Laws & Codes
Welcome to our section on laws and codes pertinent to psychologists practicing in North Carolina. Here you find information regarding the regulatory framework governing professional conduct, ensuring adherence to ethical standards and legal obligations.
APA Ethics Codes
The APA’s Ethics Code provides guidelines for psychologists, consisting of aspirational goals and enforceable rules, applicable to their professional roles such as clinical practice, research, teaching, and administration. This includes the code’s purpose and scope and Ethical Standards outlining specific conduct expectations. These standards apply to psychologists’ activities across diverse contexts, from traditional settings to electronic platforms.
North Carolina Psychology
Follow the links for details relating specifically to the practice of Psychology in the state of North Carolina.
Related Statutes & Information
Check below for detail on statutes and other information related to the practice of Psychology in the state of North Carolina.
Sections from Chapter 8 of the North Carolina General Statutes
Sec. 8-53.3. Communications between psychologist and client or patient.
No person, duly authorized as a licensed psychologist or licensed psychological associate, nor any of his or her employees or associates, shall be required to disclose any information which he or she may have acquired in the practice of psychology and which information was necessary to enable him or her to practice psychology. Any resident or presiding judge in the district in which the action is pending may, subject to G.S. 8-53.6, compel disclosure, either at the trial or prior thereto, if in his or her opinion disclosure is necessary to a proper administration of justice. If the case is in district court the judge shall be a district court judge, and if the case is in superior court the judge shall be a superior court judge.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the psychologist-client or patient privilege shall not be grounds for failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate county department of social services, or for failure to report a disabled adult suspected to be in need of protective services to the appropriate county department of social services. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the psychologist-client or patient privilege shall not be grounds for excluding evidence regarding the abuse or neglect of a child, or an illness of or injuries to a child, or the cause thereof, or for excluding evidence regarding the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult, or an illness of or injuries to a disabled adult, or the cause thereof, in any judicial proceeding related to a report pursuant to the child Abuse Reporting Law, Article 3 of Chapter 7B, or to the Protection of the Abused, Neglected, or Exploited Disabled Adult Act, Article 6 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes.
Sec. 8-53.6. No disclosure in alimony and divorce actions.
In an action pursuant to G.S. 50-5.1, 50-6, 50-7, 50-16.2A and 50-16.3A if either or both of the parties have sought and obtained marital counseling by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist, licensed psychological associate, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed marriage and family therapist, the person or persons rendering such counseling shall not be competent to testify in the action concerning information acquired while rendering such counseling.
The Board encourages all licensees to become familiar with the sections of the North Carolina Juvenile Code (G.S. 7B-300and the Protection of the Abused, Neglected or Exploited Disabled Adult Act (G.S. 108A-99) which contain the requirements for reporting of abuse and neglect of juveniles and disabled adults, respectively.
Effective July 1, 2024, the requirement that professionals, including psychologists, obtain from the NC Department of Revenue (NCDOR) a statewide license for the privilege of practicing a profession in North Carolina is repealed. Professionals, including psychologists, will no longer be required to obtain a new privilege license or renew an existing one. Questions about the privilege license should be directed to NCDOR at (877) 252-3052 and not to the Board office.
Psychologists need to be aware that the NCDOR privilege license requirement is separate and distinct from the Psychology Board license requirement to practice psychology in the state. The requirement to be licensed by the Psychology Board in order to practice psychology in North Carolina remains in full effect and is not impacted by the repeal of the NCDOR privilege license requirement.
North Carolina statutes require that those insurance plans covering services which are within the scope of practice of a “duly licensed psychologist” (1) shall permit the insured or beneficiary to choose the provider (including a psychologist), and (2) shall provide payment of or reimbursement for such care or service. After January 1, 1995, a “duly licensed psychologist” is defined as “a licensed psychologist who holds permanent licensure and certification as a health services provider psychologist issued by the North Carolina Psychology Board”. It is important to point out that licensure does not automatically guarantee reimbursement eligibility with all insurance companies. A licensee should contact the individual companies regarding their specific policies regarding reimbursement eligibility, the procedure for obtaining a provider number, etc.
History: These policies represent long-standing Board consensus, and were adopted in written form on November 1, 1984; and updated on April 29, 1994, February 6, 2002, and October 2, 2003.
North Carolina, in common with most other states, has adopted generic standards for the statutory licensing of psychologists. This position recognizes a common core of scientific knowledge from which professional practice is derived. However, professional psychology specialties have emerged from the generic practice of psychology. The Board does not license in any specialty area, but does issue health services provider certification to licensees who provide health services. This certification is mandatory for a licensed psychologist who holds a permanent license and who provides or offers to provide health services; the certification is optional for a licensed psychologist holding a provisional license or for a licensed psychological associate. When a psychologist re-specializes or practices techniques not supported by the psychologist’s original training, the psychologist is responsible to adhere to G.S. 90-270.148(a)(13) which requires that a psychologist practice in keeping with “the boundaries of demonstrated competence or the limitations of education, training, or supervised experience.” Similarly, the APA Ethics Code, Standard 2.01(c), holds that “Psychologists planning to provide services, teach, or conduct research involving populations, areas, techniques, or technologies new to them undertake relevant education, training, supervised experience, consultation, or study.” Practicing in violation of these standards is grounds for disciplinary action, including revocation of licensure. In reviewing applications for licensure and health services provider certification, and in approving supervision contracts, the Board expects congruence between training and practice, and between the training and experience of a supervisor and the practice of a supervisee. When there are indications of specialization beyond original training, re-specialization, or the utilization of techniques not supported by original training, the Board may seek evidence of any of the following: professional workshops and in service training; specialized supervision; additional practice and internship experience; and, formal, graduate level re-training. When a major shift is proposed (e.g., from experimental to clinical), the Board recommends that psychologists who wish to practice in another specialty meet the same requirements with respect to subject matter and professional skills that apply to graduate education and training in the particular specialty. Generally, the acquisition of internship, practicum, or employment experience alone is not considered to be adequate preparation in any specialty area if the original education is not in that area.
Visit the NC Psychology Board newsletter page for the latest news as well as an archive of past updates.