Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 4732
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4732.01 (2026)

Psychologist definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
August 14, 2024
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 250 - 135th General Assembly
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As used in this chapter:

(A) "Psychologist" means any person who holds self out to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "psychologic," "psychological," "psychologist," "psychology," or any other terms that imply the person is trained, experienced, or an expert in the field of psychology.

(B) "The practice of psychology" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public any service involving the application of psychological procedures to assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or amelioration of psychological problems or emotional or mental disorders of individuals or groups; or to the assessment or improvement of psychological adjustment or functioning of individuals or groups, whether or not there is a diagnosable pre-existing psychological problem. Practice of psychology includes the practice of independent school psychology and the practice of school psychology. For purposes of this chapter, teaching or research shall not be regarded as the practice of psychology, even when dealing with psychological subject matter, provided it does not otherwise involve the professional practice of psychology in which an individual's welfare is directly affected by the application of psychological procedures.

(C) "Psychological procedures" include but are not restricted to application of principles, methods, or procedures of understanding, predicting, or influencing behavior, such as the principles pertaining to learning, conditioning, perception, motivation, thinking, emotions, or interpersonal relationships; the methods or procedures of verbal interaction, interviewing, counseling, behavior modification, environmental manipulation, group process, psychological psychotherapy, or hypnosis; and the methods or procedures of administering or interpreting tests of mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotions, or motivation.

(D)(1) "School psychologist" means any person who, within the scope of employment as described in division (D)(2) of this section, holds self out to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "school psychologist" or "school psychology," or who holds self out to be trained, experienced, or an expert in the practice of school psychology.

(2) A school psychologist is limited in employment for the purposes of practicing school psychology to the following:

(a) By a board of education or by a private school meeting the standards prescribed by the director of education and workforce under division (D) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code;

(b) In a program for children with disabilities established under Chapter 3323. or 5126. of the Revised Code.

(E) "Independent school psychologist" means any person who, outside of the scope of employment as described in division (D)(2) of this section, holds self out to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "independent school psychologist" or "independent school psychology," or who holds self out to be trained, experienced, or an expert in the practice of independent school psychology.

(F) "Practice of school psychology" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public any of the following services:

(1) Evaluation, diagnosis, or test interpretation limited to assessment of intellectual ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, behavior, or personality factors directly related to learning problems;

(2) Intervention services, including counseling, for children or adults for amelioration or prevention of educationally related learning problems, including emotional and behavioral aspects of such problems;

(3) Psychological, educational, or vocational consultation or direct educational services. This does not include industrial consultation or counseling services to clients undergoing vocational rehabilitation.

(G) "Practice of independent school psychology" means the practice of school psychology outside of the scope of employment as described in division (D)(2) of this section.

(H) "Licensed psychologist" means an individual holding a current, valid license to practice psychology issued under section 4732.12 or 4732.15 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Licensed school psychologist" means an individual holding a current, valid license to practice school psychology issued under section 4732.12 or 4732.15 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Licensed independent school psychologist" means an individual holding a current, valid license to practice independent school psychology issued under section 4732.12 or 4732.15 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Mental health professional" and "mental health service" have the same meanings as in section 2305.51 of the Revised Code.

(L) "Telepsychology" means the practice of psychology, independent school psychology, or school psychology by distance communication technology, including telephone, electronic mail, internet-based communications, and video conferencing.

Last updated May 24, 2024 at 12:56 PM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1977–2016 · leading case: State v. Boston, 545 N.E.2d 1220 (Ohio 1989).
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State v. Boston, 545 N.E.2d 1220 (Ohio 1989). “Lord is a psychologist — not a medical doctor — and the definition of “psychologist” found in R.C. 4732.01(A) does not include medical training.”
State v. Chappell, 646 N.E.2d 1191 (Ohio Ct. App. 1994). “Lord is a psychologist — not a medical doctor — and the definition of ‘psychologist’ found in R.C. 4732.01(A) does not include medical training.”
Katz v. Enzer, 504 N.E.2d 427 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985). “2 To resolve this question at trial, it was imperative for the jury to know how the practice of psychology was defined by law in Ohio, R.C. 4732.01(B), to be aware that there was a licensing requirement in effect for anyone engaged in such a practice, R.”
Sterbling v. Sterbling, 519 N.E.2d 673 (Ohio Ct. App. 1987). “See R.C. 4732.01(B) and (C). We note that the parties filed an agreed entry in which they agreed to each pay one half of their daughter’s medical expenses.”
Taylor v. Ohio Rehab. Servs. Comm'n, 2002 Ohio 7409 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2002). · cites it 2× “According to RC 4732.01(B) or procedures defined in RC 4732.”
Knepper v. Travelers Ins. Co., 374 N.E.2d 423 (Ohio Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 2× “231, effective January 1, 1974, provides as follows: “Notwithstanding any provision of any policy of insurance issued or renewed after December 31, 1973, whenever such policy provides for reimbursement for any service that may be legally performed by a person licensed in this…”
State ex rel. Stover v. Indus. Comm., 2016 Ohio 4881 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “) {¶ 19} Finally, because of evaluating mental and intellectual functioning involves multiple types of tests, experts, and reports, and because the potential for internal consistency of, and conflict between, such medical reports is much greater for mental health and…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4732.01(A): 3 cases
State v. Boston, 545 N.E.2d 1220 (Ohio 1989). “Lord is a psychologist — not a medical doctor — and the definition of “psychologist” found in R.C. 4732.01(A) does not include medical training.”
State v. Chappell, 646 N.E.2d 1191 (Ohio Ct. App. 1994). “Lord is a psychologist — not a medical doctor — and the definition of ‘psychologist’ found in R.C. 4732.01(A) does not include medical training.”
State ex rel. Stover v. Indus. Comm., 2016 Ohio 4881 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “) {¶ 19} Finally, because of evaluating mental and intellectual functioning involves multiple types of tests, experts, and reports, and because the potential for internal consistency of, and conflict between, such medical reports is much greater for mental health and…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4732.01(B): 3 cases
Katz v. Enzer, 504 N.E.2d 427 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985). “2 To resolve this question at trial, it was imperative for the jury to know how the practice of psychology was defined by law in Ohio, R.C. 4732.01(B), to be aware that there was a licensing requirement in effect for anyone engaged in such a practice, R.”
Sterbling v. Sterbling, 519 N.E.2d 673 (Ohio Ct. App. 1987). “See R.C. 4732.01(B) and (C). We note that the parties filed an agreed entry in which they agreed to each pay one half of their daughter’s medical expenses.”
Taylor v. Ohio Rehab. Servs. Comm'n, 2002 Ohio 7409 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2002). “According to RC 4732.01(B) or procedures defined in RC 4732.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4732.01(C): 1 case
Taylor v. Ohio Rehab. Servs. Comm'n, 2002 Ohio 7409 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2002). “According to RC 4732.01(B) or procedures defined in RC 4732.”
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