PSYPACT: True Interstate Psychology Starts Today!

A hilly, rural road with storm clouds and snow on the ground

Psychologists in certain states have a big reason to rejoice this July. PSYPACT is ready for applications! (Application links are here.)

PSYPACT is a legal compact between a growing number of states (map here). It provides psychologists, who are approved under the PSYPACT, the ability to practice telepsychology between those states without significant barriers. It even allows for temporary in-person practice when an approved psychologist physically visits other states.

We have added information about PSYPACT membership to each state’s entry in our 50-State Temporary Practice Rules lookup tool.

PSYPACT truly is an impressive bureaucratic feat. Here at Person Centered Tech, we wondered just how cleanly and easily the compact would function when it finally came into being. I’m sure we will learn more about its foibles as time passes. In the meantime, however, it is a thing to marvel at.

Approval under the PSYPACT requires application through the ASPBB. They have a web-based system set up and ready to receive applications from psychologists now.

What Does PSYPACT Approval Look Like?

There are two types of PSYPACT approval. Clearly, the telepsychology type will be of greatest interest to most psychologists.

For both types, you must hold an active license in one of the PSYPACT states.

The two types are:

1) Telepsychology

Before applying for this approval, you must have completed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) from ASPPB with a score that meets or exceeds whatever score the ASPPB determines is necessary for this process. It seems that ASPPB can change how they define that minimum score as they see fit.

After meeting the exam requirement, the telepsychology approval is gained through obtaining an “E.Passport” from ASPPB and an Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) from the PSYPACT commission. Luckily, there is a streamlined application process for getting both.

The telepsychology type also requires 3 CE hours every year on “the use of technology in psychology.” Fortunately, Person Centered Tech has many such courses in our course catalog, and is an APA-approved CE provider.

2) Temporary, In-Person Psychology Practice

This approval is gained through obtaining an Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC) from ASPPB and a Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP) from the PSYPACT commission. Once again, there is a streamlined application process for getting both. This type does not have an examination requirement.

For both types of approval, you will need to define your “Home State.” It’s important that you keep your Home State updated as you move, too.

What Does PSYPACT Approval Let Me Do?

The telepsychology type of approval will allow you to practice telepsychology with clients/patients present in any PSYPACT state “without obtaining an additional license.” That’s a big deal. As the PSYPACT grows, this will become more and more of a powerful bureaucratic opportunity for psychologists.

The other type allows you to temporarily practice in-person face-to-face psychology in PSYPACT states outside your Home State. The temporary allowance period is “30 days per calendar year.” That language implies that the 30 days are non-consecutive. So it is a generous allowance.

In our experience, quite a few non-PSYPACT states also provide 30 days/year of temporary allowance to licensed psychologists from out of state. (And in these non-PSYPACT cases, the 30 days would also apply to practice of telepsychology.)

If you need information about temporary practice in a non-PSYPACT state, check our 50-State Temporary Practice Rules lookup tool to help you find specific info.

Cross-State and International Practice

While the PSYPACT is already amazing, it only actively covers about 14 states at the time of writing with 12 more on-deck. And, of course, it has no bearing on international practice (yet?).

Fortunately, temporary practice is possible in many states and nations even without PSYPACT membership. Person Centered Tech has a resource to help you find out where those places are (and aren’t):