Who is responsible for licensing health care professions in Pennsylvania?

The Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs is the entity responsible for issuing licenses to health care professions in Pennsylvania. This bureau operates under the Department of State and is tasked specifically with overseeing the licensing of various professionals, including psychologists. It ensures that practitioners meet the required education, training, and ethical standards to practice in the state, thus safeguarding public health and welfare.

Other organizations mentioned, such as the Department of Health, while pivotal in public health initiatives, do not have the same direct oversight for professional licensing. The Board of Psychology, on the other hand, serves as a regulatory body to set standards, review applications, and enforce regulations, but it operates within the framework established by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. The Psychological Association of Pennsylvania is a professional organization focused on the interests of psychologists and provides resources and advocacy rather than licensing authority.