Graduate Program
Statement of Integrity
The profession of Psychology
adheres to the current ethical principles of psychologists, as stated by the
American Psychological Association (July, 2003), and the legal codes regulating
the profession within each state. In undergoing training to become a clinical
psychologist, all trainees must also adhere to these ethical principles and
legal codes. At various practicum
locations during training, during application for clinical internship, and upon
review for licensure and health provider panels after graduation, clinical
psychologists undergo scrutiny regarding their personal background (background
checks) and issues of personal integrity. The following questions represent the
types of questions asked:
§ Has disciplinary action,
in writing, of any sort ever been taken against you by a supervisor, educational
or training institution, health care institution, professional association, or
licensing / certification board?
§ Are there any complaints currently
pending against you before any of the above bodies?
§ Has there ever been a decision in a
civil suit rendered against you relative to your professional work, or is any
such action pending?
§ Have you ever been suspended,
terminated, or asked to resign by a training program, practicum site, or
employer?
§ Have you ever been convicted of an
offense against the law (including DUI) other than a minor traffic violation?
§ Have you ever been convicted of a
felony?
If you answered "Yes" to any of
the above questions, you may encounter difficulties in securing clinical
practicum positions during training, obtaining an approved clinical internship,
or becoming a licensed psychologist. As such, a person who answered "Yes" to any of these
questions should strongly consider whether the time and effort involved in
obtaining a graduate degree is in his or her best interest.