State Board of Psychology of Ohio – Licensing & Hearings

What the State Board of Psychology of Ohio Does

The Ohio Psychology Board has several functions managing the professional licenses of psychologists, school psychologists, and certified behavior analysts. This Board is responsible for creating and enforcing the rules and laws of these professions, including:

• Establishing professional standards of care
• Maintenance of records
• Licensing, registration, and verification
• Complaints and investigations
• Rule compliance
• Standards of practice
• Discipline
• Education requirements

You must interact with the Board if you hope to obtain a professional license related to a psychology career. You may also come into contact with the Psychology Board if you are accused of violating laws or rules or a complaint is filed against you by a patient or colleague.

Obtaining a Psychology License in Ohio

You may apply for a psychology license and manage your registration online. The Ohio eLicense system allows you to submit information about your employment, make address changes, request license verifications and duplicate cards, and submit your biennial license renewal.

Basic requirements for a psychologist license include that you:

• Have good moral character
• Are at least 21 years of age
• Pass a criminal background check
• Hold a doctoral degree in psychology or school psychology from an accredited educational institution
• Have completed at least 3,600 hours of qualifying supervised training

You must also take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Once you pass the EPPP, you must take an oral exam, which is memorization-based and drawn from a preparation manual. If you have a documented medical disability, you may receive accommodations during these exams.

Obtaining your psychology license and renewing it can be complicated. If you have any issues with your background, including a criminal record, or even record of an arrest, your application may be denied. You should contact an Ohio psychologist license attorney to guide you through the process.

Common Violations of Psychology Board Regulations

Another fundamental function of the State Board of Psychology of Ohio is to investigate complaints made against psychologists, school psychologists, certified Ohio behavior analysts. Rules regarding psychologists and school psychologists are listed in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 4732 and rules addressing certified Ohio behavior analysts are listed in ORC Chapter 4783.

Some frequent violations include:

• Negligence/practicing below the standard of care
• Alcohol and/or drug use or dependency
• Practicing while impaired
• Putting the welfare of patients in jeopardy
• Sexual relationships or contact with patients
• Violating confidentiality
• Practicing without a license or aiding an illegal practice
• Criminal convictions involving moral turpitude

If you are accused of violating the Psychology Board’s Laws or Rules, a complaint may be made against you online through the eLicense system or in writing to the Board. A person must name you specifically and detail the violation of law or rule. The Ohio Psychology Board takes all complaints seriously and may reach out to you for a response. Once you are aware that a complaint has been made against you, you should contact a psychology license defense attorney right away.

Possible Outcomes of an Investigation by the Psychology Board

When the Board receives a formal complaint against you, the matter will be assigned an investigator and a supervising board member who will review the complaint and supplemental information provided by the patient or other individual. During an initial investigation, these professionals may ask for more information, clarification, and interviews with you and others. You could also be required to respond to the complaint.

Possible outcomes of an investigation by the Psychology Board include:

• Dismissal of the complaint – If the Board reviews the complaint and determines no formal action is required, then the matter is sent to a second level independent review. This review may agree with closing the matter without any formal action or may disagree and recommend further investigation.
• A consent agreement may be reached – If the investigation reveals a violation and warrants formal action, then the Psychology Board will likely try to negotiate a consent agreement with you. A consent agreement is a document that details the facts of the situation, establishes agreed violations of laws/rules, and lays out agreed disciplinary actions. Once an agreement is negotiated, it goes to the full Board for approval or rejections.
• Formal charges may be filed – In this situation, you will receive a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing. Once you receive this notice, you and your attorney have 30 days from the date of mailing to request an administrative hearing. This is your opportunity to seek legal assistance and defend yourself against allegations of a regulatory violation. Both the representative for the Board and your attorney will have the chance to present evidence before an impartial hearing officer.
• Your charges may be dropped With the help of an experienced attorney, you may be able to get formal charges dismissed at the hearing. We will gather evidence that supports your case.
• An appeal to court may be made – If the Psychology Board determines disciplinary action is appropriate, you will receive an order of the Board. You may be punished with a civil fine, suspension of your license, revocation of your license, supervision for a period of time, practice restrictions, and/or criminal charges.
• The Board’s order may be overturned The Board’s Order may be appealed in your local court of common pleas. Your attorney may be able to get a negative order from the Board overturned in court.

Any complaint made against you and your practice should be taken seriously, even if you don’t believe it to be true. Our Ohio psychologist license defense attorneys can guide you through this process while defending your rights and protecting your license.

How Our Ohio Psychologist License Defense Lawyers Can Help

An experienced, and trusted attorney from Graff & McGovern can help you many ways during an investigation by the Psychology Board. At the very beginning of a matter, we can help you address any misunderstandings. If there is no basis to the complaint, then we will make that clear to the Board. We will pursue the closure of the complaint without any formal action, thereby avoiding any public record of this matter.

If the Board brings a formal charge against you, we will work to protect your rights and prioritize you keeping your professional license. Depending on the facts of the situation and the course of action you wish to take, we may negotiate a consent agreement or prepare to defend you during an administrative hearing. A consent agreement can often result in the best possible outcome. However, you need an experienced psychologist license defense attorney to ensure you are not harshly punished.

We are also well-versed in defending professional license holders in administrative hearings. We have years of experience in this environment and will thoroughly prepare to submit evidence, bring witnesses on your behalf, and thoroughly cross-examine the Board’s witnesses. We will strive to build you a strong defense to pursue the best possible outcome in your matter.

Contact Graff & McGovern Today

As a psychologist or behavior analyst, your professional license is essential. You must have a valid license to maintain your livelihood and professional reputation. When you face a complaint against you, the Ohio psychologist license defense attorneys of Graff & McGovern are here to help.

To learn more about how we can help you, contact us to schedule an appointment.