This guide expands the provided material into a structured, exam-ready resource. Each major concept includes an expanded definition, a simplified explanation accessible to a 16-year-old, and a detailed clinical or research example relevant to EPPP decision-making. Telepsychology is not a casual substitute for in-person care. The same APA Ethics Code applies, alongside additional responsibilities involving technology, client location, and crisis response. Informed consent must be tailored to virtual care and revisited as needed, rather than simply copied from an office-based consent form. Clinicians must use technology that meets applicable privacy and security requirements, including HIPAA requirements when relevant. This involves evaluating encryption, platform settings, and whether a Business Associate Agreement is required. The suitability of a platform depends on its configuration, contractual protections, and applicable law, rather than its name alone. As a general rule, psychologists must be authorized to practice where the client is physically located at the time of service. PSYPACT can expand that authority when the participating jurisdictions and the psychologist’s credentials meet its requirements. Remote practice also requires a written emergency plan that addresses the client’s current location, local crisis resources, and the steps to take if the connection drops during a high-risk situation. Competence under Standard 2.01 includes knowing how to use the technology and recognizing when legal, ethical, or security concerns make its use inappropriate. Psychologists must understand the limits of their authority to practice across state lines and the risks of using unsecured tools. Email, texting, social media, cloud storage, AI tools, wearables, and apps introduce additional concerns about privacy, access to information, and data ownership that must be evaluated, disclosed as appropriate, and managed. Telepsychology expands access to care while introducing substantial ethical and legal complexity. For EPPP preparation, the central issue is not simply whether a psychologist can operate a virtual platform, but whether they understand the professional responsibilities that accompany its use.
