The Attorney General of Texas
April 6, 1978
JOHN L. HILL
Attorney General
Honorable Barry Read Opinion No. H- 115 1
Texas State Board of Examiners
of Psychologists Re: Whether the Board of
108 West 15th Street Examiners of Psychologists may
Austin, Texas 78701 consider postdoctoral courses in
determining whether an appli-
cant has met the educational
requirements for licensing.
Dear Mr. Read:
You have requested our opinion regarding whether the Board of
Examiners of Psychologists may consider postdoctoral courses in determining
the eligibility of an applicant to take the examination for certification as a
psychologist. Section ll of article 4512c, V.T.C.S., provides, in pertinent part:
An applicant is qualified to take the examination for
certification as a psychologist:
(a) if he has received the doctoral degree based upon a
program of studies whose content was primarily
psychological from an accredited educational institu-
tion or its substantial equivalent in both subject
matter and extent of training. . . .
Thus, an individual may qualify to take the certification examination in one
of two ways: (1) by earning a doctoral degree in psychology from an
accredited institution; or (2) by receiving the “substantial equivalent” thereof.
Since “substantial equivalent” is not defined in the statute, we believe
that the Legislature intended to permit the Board to delineate its scope. The
Board is empowered by section 8(a) to
make all rules, not inconsistent with the Constitution
and laws of this state, which are reasonably necessary
for the proper performance of its duties and regula-
tions of proceedings before it.
p; 4672
Honorable Barry Read - Page 2 (H-1151)
In our opinion, the Board is clearly authorized to determine by rule the meaning of
“substantial equivalent,” and to consider postdoctoral courses as fulfilling part of
the requirement.
Attorney General Opinion M-785 (1971)is not to the contrary. In that opinion,
this office, held that, under section 15(b)(2) of article 4512c, the Board was not
authorized to certify a person who had a masters’ degree based on a program which
was not primarily psychological, but who had passed additional courses in
psychology. Unlike section 11, section 15(b)(2) does not permit any substitution for
its requirement. It is our opinion, therefore, that the Board of Examiners of
Psychologists may consider postdoctoral courses as one factor in determining the
eligibility of sn applicant to take the examination for certification as a
psychologist.
SUMMARY
The Board of Examiners of Psychologists may consider
postdoctoral courses as one factor in determining the
eligibility .of an applicant to take the examination for
certification as a psychologist.
Attorney General of Texas
APPROVED:
Opinion Committee
-p. 4673