person seeking a provisional license as a psychological intern must have completed any courses required for his or her doctoral training program or doctorate-level training. Sections 1-12 and 14-28 of this bill make conforming changes to include, in addition to references to registration as a psychological trainee, references to the issuance of a provisional license as a psychological assistant or psychological intern. EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. NRS 641.0263 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.0263 “Psychological assistant” means a person [registered with the Board] holding a provisional license as a psychological assistant issued by the Board pursuant to [subsection 1 of NRS 641.226.] NRS 641.110. Sec. 2. NRS 641.0265 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.0265 “Psychological intern” means a person [registered with the Board] holding a provisional license as a psychological intern issued by the Board pursuant to [subsection 2 of NRS 641.226.] NRS 641.110. Sec. 3. (Deleted by amendment.) – 2 – - 83rd Session (2025) Sec. 4. NRS 641.090 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.090 1. The Secretary-Treasurer shall make and keep on behalf of the Board: (a) A record of all its meetings and proceedings. (b) A record of all violations and prosecutions under the provisions of this chapter. (c) A record of all examinations of applicants. (d) A register of all licenses , registrations and [registrations.] provisional licenses. (e) A register of all holders of licenses , registrations and [registrations.] provisional licenses. (f) An inventory of the property of the Board and of the State in the Board’s possession. 2. These records must be kept in the office of the Board and, except as otherwise provided in this section, are subject to public inspection during normal working hours upon reasonable notice. 3. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 239.0115, the Board may keep the personnel records of applicants confidential. 4. Except as otherwise provided in this section and NRS 239.0115, a complaint filed with the Board, all documents and other information filed with the complaint and all documents and other information compiled as a result of an investigation conducted to determine whether to initiate disciplinary action against a person are confidential, unless the person submits a written statement to the Board requesting that such documents and information be made public records. 5. The charging documents filed with the Board to initiate disciplinary action pursuant to chapter 622A of NRS and all other documents and information considered by the Board when determining whether to impose discipline are public records. 6. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the Board from communicating or cooperating with or providing any documents or other information to any other licensing board or any other agency that is investigating a person, including, without limitation, a law enforcement agency. Sec. 5. NRS 641.100 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.100 1. The Board shall adopt regulations: (a) Prescribing uniform standards concerning the locations at which persons obtaining supervised experience that is required for licensure by the Board provide services; (b) Authorizing the remote supervision, including, without limitation, electronic supervision, of persons obtaining supervised experience that is required for licensure by the Board who are – 3 – - 83rd Session (2025) working at remote sites and prescribing standards concerning such remote supervision; and (c) Prescribing a manner by which the qualifications for the issuance or renewal of a license under the provisions of this chapter will be made available to the public such that those qualifications are clearly defined and easily understood. 2. The Board may make and promulgate any other rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter governing its procedure, the examination and licensure of applicants, the granting, refusal, revocation or suspension of licenses, the registration of persons as psychological trainees or the issuance of provisional licenses as psychological assistants [,] or psychological interns [or psychological trainees] and the practice of psychology. 3. On the date that the Board gives notice pursuant to NRS 233B.060 of its intent to adopt, amend or repeal a regulation, the Board shall submit the regulation to the Commission on Behavioral Health for review. The Commission shall review the regulation and make recommendations to the Board concerning the advisability of adopting, amending or repealing the regulation and any changes that the Commission deems advisable. Sec. 6. NRS 641.110 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.110 1. The Board may, under the provisions of this chapter: (a) Examine and pass upon the qualifications of the applicants for licensure. (b) License qualified applicants. (c) Register a person as a psychological trainee. (d) Issue provisional licenses as a psychological assistant [,] or psychological intern [or psychological trainee .] to qualified applicants. [(d)] (e) Revoke or suspend licenses , provisional licenses and registrations. [(e)] (f) Collect all fees and make disbursements pursuant to this chapter. 2. The member of the Board who is a representative of the general public shall not participate in preparing, conducting or grading any examination required by the Board. Sec. 7. NRS 641.1105 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.1105 The Board may enter into an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services or a division thereof to provide services to carry out or improve any function of the Board. Such services may include, without limitation: – 4 – - 83rd Session (2025) 1. Assistance in processing applications for the issuance or renewal of licenses , registrations and [registrations;] provisional licenses; 2. Technical assistance; 3. Facilitating cooperation with other boards and licensing entities in this State or any other jurisdiction; 4. Recommendations to improve and standardize procedures used by the Board; and 5. Assistance in identifying resources for improving the operations of the Board. Sec. 8. NRS 641.117 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.117 The Board shall prescribe forms for applying for the issuance or renewal of a license [.] or provisional license. The forms must: 1. Be available to be completed on the Internet website maintained by the Board; 