Practice

General Practice Q&A

Below you will find helpful Q&A listed by topic.

Teletherapy

Q1. As an Oregon licensed psychologist, do I need a special certification to practice psychology via telehealth?

A1. The Board does not require additional certification to practice teletherapy. If you choose to provide psychological services by electronic means, please review the relevant provisions of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Although training in teletherapy is not expressly required, you are required to have knowledge and competency in any area of practice, so training is recommended.

Q2. I’m licensed as a psychologist in [insert other state] and have a patient who will be staying in Oregon for some time. Can I continue to provide them services via teletherapy?

A2. This requires either a visitor’s permit or full licensure. Please review our Limited Permit webpage to see if this fits your situation.

Q3. I’m licensed in Oregon but will be staying in [insert other state] for some time. Can I continue to provide teletherapy to my Oregon patients?

A3. As a licensee/resident/permitted practitioner, you are legally authorized to practice via electronic means with your patients who are within the State of Oregon. However, please remember that state laws vary. It is up to the jurisdiction where you will be physically located to determine if this is acceptable, as Oregon cannot regulate practice in another state and cannot authorize psychology practice within another state.

Q4. I’m licensed in Oregon but my patient will be traveling to [insert other state] for some time. Can I continue to provide teletherapy to this patient?

A5. As a licensee/resident/permitted practitioner, you are legally authorized to practice vie electronic means with your patients who are within the State of Oregon. However, please remember that state laws vary. It is up to the jurisdiction where your client will be physically located to determine if this is acceptable, as Oregon cannot regulate practice in another state and cannot authorize psychology practice within another state.

Q6. I’m licensed as a psychologist in [insert other state] and I will be staying in Oregon for some time. Can I continue to provide services to my clients in [insert other state] via teletherapy?

A6. Per OAR 858-010-0003, the Oregon Board of Psychology (OBOP) considers the practice of psychology in Oregon to include the provision of services to a client in Oregon or offering services to individuals in Oregon. OBOP does not prohibit psychologists licensed in other states from providing services to their out-of-state clients while the psychologist is physically located in Oregon. However, please remember that state laws vary. It is up to the jurisdiction where your client will be physically located to determine if this is acceptable, as Oregon cannot regulate practice in another state and cannot authorize psychology practice within another state.

PSYPACT

Q1. Will Oregon Join PSYPACT?
A1. The short answer: no.

The Board has evaluated the potential benefits, challenges, and obstacles of joining the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) for some time. Those who have followed the Board’s public meetings know that PSYPACT has been a recurring topic of discussion for many years. In early 2024, the Board requested legislation to be introduced in the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session to adopt PSYPACT in Oregon. In early December 2024, the Board learned that its proposed legislative concept was not approved to move forward. There has been a broader conversation about compact agreements across medical and professional licensure that have been coming up and the Governor was wondering if this would be better addressed in that broader conversation.

While PSYPACT legislation did not move forward as Board-introduced legislation, it was introduced as House Bill 3339 (2025) by Representative Diehl. This bill was not successful. (Note: Interested parties may review the Oregon State Legislature webpage to learn ways to get involved. The Board must not take any position on outside legislation.)

Navigating PSYPACT includes several complex issues. One primary concern is that the compact’s model language conflicts with Oregon’s Constitution and statutes. These conflicts must be addressed in a way that upholds Oregon’s standards while allowing the Compact Commission to accept Oregon as a member. The Board has heard concerns about the potential lowering of competency standards in Oregon, as some states do not conduct nationwide criminal history checks, require APA/CPA accredited programs, or require one year of post-doctoral supervised work experience.

There are additional concerns about granting significant regulatory power to the Compact Commission, an external entity, and the logistical and financial implications of conducting out-of-state investigations. Implementing PSYPACT will involve substantial costs, including legal fees, additional personnel, necessary system updates, and loss of licensing fee revenue to an outside party, all of which may lead to increased licensing fees for Oregon psychologists.

While interjurisdictional practice compacts are often promoted as a way to increase the number of practitioners in Oregon, it’s important to remember that PSYPACT will also allow Oregon psychologists to practice in other states, leaving the overall impact on Oregonians uncertain. It's unclear how additional telehealth practitioners in Oregon would affect the behavioral health crisis, in particular for high-need communities. It will not increase the overall volume of providers nationally, but may shift them to more competitive states.

This is an important initiative that the Board carefully considered in collaboration with stakeholders, with the intention of avoiding unintended consequences. Ultimately, the decision to adopt PSYPACT in Oregon lies with the Oregon Legislature and Governor.

Requests for Legal/Clinical Advice

Q1. Can I get legal or clinical advice from the Board?

A1. Oftentimes, the Board’s website or staff may be able to direct individuals to relevant information such as applicable laws, rules, ethical code provisions, or official guidelines. However, Board members and Board staff cannot provide legal or clinical advice. It is not the role of Board personnel to perform analysis of the law or to research clinical standards and provide advice on how those apply to a person’s specific situation. Such advice takes specific legal and/or clinical knowledge and extensive, time-consuming research and analysis work to ensure accuracy and consistency. There are significant implications of offering such advice; it affects the rights and responsibilities of the Board and the recipient of the advice. From a practical perspective, current resource and staffing levels would not allow for Board staff to respond to requests for legal and clinical advice from thousands of current applicants, residents, and licensees.

