Psychologists working without proper qualifications are being held accountable

The Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been amended to include a specific article that outlines the penalties for individuals providing psychological assistance without the appropriate qualifications or without adhering to legal restrictions. This update was announced by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

In a recent session of the Legislative Chamber, the draft law "On Providing Psychological Assistance to the Population" was reviewed in its second reading. The draft law clearly defines the fundamental principles, tasks, types, forms, and standards for providing psychological assistance. It also delineates the rights and obligations of those involved in psychological assistance, specifies categories of individuals eligible for free psychological assistance, addresses the provision of psychological assistance in educational institutions, and sets out the criteria for conducting research and scientific experiments in this field. Additionally, the draft law outlines the grounds for refusing or terminating psychological assistance and establishes the legal framework for professional associations in the field.

The bill mandates that individuals with higher education in fields other than psychology must undergo retraining to qualify in the specialty of psychology before engaging in private psychological support activities. The draft law was approved by deputies in the third reading and has been forwarded to the Senate.