Universal Recognition of Occupational License Act; revise regarding practices of marriage and family therapy and psychology.

H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 1 (ENK\KP)

To: Business and Commerce
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Yancey

HOUSE BILL NO. 479
(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-50-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMITS 2
FOR THE PRACTICES OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY AND PSYCHOLOGY 3
UNDER THE UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES ACT; TO 4
REQUIRE THE LICENSING BOARD OF THE PSYCHOLOGISTS OR OF THE 5
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, TO SUSPEND AND 6
REVOKE THE TEMPORARY LICENSE OF AN APPLICANT UPON NOTICE THAT 7
EITHER THE REQUIRED CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK OR THE REQUIRED 8
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXAMINATION INQUIRIES ARE RETURNED TO THE 9
LICENSING BOARD AS INSUFFICIENT FOR LICENSURE AND TO NOTIFY THE 10
APPLICANT OF THE REVOCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT NOTHING IN THIS 11
SECTION SHALL REPLACE OR REMOVE AN APPLICANT'S REQUIREMENTS FOR 12
COMPLIANCE WITH EDUCATION, SUPERVISED TRAINING AND EXAMINATION 13
UNDER SECTIONS 73-31-14 AND 73-31-15, FOR THE PRACTICE OF 14
PSYCHOLOGY, OR UNDER SECTION 73-54-23, FOR THE PRACTICE OF 15
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 73-54-23, 16
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATES TO THE PRACTICE OF 17
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE 18
AMENDMENT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 73-31-14 AND 73-31-15, 19
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATE TO THE PRACTICE OF 20
PSYCHOLOGY, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR 21
RELATED PURPOSES. 22
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 23
SECTION 1. Section 73-50-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 24
amended as follows: 25
73-50-2. (1) This section shall be known as the "Universal 26
Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act." 27
(2) As used in this section, the term: 28
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 2 (ENK\KP)

(a) "License" means any license (other than a privilege 29
license), certificate, registration, permit or other evidence of 30
qualification that an individual is required by the state to 31
obtain before he or she may engage in or represent himself or 32
herself to be a member of a particular profession or occupation. 33
(b) "Occupational licensing board" means any state 34
board, commission, department or other agency in Mississippi that 35
is established for the primary purpose of regulating the entry of 36
persons into, and/or the conduct of persons within, a particular 37
profession or occupation, and which is authorized to issue 38
licenses. For the purposes of this section, the State Department 39
of Education shall be considered an occupational licensing board 40
when issuing teacher licenses under Section 37-3-2. 41
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 42
occupational licensing board shall issue a license or government 43
certification in the discipline applied for and at the same 44
practice level to a person who establishes residence in this state 45
if, upon application to an occupational licensing board, the 46
applicant satisfies the following conditions: 47
(a) The applicant holds a current and valid license in 48
good standing in another state in an occupation with a similar 49
scope of practice, as determined by the occupational licensing 50
board in Mississippi, and has held this license from the 51
occupational licensing board in the other state for at least one 52
(1) year; and 53
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 3 (ENK\KP)

(b) There were minimum education requirements and, if 54
applicable, work experience, examination and clinical supervision 55
requirements in effect, and the other state verifies that the 56
applicant met those requirements in order to be licensed in that 57
state; and 58
(c) The applicant has not committed any act in the 59
other state that would have constituted grounds for refusal, 60
suspension or revocation of a license to practice that occupation 61
in Mississippi at the time the act was committed, and the 62
applicant does not have a disqualifying criminal record as 63
determined by the occupational licensing board in Mississippi 64
under Mississippi law; and 65
(d) The applicant did not surrender a license because 66
of negligence or intentional misconduct related to the applicant's 67
work in the occupation in another state; and 68
(e) The applicant does not have a complaint, allegation 69
or investigation pending before an occupational licensing board or 70
other board in another state that relates to unprofessional 71
conduct or an alleged crime. If the applicant has a complaint, 72
allegation or investigation pending, the occupational licensing 73
board in Mississippi shall not issue or deny a license to the 74
applicant until the complaint, allegation or investigation is 75
resolved, or the applicant otherwise satisfies the criteria for 76
licensure in Mississippi to the satisfaction of the occupational 77
licensing board in Mississippi; and 78
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 4 (ENK\KP)

