Prior to 1946 there was in Virginia no legal recognition of the practice of any form of psychology as one of the professions. In that year the General Assembly created the Examining Board for the Certification of Clinical Psychologists, provided for the examination by it of persons desiring to practice clinical psychology, fixed minimum qualifications for applicants for certification as clinical psychologists, and provided for the issuance of certificates by the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals to persons recommended by the Examining Board. It further prohibited serving or practicing or holding one's self out as qualified to serve or practice as a clinical psychologist without obtaining a certificate.

At the present time 43 persons are certified as Clinical Psychologists. However, there are 201 members of the Virginia Psychological Association and 384 recognized psychologists in Virginia. The growth of the profession is further illustrated by the fact that. there are more than 23,000 members of the American Psychological Association.

Prior to and during the 1964 Regular Session of the General Assembly, there was considerable discussion of the adoption of legislation to provide for certification or licensing of all psychologists who off er their services to the public for a fee. The General Assembly, however, felt that careful consideration should be given to the pattern of regulation of the profession before legislation was adopted and, accordingly, directed a study of the subject by the passage of Senate Joint Resolution No. 29.

The Virginia Advisory Legislative Council selected Dr. J. D. Hagood, of Clover, a member of the State Senate and member of the Council, to serve as Chairman of a Committee to make a preliminary study and report to it. Chosen to serve as members of the Committee were the following: Howard P. Anderson, Attorney, member of the House of Delegates, Halifax; H. H. Augustine, Jr., Richmond; Dr. W. Linwood Ball, Richmond; Dr. Thomas C. Camp, St. Albans Sanitarium, Radford; Dr. John J. McMillan, formerly with the Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond; Dr. W. A. Pennington, member of the House of Delegates, Buckingham; Dr. John R. Saunders, Westbrook Psychiatric Hospital, Richmond; Dr. William M. Sheppe, Jr., University of Virginia, Charlottesville; and Charles H. Taylor, Virginia Manufacturers Association, Richmond. John B. Boatwright, Jr., and Frank R. Dunham served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Committee.

During the course of the study Dr. McMillan accepted a position outside of Virginia and resigned from the Committee.

The Committee carefully considered the proposals which have been made for the regulation of professional practice by psychologists. It considered the legislation and experience in the 29 jurisdictions-American states and Canadian provinces-which have provided such regulation. It sought and obtained the views of interested persons within and without the State and held a public hearing at which full opportunity was given psychologists, members of the medical profession, and those who make use of the services of psychologists to express their views on the subject. The Committee concluded its deliberations and made its report to the Council.

The Council has reviewed the report of the Committee and has reached the conclusion that in order to afford recognition of the important part which the professional practice of psychology plays in our complex modern society and in order to ensure that only those adequately prepared to engage in such practice be allowed to offer such services to the public, regulation of the whole field of professional practice by psychologists is essential.