Includes licensed school psychologists under the provisions of the general laws governing the regulations of psychologists and expands the licensing of school psychologists for independent practice.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: School Psychologist Licensing Expansion

This bill would bring licensed school psychologists under the same set of state laws that already govern other licensed psychologists in Rhode Island. Currently, school psychologists operate under a separate framework primarily tied to their work in schools. This change would place them within the broader professional regulations that apply to psychologists generally, giving them a more unified set of rules and standards to follow.

The bill also expands the ability of school psychologists to practice independently — meaning outside of a school setting. Right now, school psychologists are largely limited to working within schools. Under this bill, they could potentially see clients in private practice or other community settings, similar to how other licensed psychologists currently operate. This could increase the overall number of mental health professionals available to serve Rhode Islanders beyond just the school environment.

This bill would primarily affect school psychologists themselves, who would gain new professional opportunities, as well as the people they could serve in an expanded practice setting. It could also affect other licensed psychologists, since school psychologists would now be operating under the same regulatory framework. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Corporations Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward in the legislative process.