(f) The applicant pays all applicable fees in 79
Mississippi. 80
(4) Notwithstanding any other law, the occupational 81
licensing board shall issue a license to an applicant in the 82
discipline applied for and at the same practice level, as 83
determined by the occupational licensing board, to a person who 84
establishes residence in this state based on work experience in 85
another state, if all the following apply: 86
(a) The applicant worked in a state that does not use a 87
license to regulate a lawful occupation, but Mississippi uses a 88
license to regulate a lawful occupation with a similar scope of 89
practice, as determined by the occupational licensing board; 90
(b) The applicant worked for at least three (3) years 91
in the lawful occupation; and 92
(c) The applicant satisfies the provisions of 93
paragraphs (c) through (f) of subsection (3) of this section. 94
(5) An occupational licensing board may require an applicant 95
to pass a jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state 96
laws in Mississippi that regulate the occupation if the issuance 97
of a license in Mississippi requires an applicant to pass a 98
jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state statutes 99
and administrative rules in Mississippi that regulate the 100
occupation. 101
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 5 (ENK\KP)

(6) For purposes of this section, residence may be 102
established by demonstrating proof of a state-issued 103
identification card or one (1) of the following: 104
(a) Current Mississippi residential utility bill with 105
the applicant's name and address; 106
(b) Documentation of the applicant's current ownership, 107
or current lease of a residence in Mississippi; 108
(c) Documentation of current in-state employment or 109
notarized letter of promise of employment of the applicant or his 110
or her spouse; or 111
(d) Any verifiable documentation demonstrating 112
Mississippi residency. 113
(7) A person who receives a license under this section is 114
subject to the laws regulating the person's practice in this state 115
and is subject to the occupational licensing board's jurisdiction. 116
(8) A license issued under this section is valid only in 117
this state and does not make the person eligible to be part of an 118
interstate compact. 119
(9) The occupational licensing board shall issue or deny the 120
license to the applicant within one hundred twenty (120) days 121
after receiving an application. 122
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (9), if the 123
application requires longer than two (2) weeks to process, the 124
occupational licensing board shall issue a temporary practice 125
permit within thirty (30) days after receiving the application if 126
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 6 (ENK\KP)

the applicant submits an affidavit, under penalties of perjury, 127
affirming that he or she satisfies the provisions of subsection 128
(3) or subsection (4) and pays all applicable fees as required by 129
subsection (3)(f) or subsection (4)(c). 130
The applicant may practice under the temporary permit until a 131
license is granted, or until a notice to deny the license is 132
issued, in accordance with rules adopted by the occupational 133
licensing board. A temporary license will expire in three hundred 134
sixty-five (365) days after its issuance if the applicant fails to 135
satisfy the requirement for licensure in subsections (3) through 136
(5), as applicable. 137
If the application is for a license for the practice of 138
marriage and family therapy as regulated under Section 73-54-1 et 139
seq., or the practice of psychology as regulated under Section 140
73-31-1 et seq. and Section 73-31-51, as the case may be, and 141
requires longer than two (2) weeks to process, the occupational 142
licensing board shall issue a temporary practice permit within 143
sixty (60) days after receiving the application if the applicant 144
submits an affidavit, under penalties of perjury, affirming that 145
he or she satisfies the provisions of subsection (3) or subsection 146
(4) and pays all applicable fees as required by subsection (3)(f) 147
or subsection (4)(c). The applicant may practice under the 148
temporary permit until a license is granted, or until a notice to 149
deny the license is issued, in accordance with rules adopted by 150
the occupational licensing board. If either the required criminal 151
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 7 (ENK\KP)

background check or the required education, training and 152
examination inquiries are returned to the licensing board as 153
insufficient for licensure as specified in Sections 73-31-14 and 154
73-31-15, for the practice of psychology, or in Section 73-54-23, 155
for the practice of marriage and family therapy, the licensing 156
board of the psychologists or of the marriage and family 157
therapists, as the case may be, shall suspend and revoke the 158
temporary license of the applicant upon notice of the 159
insufficiencies and notify the applicant of the revocation. 160
(10) (a) The applicant may appeal any of the following 161
decisions of an occupational licensing board to a court of general 162
jurisdiction: 163
(i) Denial of a license; 164
(ii) Determination of the occupation; 165
(iii) Determination of the similarity of the scope 166
of practice of the license issued; or 167
(iv) Other determinations under this section. 168
(b) The court shall determine all questions of law, 169
including the interpretation of a constitutional or statutory 170
provision or a rule adopted by an occupational licensing board, 171
without regard to any previous determination that may have been 172
made on the question in any action before the occupational 173
licensing board. 174
(11) An occupational licensing board shall prominently print 175
the following on all license applications, any communication 176
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 8 (ENK\KP)

