An Act establishing senior psychologist licensure

HD 1266 creates a new "senior psychologist" licensure category in Massachusetts, specifically for psychologists who hold a doctoral degree in psychology and have been licensed and practicing in another state for many years but lack accessible paper records of their training. The state Board of Psychology must establish this category by July 1, 2026, and set specific requirements through regulation, including proof of a regionally accredited doctoral degree, minimum years licensed in other states (members of ASPB), years of recent practice, and a clean disciplinary record. The bill allows the board to require standard exams like the jurisprudence test but prohibits adding unreasonable burdens on applicants. This change directly affects out-of-state psychologists seeking licensure in Massachusetts who face documentation challenges.