Chap. 280.—An ACT to provide for the determination by an examining hoard
created for the purpose of the qualifications of clinical psychologists, and their
certification by the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals; and to
impose penalties for serving or holding one’s self out as competent to serve as a
certified clinical psychologist in violation of the provisions of this act.

[S B 237]
Approved March 26, 1946

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. Section 1. Examining board created.—There 1s hereby cre-
ated an Examining Board for the Certification of Clinical Psychologists,
hereinafter referred to as the Board or the Examining Board, to consist
of five members to be selected by the executive committee of the Section
of Psychology of the Virginia Academy of Science. Two members shall
be chosen from and shall be members of the faculties of the accredited
colleges and universities in the State, and shall be actively engaged in
teaching non-clinical psychology; and three members shall be certified
clinical psychologists who have had at least five years of clinical experi-
ence, three years of which shall have been spent in an approved Mental
Hygiene Unit. Each member of the Board shall be a member of the
American Psychological Association.

Section 2. Terms of office—Original appointments to the Board
shall be for terms as follows: one certified clinical psychologist for a term
of one year, one non-clinical psychologist for a term of two years, one
certified clinical psychologist for a term of three years, one non-clinical
psychologist for a term of four years, and one certified clinical psycholo-
gist for a term of five years. All subsequent appointments shall be for
five years terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms, and
members shall serve until their successors are appointed and have quali-
fied. Only clinical psychologists shall be appointed to succeed clinical
psychologists, and only non-clinical psychologists shall be appointed to
succeed non-clinical psychologists.

Section 3. Organization of Board; use of records.—The Board
shall annually elect one of its members to serve as chairman, and the
chairman shall appoint a secretary whose duty it shall be to keep the min-
utes and other records of the actions and deliberations of the Board.
The Board shall adopt a seal, and rules and regulations for its own pro-
ceedings and government, and for the examination of candidates for certi-
fication as provided herein. The official records of the Board shall be
available at all times for inspection by the Commissioner of Mental
Hygiene and Hospitals to aid him in determining the fitness of any candi-
date for certification.

Section 4. Meetings of Board; examinations——Regular meetings
of the Board shall be held at such times and places as it prescribes, and
special meetings may be held upon the call of the chairman or any two
members, but there shall be not less than one regular meeting each year,
at which meeting candidates applying for certification shall be examined
and their qualifications determined.

Section 5. Qualifications of candidates.—A candidate for certifica-
tion as a certified clinical psychologist who on the effective date of this
act does not hold a certificate as an Approved Mental Examiner, shall, in
order to be recommended for certification by the Board, produce satis-
factory evidence that he

(1) Is of good moral standing:

(2) Holds a doctorate in psychology, including graduate courses in
clinical, experimental, and physiological psychology and statistics.

(3) Has had five years actual experience in clinical work, at least
three years of which have been in an approved Mental Hygiene Unit,
and at least one year of which has been under the direct supervision of a
certified clinical psychologist and a certified psychiatrist ; provided that
the Board may accept other academic training and experience as the
equivalent of that prescribed herein ;

(4) Is competent from a clinical standpoint, as shown by passing
such examinations, written or oral, or both, as the Board deems neces-
sary.

Any candidate meeting these requirements shall be recommended
by the Board to the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals
who, in his discretion, may issue a certificate to such person as a certified
clinical psychologist. The Commissioner of Mental Hygiene and Hos-
pitals may also issue a certificate as a certified clinical psychologist to
any person who on the effective date of this act holds a certificate as Ap-
proved Mental Examiner, provided such person applies for such certifi-
cate within one year after such date. The Commissioner shall present to
the Board a statement in writing of the grounds on which a certificate is
refused to any person recommended by the Board.

Section 6. Penalties for violations——Any person serving or prac-
ticing or holding himself out as qualified or capable of serving or practic-
ing as a certified clinical psychologist without having complied with the
provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon convic-
tion thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more
than five hundred dollars for each offense.