This bill amends existing Arkansas law to expand the scope of practice for psychology technicians employed by licensed psychologists. It removes the previous limitation that restricted technicians to the practice of neuropsychology and allows them to work in broader psychological settings. The bill specifies that technicians may only practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist in areas such as the administration and scoring of standardized psychological tests and manualized cognitive intervention services. Additionally, it outlines the qualifications required for technicians, including a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and specific training in psychological test administration.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new training requirements for technicians, mandating a minimum of eighty hours of documented training in various areas, including professional ethics and direct observation of test administration. It also establishes that technicians will be reimbursed for their services by the Arkansas Medicaid Program or other health benefit plans. The amendments emphasize the importance of supervision, stating that a supervising psychologist cannot oversee more than four full-time technicians at a time, ensuring quality and integrity in the services provided.

Statutes affected:
HB 1257: 17-97-401(a), 17-97-402(a), 17-97-402(d), 17-97-402(g), 17-97-405(a), 17-97-405(c), 17-97-405, 17-97-406(a), 17-97-406(d)