SETTING UP AND MAINTAINING AN INTERJURISDICTIONAL REGISTRY

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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
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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

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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

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Major Pieces of ASPPB Registry

• 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

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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

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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.

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PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED

• Resistance from Member Boards
• Well be swamped with bad apples
• CPQ criteria dont match our requirements
• Reluctance to change licensing law
• Dont want to be first to adopt
• Limited Interest from Psychologists
• Unfamiliar with ASPPB/Value of Credential
• Dont believe they will have trouble moving
• Not interested until more states/provinces accept
  it
• Have no immediate plans to move

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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

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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

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CURRENT STATUS OF CPQ PROGRAM

• 50 of 62 jurisdictions will accept (35 today, 15
  more making legislative changes)
• 4000 CPQs 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

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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

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Visit the ASPPB Web Site at www.asppb.org
• Contact Janet Pippin, Mobility Program
  Coordinator, at 334-832-4580 or jpippin
  _at_asppb.org
• Contact me at same number or sdemers _at_asppb.org