SB61 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Kirk HatcherSenator
Democrat
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact
Summary: SB61 creates the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact in Alabama to allow qualified school psychologists to practice in Alabama and other member states through an equivalent license, improving access to services while preserving state licensing authority.
What This Bill Does
The bill enables Alabama to join the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact by adopting Article 6, creating a standardized, streamlined path for school psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses in member states. It establishes a process for home-state licensees to practice in other member states without duplicating requirements, aims to address workforce shortages, and increases public access to services. It also creates a Commission to govern the compact, manage rules and enforcement, handle information sharing, and set up dispute resolution, with safeguards for discipline, privacy, and military relocation.

Who It Affects
Alabama-licensed school psychologists and the schools they work for, who would follow the compact’s rules to obtain equivalent licenses in other member states and must maintain their home-state license while practicing elsewhere.
School psychologists licensed in other member states (and active-duty military members/spouses) who wish to practice in Alabama or move between member states, and the public/students who would benefit from broader, qualified access to school psychological services.

Key Provisions
Alabama adopts Article 6 of the compact, creating a uniform system for licensing and interstate practice of school psychology among member states.
A home-state licensed school psychologist can obtain an equivalent license to practice in other member states without duplicative requirements, subject to meeting minimum standards (national exam, 1,200 hours of supervised internship including 600 hours in school, and a qualifying education program) and complying with the home-state scope of practice.
A School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Commission is established to govern rules, bylaws, dispute resolution, enforcement, budgeting, information sharing, and inter-state cooperation; an executive committee and member-state delegates are defined.
Member states must issue equivalent licenses and renewals to qualified licensees, may charge fees, and must share licensure information (including adverse actions) while protecting confidentiality; criminal background checks are required where applicable.
The compact provides mechanisms for disputes and enforcement, potential termination of noncompliant states, and procedures for compliance, with an effective date of October 1, 2025; Alabama law may supersede compact rules if conflicts arise.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Occupational Licensing Boards