2. Provide immediate, automatic feedback to the applicant concerning whether the applicant has submitted all required information; and 3. Automatically store the data submitted by the applicant upon completion of the application. Sec. 9. NRS 641.145 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.145 1. On or before February 1 of each year, the Board shall submit to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and to the Chair of each regional behavioral health policy board created by NRS 433.429 a report which must include: (a) The number of complaints received, investigations completed, cases dismissed, cases settled and cases for which hearings were held within the immediately preceding calendar year; (b) The number of applications for the issuance or renewal of a license , [or] registration or provisional license received by the Board during the immediately preceding calendar year and the number of those applications for which the Board conducted additional review beyond the standard review regularly conducted by the Board; and (c) The number of applications for the issuance of a license by endorsement received by the Board pursuant to NRS 641.196 during the immediately preceding calendar year, the number of those applications that were denied and the reasons for denial. 2. The report submitted pursuant to this section to the Chair of each regional behavioral health policy board created by NRS 433.429 may be submitted in a written format. – 5 – - 83rd Session (2025) Sec. 10. NRS 641.173 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.173 If the Board requires an applicant for a license , [or] registration or provisional license pursuant to this chapter to submit official transcripts as proof of his or her educational qualifications, the Board must provide an alternate means for the applicant to submit official transcripts if: 1. The college or university from which the applicant graduated has closed or has merged with another institution; and 2. The provision of official transcripts by ordinary means is not available or possible. Sec. 11. NRS 641.175 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.175 1. In addition to any other requirements set forth in this chapter: (a) An applicant for the issuance of a license , [or] registration or provisional license shall include the social security number of the applicant in the application submitted to the Board. (b) An applicant for the issuance or renewal of a license , [or] registration or provisional license shall submit to the Board the statement prescribed by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to NRS 425.520. The statement must be completed and signed by the applicant. 2. The Board shall include the statement required pursuant to subsection 1 in: (a) The application or any other forms that must be submitted for the issuance or renewal of the license , registration or [registration;] provisional license; or (b) A separate form prescribed by the Board. 3. A license , [or] registration or provisional license may not be issued or renewed by the Board if the applicant: (a) Fails to submit the statement required pursuant to subsection 1; or (b) Indicates on the statement submitted pursuant to subsection 1 that the applicant is subject to a court order for the support of a child and is not in compliance with the order or a plan approved by the district attorney or other public agency enforcing the order for the repayment of the amount owed pursuant to the order. 4. If an applicant indicates on the statement submitted pursuant to subsection 1 that the applicant is subject to a court order for the support of a child and is not in compliance with the order or a plan approved by the district attorney or other public agency enforcing the order for the repayment of the amount owed pursuant to the order, the Board shall advise the applicant to contact the district – 6 – - 83rd Session (2025) attorney or other public agency enforcing the order to determine the actions that the applicant may take to satisfy the arrearage. Sec. 12. NRS 641.2215 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.2215 1. The Board shall: (a) Make the data request developed by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to NRS 439A.116 available to applicants for the renewal of a license , [or] registration or provisional license pursuant to this chapter through a link on the electronic application for the renewal of a license , registration or [registration;] provisional license; and (b) Request each applicant to complete and electronically submit the data request to the Director. 2. The information provided by an applicant for the renewal of a license , [or] registration or provisional license pursuant to subsection 1 is confidential and, except as required by subsection 1, must not be disclosed to any person or entity. 3. An applicant for the renewal of a license , [or] registration or provisional license is not required to complete a data request pursuant to subsection 1 and is not subject to disciplinary action, including, without limitation, refusal to renew the license , registration or [registration,] provisional license, for failure to do so. Sec. 13. NRS 641.226 is hereby amended to read as follows: 641.226 1. A person who wishes to obtain any postdoctoral supervised experience that is required for licensure as a psychologist pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection 1 of NRS 641.170 must [register with] submit an application to the Board for a provisional license as a psychological assistant. 2. A person who: (a) Is in a doctoral training program in psychology at an accredited educational institution approved by the Board or in doctorate-level training from an accredited educational institution deemed equivalent by the Board in both subject matter and extent of training; [and] (b) Has completed the courses required for his or her doctoral training program or doctorate-level training; and (c) Wishes to engage in a predoctoral internship pursuant to the requirements of the training program,  may [register with] submit an application to the Board for a provisional license as a psychological intern. 3. A person who: (a) Is in a doctoral training program in psychology at an accredited educational institution approved by the Board or in – 7 – - 83rd Session (2025) doctorate-level training from an accredited educational institution deemed equivalent by the Board in both subject matter a [Text truncated for display. Full text available on LegiScan.]