Certification, Licensing, and the Movement of Psychologists from State to State

The licensing or certification of psychologists, like the Pure Food and Drug Acts, exists to protect the consumer from dangerous or inferior commodities. The American Psychological Association and the American Association of State Psychology Boards have been realistic in recognizing state control of licensing and certifying functions, and they are working toward uniformity in those aspects of legislation which will permit the free interstate movement of qualified psychologists. As an alternative to legislation creating certifying and licensing laws, some states have established nonstatutory certifying boards. These boards generally are corporations which are set up under the egis of the psychological associations in states which do not have statutory controls. All but two statutes, however, and all but four of the nonstatutory programs, include a provision for reciprocal endorsement. The problems related to reciprocal endorsement, as the number of boards increased, led the Board of Professional Affairs of APA to sponsor a meeting of board representatives in Chicago in November 1959.