Maryland joins agreement to let school psychologists work across states

Participating states must grant licenses to school psychologists who apply and meet the agreement’s requirements. The pathway covers school psychologists providing academic, mental health, and behavioral health services in schools in participating states. Applicants must maintain an active, unrestricted home-state license, complete approved graduate training, and pass a qualifying national exam. Their supervised internship must include at least 1,200 hours, with at least 600 in a school. Applicants must undergo a criminal background check, meet application requirements, and pay applicable fees. Psychologists must meet home-state renewal requirements and any required local coursework or exams after receiving the other state’s license. They must follow the practice rules where they work. Maryland’s law took effect October 1, 2026. The interstate agreement takes effect when the seventh state enacts it.

Participating states establish a shared commission to run the agreement and adopt binding rules. Each participating state has one representative on the commission. The commission may charge states annual payments and charge participating psychologists fees to cover operating costs that other income does not cover. Rules must stay within the agreement’s purpose and powers. A majority of participating state legislatures can reject a rule within four years of its adoption. The commission comes into existence on or after the agreement takes effect. Each rule becomes binding on the date it specifies.

A participating state may leave the agreement by enacting a law repealing its membership. The withdrawal rules cover participating states and licenses issued through the agreement. The state must immediately notify its licensed psychologists when the withdrawal law is enacted. The state must continue required investigation and discipline reporting until withdrawal takes effect. Withdrawal cannot take effect until 180 days after the repeal law is enacted. Licenses issued through the agreement remain recognized for at least six months after the withdrawal notice.