(1) Applications for licensure, when properly filled out by the applicant, must provide the board with that information necessary to ascertain whether or not the applicant meets the requirements of the law as to education and experience. Application forms must reflect satisfactorily the requirements of Montana law.

(a) Persons seeking licensure must apply on the board's official forms which may be obtained through the department.

(b) Completed applications shall be delivered to the department, accompanied by the application fee, at least 90 days in advance of the examination dates.

(c) Applicants will be notified in writing of any deficiencies in their applications. If the requested information is not received by the board to remedy such deficiencies within six months of the date of the written notice, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

(d) An application must be completed for final board review no more than 18 months after the board receives it or it will expire and a new application and fee will be required. If a temporary practice permit is issued, the application will not expire under this provision.

(e) An applicant applying under 37-17-302(3)(c), MCA, shall submit an application to the board office. The board office will notify the applicant when the application is complete for purposes of review by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, and the applicant must then submit the curriculum review fee, which is set by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, directly to the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. When the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards recommendation is received in the board office, the application will be scheduled for board review.

(2) A completed application file consists of the following:

(a) a completed application form;

(b) transcripts of all graduate work completed;

(c) program and course descriptions from the official college catalog(s);

(d) documents establishing the satisfactory completion of predoctoral and postdoctoral supervision;

(e) a copy of a self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank;

(f) completed reference forms from a minimum of five references attesting to the applicant's good moral character; and

(g) if applicable, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards recommendation as to whether the applicant's course of studies meets minimum standards specified in ARM 24.189.604.

(3) Reference forms must be from people familiar with the quality of the applicant's education and work experience. At least three of the references must be licensed psychologists and may be members of the American Psychological Association.

(4) The board shall examine the transcript of every applicant to determine whether degrees were awarded by an accredited institution of higher learning with an adequate course of study in psychology as defined in 37-17-302, MCA, and ARM 24.189.604.

(5) The board will consider the acceptability of the professional experience presented by the applicant for consideration in keeping with ARM 24.189.607.

(6) The applicant will be notified in writing as to the time and place of the oral examination once the completed application is received and the board has approved the work samples. It shall be the duty of the applicant to inform the department when it is not feasible to appear at the time and place stated for the examination.

(a) If a candidate is scheduled for the examination a second time and does not appear without legitimate excused reasons, the applicant may lose eligibility for the examination.

(b) When the application file is complete and acceptable, the board shall notify an applicant who is licensed in another state or province, and who is now a resident of Montana, that the applicant is allowed to practice as a psychologist pursuant to 37-17-104, MCA, pending satisfactory completion of the next board oral exam for which the applicant is eligible.