Ind. Admin. Code tit. 868, r. 1.1-4-1 – Doctoral degree in psychology

Sec. 1. Applicants for licensure shall have completed a doctoral program in psychology that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time of graduation or where APA or CPA program accreditation does not exist the program must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) The academic unit is in a recognized institution of higher learning as defined in 868 IAC 1.1-1-1(d) to offer the doctoral degree in psychology.
(2) Any dissertation required for the doctoral degree is psychological in method and content and an expected product of doctoral training in psychology.
(3) The academic unit, wherever it may be administratively housed, is clearly identified by the granting institution as a psychology program. Such a program must specify in pertinent institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train professional psychologists.
(4) The program stands as a recognizable, coherent, organized entity within the institution.
(5) Within the psychology faculty, there is a clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas whether or not the program cuts across administrative lines.
(6) The program is an integrated, organized sequence of study.
(7) There is an identifiable psychology faculty and a psychologist responsible for the program.
(8) The program has an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree.
(9) In areas of clinical, counseling, and school psychology, the program includes educational experience with titles such as practicum, internship, field, or laboratory training.
(10) At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the graduate course credits (or other academic requirements) required for the doctoral degree, excluding dissertation credits, have been successfully earned in graduate (postbaccalaureate) psychology courses. Such credits may, in part, be earned in postdoctoral course work. In determining the acceptability of curricular experiences and course work, the following factors shall be considered:
1. (A) The curriculum shall encompass a minimum of three (3) academic years of graduate study, in addition to instruction in:
  1. (i) scientific and professional ethics and standards;
  2. (ii) research design;
  3. (iii) methodology;
  4. (iv) statistics; and
  5. (v) psychometrics.
2. (B) The core program shall require each student to demonstrate competence (as a part of the graduate education) in each of the substantive content areas established in this subdivision. This typically will be met by including a minimum of three (3) or more graduate semester hours (five (5) or more graduate quarter hours) in each of the following substantive content areas:
  1. (i) Biological bases of behavior such as:
    1. (AA) physiological psychology;
    2. (BB) comparative psychology;
    3. (CC) neuropsychology;
    4. (DD) sensation;
    5. (EE) perception; and
    6. (FF) psychopharmacology.
  2. (ii) Cognitive-affective bases of behavior such as:
    1. (AA) learning;
    2. (BB) thinking;
    3. (CC) motivation; and
    4. (DD) emotion.
  3. (iii) Social bases of behavior such as:
    1. (AA) social psychology;
    2. (BB) group processes; and
    3. (CC) organizational and systems theory.
  4. (iv) Individual differences such as:
    1. (AA) personality theory;
    2. (BB) human development; and
    3. (CC) abnormal psychology.
(11) The program shall require a minimum of a one (1) year residence. Residence requires personal attendance at the degree granting institution and interaction with psychology faculty and other matriculated psychology students. As used in this subdivision, a "one (1) year residence" means eighteen (18) semester hours or twenty-seven (27) quarter hours taken on a full-time or part-time basis at the institution accumulated in not less than nine (9) months or not more than eighteen (18) months, which must include student to faculty contact involving face-to-face group courses. Such educational meetings must:
1. (A) include both faculty to student and student to student interaction;
2. (B) be conducted by the psychology faculty of the institution at least ninety percent (90%) of the time;
3. (C) be fully documented by the institution; and
4. (D) relate substantially to the program and course content.
The institution must clearly document how the applicant's performance is assessed and evaluated. An internship requirement will not contribute to the academic year requirements of this criterion.
(12) It is the responsibility of a person applying under this section to provide the board with an official course catalogue description in the form of the actual catalogue or a true copy of the relevant sections sent directly from the issuing institution as of the date the course was taken.
(13) The applicant shall provide any documentation required by the board in the manner and form prescribed by the board to confirm compliance with or satisfaction of the requirements of this rule.

(State Psychology Board; Rule 5.1; filed Jul 13, 1979, 9:07 a.m.: 2 IR 1133; filed Nov 22, 1985, 4:33 p.m.: 9 IR 774; filed May 8, 1992, 5:00 p.m.: 15 IR 1956; errata filed May 15, 1992, 5:00 p.m.: 15 IR 2257; filed Nov 22, 1993, 5:00 p.m.: 17 IR 761; filed Feb 8, 1995, 2:00 p.m.: 18 IR 1477; readopted filed Apr 23, 2001, 11:30 a.m.: 24 IR 2896; readopted filed Oct 4, 2007, 3:32 p.m.: 20071031-IR-868070065RFA; filed Mar 30, 2010, 9:41 a.m.: 20100428-IR-868090872FRA; readopted filed Nov 22, 2016, 12:30 p.m.: 20161221-IR-868160322RFA; readopted filed Nov 18, 2022, 9:39 a.m.: 20221214-IR-868220190RFA)