HB 1031 Summary

• Adds definition of "American Psychological Association" as the APA or its board-approved successor agency to Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 465-1.

• Expands continuing education requirements for psychologists to include medical education courses related to psychology practice that are approved by the American Medical Association or its board-approved successor.

• Updates accreditation standards for institutions of higher education by replacing reference to "Council on Postsecondary Accreditation" with "Council for Higher Education Accreditation" and replacing "Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada" with "Universities Canada."

• Simplifies the definition of "professional psychology training program" to require a planned sequential program in an institution of higher education that integrates psychological science and practice to prepare individuals to provide psychological services.

• Modifies foreign graduate screening process to allow the board to consider certifications from National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member agencies and explicitly prohibits master's degrees in psychology from being equivalent to doctoral degrees for licensure purposes.