Alaska Stat. § 08.86.180 (2026)

Sec. 08.86.180. Practice of psychology.
 (a) Unless licensed under this chapter, a person may not practice psychology or hold out publicly as a psychologist or as practicing psychology. A person holds out as a psychologist by using a title or description of services incorporating the words “psychology,” “psychological,” “psychologist,” “psychometry,” “psychotherapy,” “psychotherapeutic,” “psychotherapist,” “psychoanalysis,” or “psychoanalyst” or when holding out publicly to be trained, experienced, or qualified to render services in the field of psychology.

 (b) This section does not apply to
     (1) a person employed as a school psychologist, if the school district maintains appropriate supervision of psychological activities and professional conduct, and if the person is performing the psychological activities as part of the duties for which the person was employed, is performing the activities solely within the facilities of the school district in which the person is employed or under the supervision of the school district, and does not render or offer to render psychological services to the public for compensation in addition to the salary the person receives from the school district;

     (2) an officer or employee of the United States government practicing psychology while in the discharge of the officer's or employee's official duties;

     (3) a student, intern, or resident in psychology pursuing a course of study approved by the board as qualifying training and experience for a psychologist, if that person's activities constitute a part of that person's supervised course of study and that person is designated by titles such as “psychology intern” or “psychology trainee”;

     (4) a qualified member of another profession, in doing work of a psychological nature consistent with that person's training and consistent with the code of ethics of that person's profession, if the person does not hold out to the public by a title or description of services incorporating the words “psychology,” “psychological,” “psychologist,” “psychometry,” “psychotherapy,” “psychotherapeutic,” “psychotherapist,” “psychoanalysis,” or “psychoanalyst” or represent to be trained, experienced, or qualified to render services in the field of psychology; or

     (5) a physician engaged in the normal practice of medicine for which the physician is licensed under AS 08.64.

 (c) Nothing in this chapter authorizes a person licensed as a psychologist to engage in the practice of medicine, as defined by the laws of the state.

 (d) [See delayed amendment note.] Nothing in this section prohibits a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed marital and family therapist, or a licensed professional counselor from holding out to the public by a title or description of services incorporating the words “psychoanalysis,” “psychoanalyst,” “psychotherapy,” “psychotherapist,” or “psychotherapeutic.”