NAC641.208. Scope of practice for psychologist: Competency required; acquisition and use of new service or technique; unnecessary treatment; referral of certain patients; basis for rendering formal professional opinion.

A psychologist:

     1. Shall limit his or her practice and supervision to the areas in which he or she has acquired competence through education, training and experience.

     2. Shall not, except in an emergency in which the life or health of a person is in danger, practice or offer to practice beyond the scope of his or her license, or accept or perform any professional service which he or she knows, or has reason to know, he or she is not competent to perform.

     3. Shall not engage in conduct in the practice of psychology which evidences moral unfitness to practice the profession.

     4. Shall maintain competence in the areas in which he or she practices through continuing education, consultation or other methods, in conformance with current standards of scientific and professional knowledge.

     5. Shall, if employed by an agency, organization or institution, use every reasonable effort to assure that all services provided for patients are adequate in degree and scope, and conform to the highest professional standards.

     6. Shall, if acquiring experience in a service or technique that is either new to the psychologist or new to the profession:

     (a) Engage in continuing consultation with other psychologists or relevant professionals;

     (b) Seek appropriate education and training in the new area; and

     (c) Inform his or her patients of the innovative nature and known risks of the new service or technique to provide his or her patients with the freedom of choice concerning psychological services.

     7. Shall not claim or use any secret or special method of treatment or evaluation not previously divulged to the Board.

     8. Shall not, except for the purpose of research, use any method or technique of treatment or evaluation for which there is no adequate basis in research.

     9. Shall not order any test or treatment, or the use of any facility for treatment, not warranted by the condition of the patient.

     10. Shall refer or recommend referral of a patient to:

     (a) Another professional; or

     (b) Technical or administrative resources,

Ê if a referral is clearly in the best interests of the patient.

     11. Shall, upon the request of a patient, refer the patient to another professional.

     12. Shall not render a formal professional opinion about a person, including an opinion concerning the fitness of a parent in a child custody hearing, without having had direct and substantial professional contact with the person or without having made a formal assessment of the person.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Psychological Exam’rs, eff. 12-28-95)