Psychologists, psychologist associates, residents, temporarily authorized practitioners, and applicants have a responsibility to read, understand, and follow the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, and to adhere to applicable laws and regulations. A practitioner who encounters an area of uncertainty must take steps to follow an ethical decision-making model. This includes regularly reviewing statutes, administrative rules, and ethical code provisions to ensure a strong foundational understanding. Researching best practice as it applies to your situation and consulting with colleagues and/or legal counsel is also recommended. Clearly document the steps that you took in order to resolve your issue, including what you learned from research conducted and discussions held. Also, you are encouraged to check with your professional association, because many offer helpful advice services.

Board Decisions

Q1. Can I reach out to a Board member if I don’t like a decision coming from the Board office?

A1. It is not appropriate to contact individual Board members to attempt to lobby for a particular position, for example a policy opinion or a past or pending decision of the Board on a compliance issue. Board members are not able to speak as individuals about a Board matter or make any individual decisions outside of the full Board.

Q2. Can I get an exception?

A2. Oftentimes, the Board must render decisions or provide information that some individuals may find unfavorable. The Board is a governmental regulatory agency charged with setting certain standards and enforcing specified Oregon law. State agencies cannot set standards and then choose not to apply them to just some individuals or decide not to follow the rules or statutes established by the Oregon State Legislature. Such practices are not only unfair and arbitrary but are also illegal. The Board and its staff cannot grant variances to law, rule, or ethical code provisions. A somewhat common area of confusion is the expiration of licensure applications or lapsing of licenses for those who fail to complete the process. While Board staff do put forth significant effort to strengthen awareness through advisory articles, web materials, and courtesy reminders, licensees, residents, and applicants are personally responsible for understanding and fulfilling the requirements to achieve and maintain professional licensure in Oregon. Requests for exception to the administrative rules cannot be granted by the Board.

Q3. Why won’t the Board to take a position on pending legislation that will benefit psychologists?

A3. Many stakeholders are not aware of this, but the Governor’s Office requires that Oregon State agencies, including the Board, must not take a position on any legislation other than to support bills introduced by the Board itself or the Governor’s office.

Advocacy & Board Role

Q1. Why isn’t the Board working to advocate for psychologists and residents, including changing insurance reimbursement and improving wages?

A1. In short, this is not the Board’s role. Some comments received from licensees and residents reflect misunderstandings about the responsibility, purpose, and scope of authority of the Board. The 2022 MHRA Diversity Study completed by an independent third-party consultant found that some stakeholders believe the Board has a more wide-ranging jurisdiction than reality dictates (educational pipeline, insurance regulation, and legislative advocacy), which contributes to a lack of trust and can have an adverse impact on diversity in the profession. For example, some stakeholders believe that the Boards should initiate legislation to promote the profession (e.g., legislation related to provider insurance coverage requirements) or take a position on legislation other than concepts which are introduced by the Boards themselves (which is not permitted by the Governor’s Office). The Diversity Study found that “structural changes such as education funding and Medicare/private insurance reform could improve the financial outlook for registered associates but are outside the authority and resources of the boards.”

The Board was created for the purpose of determining qualifications for licensure for psychologists (academic and training standards), ensuring that candidates meet the licensure qualifications (education, exam, experience, character, and fitness, etc.), ensuring ongoing compliance with licensure requirements (renewal, continuing education, etc.), and establishing and enforcing a code of professional ethics. Board staff receive complaints and investigate alleged violations of Board law, rule, and the APA Code of Ethics. The regulatory functions of the Board are set to create high standards for professional practice in Oregon and to ensure the ongoing competence of the professionals licensed. In summary, the Board’s purpose is to protect the public. The Board may act only within its statutory authority as determined by the Oregon State Legislature.

In contrast, the role of professional associations (e.g., the Oregon Psychological Association) are rooted in promotion of the profession. Associations typically offer continuing education trainings and networking opportunities, provide informational resources, keep members apprised of current issues, and engage in advocacy for—or in opposition to—legislation that affects the profession. Many professional associations offer peer consultations and provide advice on ethical or legal issues.

There are certainly areas where the interests of a regulatory board and a professional association will overlap. For example, proposed legislation that changes the continuing education requirements or modifies the scope of practice for a psychologist will have both regulatory and professional practice implications. However, there is an important distinction between a governmental regulatory board’s public protection mandate and a professional association’s professional advocacy role. The two will not always align when it comes to certain policy considerations.

Q2. Why isn’t the Board awarding scholarships, grants, student loan forgiveness, supervisor stipends, and other programs/incentives to promote the workforce?

A2. Much of this goes back to the response in #1, above, in the Board’s role and purpose as set forth in Oregon law. Also, creating new programs requires a funding source. The Board’s operations are 100% funded by “Other Funds”- meaning licensing fees- not “General Fund” taxpayer dollars. Funding workforce initiatives would require the Board to raise fees paid by licensees and applicants. Note that there are current opportunities within an Oregon Health Authority program called the Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative, which was created to develop a diverse behavioral health workforce through scholarships, loan repayment, retention and peer workforce development, and awarding grants to licensed behavioral health providers to provide clinical supervision to residents.

Insurance

Q1. Does the Board require licensees or residents to carry professional liability insurance?

A1. No, the Board does not have any administrative rules or governing statutes that require any form of coverage. However, you may wish to consult with colleagues, a private attorney, or your professional organization for advice or guidance on what is the best approach for your situation.

Q2. Can the Board answer my questions about insurance coverage issues?

A2. No.

Advertising

Q1. Can I advertise my business, service, program, or recruitment through the Board?

A1. No. MHRA and the Board are government regulatory entities that only post information related to other agencies or official licensing or regulatory-related resources. We do not post advertisements, recruitments, or unofficial resources.

Statistics

Licensing

Compliance

Between 2019 and 2024, the Board did not deny any licensure applications because of a criminal conviction.