DI 22505: Development of Medical Evidence of Record (MER)
TN 20 (02-16)
A. Determining whether a psychologist’s or school psychologist's credentials establish the individual to be an acceptable medical source (AMS)
A psychologist or school psychologist is an AMS only if evidence documents he or she holds (or held at the time of treatment) licensure qualifications listed in DI 22505.003A. A psychologist whose licensure authorizes him or her to practice independently without supervision is an AMS, whether he or she has a doctorate or masters-level education degree.
1. Acceptable psychologist licensure titles
Consider the following qualifications evidence the source is a licensed or certified psychologist:
a. All States:
If the source shows one of the following titles on the evidence, consider this credential to be on the AMS list (without further verification): “Ph.D., psychologist”; “Psy.D., psychologist”; “Ed.D., psychologist”.
b. State-specific titles:
These are state-specific titles for psychologists:
Kentucky: "Licensed Psychological Practitioner"; "LPP"; "Certified Psychologist with Autonomous Functioning"; or, "CPAF."
Puerto Rico: “M.A., psychologist”; “M.Psy., psychologist”; or “M.Ed., psychologist.”
Vermont: “Licensed Psychologist-Masters”; “Licensed Psychologist-Doctorate”; “M.S., Psychologist”; or “M.A., Psychologist.”
West Virginia: “M.A., psychologist”; “M.Psy., psychologist”; or “M.Ed., psychologist.”
2. Acceptable school psychologist licensure titles
Consider the following qualifications sufficient to show the source is an AMS school psychologist to establish a medically determinable impairment of intellectual disability, learning disabilities, or borderline intellectual functioning only:
a. All States
If the source shows “school psychologist” as all or part of his or her title on the evidence, consider this credential to be on the AMS list (without further verification).
b. State-specific titles
In addition, several State school systems have individuals with other titles who are licensed or certified (or “registered,” in Texas) by the State to perform the same function as school psychologists in a school setting. These are state specific titles for school psychologists:
Alabama: Certified school psychometrists.
Arkansas: Licensed professional counselors, certified educational examiners, licensed psychological examiners.
Kentucky: Certified guidance counselors with an endorsement for individual intellectual assessment.
Michigan: Approved school psychologists.
Mississippi: Certified school psychometrists.
Missouri: Certified school psychological examiners.
New Mexico: Licensed educational diagnosticians, Certified educational diagnosticians.
Tennessee: Senior psychological examiners, psychological examiners (these sources are licensed but do not show “licensed” in their titles).
Texas: Certified or registered educational diagnosticians, licensed specialists in school psychology.
3. Other licensure titles
For licensed or certified individuals not listed above who have titles other than "psychologist"- or individuals who have titles other than “school psychologist” but perform the same function as school psychologists in a school setting- the Disability Determination Service (DDS) or appropriate ODAR staff will send the State’s licensing, certification, and education requirements, along with any other qualification requirements for these individuals, to the Office of Disability Programs (ODP). ODP will determine whether these individuals are an AMS and provide a written response.
B. Verifying a psychologist’s or school psychologist's credentials
When it is not possible to verify that the individual's credential is on the AMS list using the rules in DI 22505.004A in this section, document all attempts to resolve the issue through personal contact, or a state authority. DDS staff must use the “Claims Communication” function in the electronic claims analysis tool (eCAT) to document the disability determination explanation (DDE). For information about DDS documentation requirements in non-eCAT claims, see DI 20503.001E and DI 40525.125.
NOTE: Verification may be verbal, written, or via an official state agency website. It is not necessary to obtain a copy of the certification or license for inclusion in the folder. Include the verification information in the DDE.
1. Verification through personal contact
Call, fax, write, or use secure email without personally identifiable information to contact the source to resolve the issue.
2. Verification through a state authority
IMPORTANT: The following instructions provide an optional expedient without changing the role of the DDS Medical/Public Relations Officer (MPRO). Follow your local DDS policy regarding the verification of credentials.
You may verify credentials using an official state agency website maintained for the purpose of verifying medical licensure. You may also call, fax, or write, the appropriate state authority. The following list of official state agency verification authorities is provided for your convenience:
Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners (671) 646-3456
Minnesota (612) 617-2230
Puerto Rico Board of Psychologist Examiners (787) 999-8989