denying a license, and on the board's website: "Pursuant to the 177
provisions of the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses 178
Act, Mississippi shall recognize occupational licenses obtained 179
from other states." An occupational licensing board shall prepare 180
and place on the board's website an annual report detailing the 181
number of applications submitted to the licensing board under this 182
section during a calendar year and the actions taken by the board 183
on the applications. 184
(12) An occupational licensing board shall adopt rules 185
necessary to implement this section by January 1, 2022. In 186
addition, an occupational licensing board shall make all 187
reasonable efforts to issue a license to an applicant for a 188
license under this section. 189
(13) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit 190
an applicant for licensure from proceeding under the existing 191
licensure requirements established by an occupational licensing 192
board in Mississippi. 193
(14) Nothing in this section shall replace or remove an 194
applicant's requirements for compliance with education, supervised 195
training and examination under Sections 73-31-14 and 73-31-15, for 196
the practice of psychology, or under Section 73-54-23, for the 197
practice of marriage and family therapy. 198
( * * *15) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to 199
prevent Mississippi from entering into a licensing compact or 200
reciprocity agreement with another state, foreign province or 201
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 9 (ENK\KP)

foreign country. A license issued under this section is valid 202
only in Mississippi. It does not make the person eligible to work 203
in another state under an interstate compact or reciprocity 204
agreement unless otherwise provided in Mississippi law. 205
( * * *16) Nothing in this section shall be construed to 206
apply to: 207
(a) The practice of law as regulated under Section 208
73-3-1 et seq.; 209
(b) Criteria for an applicant to obtain a license that 210
is established under an interstate compact; 211
(c) The ability of an occupational licensing board to 212
require an applicant to submit fingerprints in order to access 213
state and federal criminal records information for noncriminal 214
justice purposes; 215
(d) The practice of medicine by physicians as regulated 216
under Section 73-25-1 et seq.; 217
(e) The provisions of the Military Family Freedom Act, 218
Section 73-50-1; or 219
(f) An occupation regulated under Section 73-1-1 et 220
seq. to the extent there is a conflict with a law granting 221
licensure reciprocity under Section 73-1-1 et seq. 222
SECTION 2. Section 73-54-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 223
brought forward as follows: 224
73-54-23. (1) The board shall issue a license by 225
examination of credentials to any applicant licensed or certified 226
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 10 (ENK\KP)

as a marriage and family therapist in another state that has such 227
requirements for the license or certificate that the board is of 228
the opinion that the applicant is competent to engage in the 229
practice of marriage and family therapy in this state, provided 230
that the applicant submits an application on forms prescribed by 231
the board, has passed the national Examination in Marital and 232
Family Therapy, and pays the licensure fee prescribed by Section 233
73-54-27. The issuance of a license by reciprocity to a 234
military-trained applicant, military spouse or person who 235
establishes residence in this state shall be subject to the 236
provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 237
(2) The board shall issue a temporary license by examination 238
of credentials to any applicant who has been licensed or certified 239
for at least one (1) year as a social worker or marriage and 240
family therapist in another state that has such requirements for 241
the license or certificate for the same scope of practice that the 242
board is of the opinion that the applicant is competent to engage 243
in the same practice in this state, provided that the applicant 244
submits an application on forms prescribed by the board, has 245
passed the applicable national examination for marriage and family 246
therapy or the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) 247
examination for social workers and pays the licensure fee 248
prescribed by Section 73-54-27. The practice setting for the 249
temporary licensee shall be limited to a nonprofit health or 250
family counseling facility. The applicant shall be required to 251
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 11 (ENK\KP)

