Arkansas Code
Subchapter 4 - Regulation of Neuropsychology Technicians
§ 17-97-402. Additional training

(a) The supervising psychologist shall make the technician aware:
(1) Of the goals of neuropsychological examination and his or her specific role in achieving those goals;
(2) Through additional training, if necessary, of appropriate institutional emergency procedures to deal with various medical emergencies such as heart attack, respiratory arrest, and seizures and of other relevant information; and
(3) In addition to medical emergencies, of recommended procedures for dealing with incompetent or adjudicated patients who attempt to leave the testing setting without authorization.

(b) The supervising psychologist shall:
(1) Train a technician to be sensitive to subtle or overt suicidal or homicidal threats or innuendoes made during testing; and
(2) Because the technician may be exposed to aggressive or sexually inappropriate behavior on the part of patients, provide the technician with specific instructions on how to handle such situations.

(c)
(1) Registered technicians shall complete a one-hour ethics course each year.
(2) The course shall be documented as part of the annual statement of supervision filed by the supervising psychologist.

(d)
(1) A technician shall receive training in:
(A) Ethical issues; and
(B) Methods of dealing with situations that arise in the context of assessment.

(2) A technician shall receive specific instruction in regard to:
(A) The limits of his or her role; and
(B) Relationships with:
(i) The supervising psychologist; and
(ii) Other technicians.


(3)
(A) The supervising psychologist shall provide explicit guidance regarding ethical issues that pertain to the activities of a technician in neuropsychological examination.
(B) These issues include:
(i) Protection of patient confidentiality;
(ii) Protection of the confidentiality of test information regarding patients;
(iii) Maintenance and protection of test security; and
(iv) Constraints regarding dual relationships with patients or supervisors.



(e) A technician should be explicitly instructed not to present himself or herself to patients in a manner that implies any independent professional prerogatives.
(f) The supervising psychologist shall:
(1) Correct any misperceptions a technician may have about the potential for growth in the roles and responsibilities of technicians;
(2) Specifically state that test selection, interpretation, and communication of results are professional activities performed only by the supervising psychologist; and
(3) Stipulate that these roles are not and never will be within the scope of employment of the technician.

(g)
(1) The supervising psychologist shall ensure that each technician employed by the psychologist has an explicit understanding of the limited nature of the technician's role in neuropsychological examination.
(2) The supervising psychologist shall clearly delineate the lines of authority between himself or herself and the technician.
(3)
(A) A technician shall be made aware at the time of his or her employment that the technician's role in the overall process is important, but nonetheless is narrowly constrained.
(B) The role of the technician is strictly limited to the administration and scoring of certain test procedures that shall be selected, interpreted, and communicated by the supervising psychologist.

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