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.
Licensing Requirements
How to Become a Licensed Psychologist in Vermont
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, including supervised practicums or internships, 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.
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.
In addition to the APA guidelines, Vermont psychologists must comply with state-specific rules that govern professional behavior, including explicit unprofessional conduct definitions.
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
Vermont's Professional Conduct Rules
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.
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.