hold his or her license or certificate from the other state in 252
good standing and the applicant shall be subject to a criminal 253
history records check by the board. The temporary license shall 254
be issued within sixty (60) days after receiving the application 255
if the applicant submits credentials affirming that he or she 256
satisfies the provisions of this subsection (2). The applicant 257
may practice under the temporary license until a regular license 258
is granted for a period not to exceed three hundred sixty-five 259
(365) days. Insurers shall provide reimbursement to providers 260
based upon the temporary license held by the applicant while the 261
regular license process is completed, and the insurance company 262
may bill for any reimbursement paid to the provider if the 263
application is denied. 264
SECTION 3. Section 73-31-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 265
brought forward as follows: 266
73-31-14. (1) Psychologists who are duly licensed in other 267
jurisdictions and not currently under investigation by another 268
licensure board may, upon application for licensure, apply for a 269
temporary license, which shall be valid until the next 270
administration of the oral examination. The temporary license 271
shall be issued upon the applicant's passage of the Examination 272
for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) at the level 273
established by the board in its rules and regulations and 274
equivalent to that required for permanent licensure. Each 275
applicant for a temporary license shall file an application upon a 276
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 12 (ENK\KP)

form and in the manner as the board prescribes, accompanied by a 277
fee equal to the amount required for permanent licensure. A 278
temporary license will lapse for any person who has failed the 279
oral examination or has had his or her license suspended or 280
revoked by the board. Procedures for the issuance of temporary 281
licenses shall be established by the board in its rules and 282
regulations. The issuance of a temporary license to a 283
military-trained applicant, military spouse or person who 284
establishes residence in this state shall be subject to the 285
provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 286
(2) Psychologists who are duly licensed in other 287
jurisdictions may apply for a temporary practice certificate that 288
allows them to practice psychology on a temporary basis in the 289
State of Mississippi. That practice must be limited in scope and 290
duration, not exceeding thirty (30) days during a consecutive 291
twelve-month period. Applicants for a temporary practice 292
certificate shall provide to the board the nature of the practice 293
before providing that service, and shall make available to the 294
board a current copy of his or her license or verification of a 295
valid license in good standing. Psychologists who receive 296
temporary practice certificates are subject to a jurisprudence 297
examination at the request of the board. This authority for a 298
temporary practice certificate does not apply to a psychologist 299
who has been denied licensure in Mississippi, is a legal resident 300
of Mississippi, or intends to practice full-time or a major 301
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 13 (ENK\KP)

portion of their time in Mississippi. Each applicant for a 302
temporary practice certificate shall file an application upon a 303
form and in the manner as the board prescribes, accompanied by a 304
fee in an amount determined by the board, but not to exceed Three 305
Hundred Dollars ($300.00). 306
(3) Applicants awaiting licensure in Mississippi are 307
prohibited from the practice of psychology without a temporary 308
license issued by the board. For the purposes of this subsection, 309
the practice of psychology shall be construed without regard to 310
the means of service provision (e.g., face-to-face, telephone, 311
Internet, telehealth). 312
(4) Persons licensed in another state or jurisdiction 313
applying for the temporary authorization to practice must meet the 314
requirements set out in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact 315
provided for in Section 73-31-51. 316
SECTION 4. Section 73-31-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 317
brought forward as follows: 318
73-31-15. (1) Upon application accompanied by the proper 319
fee, the board may issue a license to any psychologist who 320
furnishes, upon a form and in the manner as the board prescribes, 321
evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she is a diplomate 322
in good standing of the American Board of Examiners in 323
Professional Psychology; or possesses a valid Certificate of 324
Professional Qualification (CPQ) granted by the Association of 325
State and Provincial Psychology Boards; or has at least twenty 326
H. B. No. 479 *HR43/R606SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R606SG
PAGE 14 (ENK\KP)
ST: Universal Recognition of Occupational
License Act; revise regarding practices of
marriage and family therapy and psychology.
(20) years of licensure to practice in another state, territorial 327
possession of the United States, District of Columbia, or 328
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Canadian Province when that license 329
was based on a doctoral degree; and 330
(a) Has had no disciplinary sanction during the entire 331
period of licensure; and 332
(b) Is not currently under investigation by another 333
licensure board; and 334
(c) Has demonstrated current qualification by 335
successfully passing the oral examination and jurisprudence 336
examination. 337
(2) The issuance of a license by reciprocity to a 338
military-trained applicant, military spouse or person who 339
establishes residence in this state shall be subject to the 340
provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 341
(3) The board may grant the authority to practice 342
interjurisdictional telepsychology to persons who are licensed in 343
another state or jurisdiction who meet the requirements set out in 344
the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact provided for in Section 345
73-31-51. 346
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from 347
and after July 1, 2026. 348