January 24, 2003

Michigan Psychology Licensing Board
Department of Industry and

Consumer Services
P.O. Box 30670
Lansing, Michigan 48909

Dear Members of the Board:

In recent months, the Ad Hoc Committee on Mandatory Continuing Education invited all psychologists who hold psychology licenses in Michigan to sign a petition in opposition to mandatory (governmentally regulated) continuing education. Copies of the petition and supporting documents that were a part of the invitation are enclosed. In addition, the Ad Hoc Committee sent a follow-up postcard. A copy of the postcard petition is enclosed.

As of this date, 1,634 signatures have been received by the Ad Hoc Committee, with more arriving daily. Please see the sworn statement accompanying this letter. The signatures on the petitions are available for inspection and verification.

The psychologists who have signed the petition are a diverse, experienced, involved group of Michigan professionals who oppose the resolutions of the Michigan Psychological Association and the Michigan Psychology Licensing Board recommending the adoption of mandatory continuing education for psychologists in Michigan.

The signatures we have received comprise approximately 27% of the psychologists who hold licenses issued by the Board. You will agree that this is an extraordinary response rate. We conclude, therefore, that there is considerable opposition to mandatory continuing education in Michigan.

We understand that the primary purpose advanced by those who support mandatory continuing education is "protecting the public". However, spokespersons from both the Michigan Psychological Association and the Continuing Education Office of the American Psychological Association, when asked, stated that they could provide no evidence to support the claim that government regulation of continuing education, i.e., mandatory continuing education, serves the stated purpose of "protecting the public". To burden the people of the State of Michigan with the expense of devising and administering a program that has no demonstrated effect would seem to us to harm, rather than protect, the public.

In light of the widespread opposition to mandatory continuing education inherent in the signatures to the petition described above; in light of the flawed arguments supporting such governmental regulation, which arguments have been challenged in the documents accompanying this letter; and in light of our desire to best serve the needs both of the public and of our profession, the Ad Hoc Committee on Mandatory Continuing Education respectfully requests that the Michigan Psychology Licensing Board revisit the issue of mandatory continuing education in order to withdraw its support for the proposal.

Sincerely yours,
Marvin Hyman, Ph.D.
For the Ad Hoc Committee on
Mandatory Continuing Education