Who is defined as a psychologist?

The definition of a psychologist in the context of Florida psychology laws specifically refers to a person who is licensed to practice psychology independently. This distinction is significant because licensure ensures that the individual has met specific educational, training, and examination requirements established by regulatory boards, which is crucial for protecting public welfare and ensuring professional standards.

Being licensed allows a psychologist to offer a full range of psychological services, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders. It signifies that they have achieved a level of competence recognized by the state. Therefore, only individuals who have completed the necessary steps for licensure, which typically include obtaining a doctoral degree in psychology, gaining supervised experience, and passing a licensing examination, can legally call themselves psychologists and practice on their own.

In contrast, conducting psychological research, teaching psychology classes, or providing counseling services under supervision may involve individuals with relevant training or education, but these roles do not fulfill the requirements to be recognized as licensed psychologists.