Understanding Professional Standards
Professional Resources and Standards for Psychologists
Explore these comprehensive resources to ensure you meet all professional requirements and uphold the highest ethical standards in your practice.
Ethics for Psychology
Ethical Standards
Principles & Guidelines for Ethical Practice
Psychologists in Vermont are expected to adhere to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
In addition to the APA ethics code, Vermont psychologists are also bound by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board’s Code of Conduct, which may be interpreted in conjunction with the APA ethics code.
Continuous professional development is crucial for ethical practice. Psychologists are encouraged to engage in ongoing education to stay updated with the latest advancements in the field, ensuring they provide the best possible care to their clients while maintaining ethical integrity.
Beyond Ethics
Unprofessional Conduct in Vermont
The practice of psychology in Vermont is governed by an additional, comprehensive set of legal standards and regulations designed to ensure the highest level of professional conduct and public safety. Psychologists must adhere to the Vermont Statutes Annotated, which specifies the professional obligations, scope of practice, and recordkeeping requirements.
Insurance Information
Reimbursement for Professional Services
Medicare
Looking to enroll as a Medicare provider? National Government Services (NGS) is the Medicare contractor for Vermont. Recent federal legislation allows master’s level clinicians, such as psychologist-masters, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed marriage and family therapists to enroll as Medicare providers, but psychologist-masters may need to show that post-degree supervised practice conforms with the relevant regulations. NGS provides several online manuals to assist providers, which you can see here.
Medicaid
Medicaid in the State of Vermont is administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA, commonly pronounced “diva”). DVHA includes an array of resources for providers on its website, which you can find here. The DVHA Medicaid Portal also includes instructions for enrolling as a provider and news about changes and updates to its rules and regulations.
Commercial Insurance
In Vermont, the private insurance market is dominated by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and Cigna, according to a 2020 report by the Green Mountain Care Board. MVP also has a visible share of the commercial insurance market. For those providers who have never enrolled as a provider in the commercial insurance market, you must first be credentialed through the CAQH before enrolling with the commercial insurer.
General Information
Licensing information, governmental agencies, and other general information for your practice.
Practice Documentation
More about informed consent, and other practice documentation.
Protecting the Public
Mandatory Reporting & Disclosures
Duty to Warn
Vermont imposes a duty on psychotherapists to warn or protect third parties of certain risks. The original standard set out in Vermont case law in Peck v. Addison County has been codified by the Vermont legislature. Generally, a psychotherapist who knows or should know that the patient poses a serious risk of danger to an identifiable victim has a duty to exercise reasonable care to protect that identifiable victim from that danger.
Mandated Reporting: Children
Vermont psychotherapists are among the group of professionals known as “mandated reporters.” As such, Vermont psychotherapists who reasonably suspect abuse or neglectd of a child (as that is defined in the statute) within 24 hours of the time they first receive the information regarding suspected abuse or neglect. Full details of this requirement can be found by clicking the link below and reading the provisions starting at § 4911.
Mandated Reporting: Vulnerable Adults
Vermont Psychotherapists also have a duty to report the abuse, exploitation, and/or neglect of vulnerable adults. Generally, if a psychotherapist knows or has reason to suspect that a vulnerable adult is being abused, exploited, or neglected, that psychotherapist must report that to the Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living within 2 business days. You can read the full text of the statute, including the definitions of “vulnerable adult,” “abuse,” “exploitation,” and “neglect” by clicking the button below.
General Information
Licensing Requirements
To practice as a licensed psychologist in Vermont, you must meet specific educational and professional criteria. This includes obtaining a doctoral or master’s degree in psychology that meets specific curriculum criteria and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Additionally, candidates must fulfill post-degree supervised practice requirements and adhere to continuing education mandates to maintain licensure.
Vermont has joined PSYPACT as of July 1, 2024.
Other out-of-state psychologists in good standing in another state may register for limited telehealth services (Interim Telehealth Registration) to individuals in Vermont; you can read more at the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation’s website.
Contact Information
- Vermont Board of Psychological Examiners
- Vermont Department of Mental Health
- PSYPACT
- Department of Vermont Health Access (Vermont Medicaid)
- Medicare (Administrative Contractor: NGS)
- Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
The Vermont Department of Mental Health oversees the community mental health system in Vermont, as well as the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin, Vermont, and the Middlesex Therapeutic Care Residence in Middlesex, Vermont, among other services. You can read more about the Department at its website. To contact the Department, you can call (802) 241-0090.
The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT®) is an interstate compact, or legislation, that gives states a mechanism to facilitate psychotherapy (by psychologists) across state boundaries.
The PSYPACT Commission is the governing body of PSYPACT responsible for creating and finalizing the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations and for granting psychologists the authority to practice across state lines through telehealth and temporary in-person practice.
PSYPACT (both the legislation and the Commission) were created by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards in 2015.
You can read more about PSYPACT and the process of gaining authorization to practice across state lines at the PSYPACT website.
The Department of Vermont Health Access, which manages the Vermont Medicaid program, has a number of resources for providers on its website, including, but not limited to, information on:
- Blueprint for Health
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
- Codes/Fee Schedules
- Provider Education
- Provider Network Info
- Special Investigations Unit
- Supervised Billing
- Telehealth
You can contact DVHA by telephone as well:
- For clinical, prior authorizations: 802-879-5903
- For questions regarding provider billing, claim status, or covered services: 1-800-925-1706
- For all other calls: 802-879-5900, option 9
The administrator for Medicare in Vermont is NGS (National Government Services). Its provider website has state-specific information for you and NGS provides a specific provider portal (NGSConnex) for its providers.
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation oversees financial services in Vermont, including health insurance. The following is taken from the Department’s website at https://dfr.vermont.gov/insurance:
The Insurance Division aims to maintain affordability and availability of insurance for Vermonters while certifying that insurers can meet their contractual obligations. It ensures reasonable and orderly competition within the industry and protects Vermont consumers against unfair and unlawful business practices. All insurance policies sold in Vermont are reviewed and approved by the Insurance Division to ensure they provide protections mandated by Vermont law. The Division conducts annual and periodic audits of health insurance plans to ensure compliance with Vermont regulations.
Individuals can make inquiries or file complaints about insurers by telephone at 802-828-3302 or 800-964-1784 or by emailing dfr.insuranceinfo@vermont.gov.