how to start a
DESCRIPTION
How to Start a. Private Practice CASP Convention 2003. Presented by. Ross Zatlin Peter Ruthenbeck. 1.Many LEPs are sitting on their license 2.Don’t like to market 3.Don’t know how to market 4.Over optimistic about their client base 5.Don’t value their own professional time. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Reasons why there are not more LEPs in private practice
1. Many LEPs are sitting on their license
2. Don’t like to market
3. Don’t know how to market
4. Over optimistic about their client base
5. Don’t value their own professional time
6. Charge too little for their services
7. Have difficulty asking to be paid
8. Get trapped in an expensive lease
9. Spend too much on materials, furniture, etc....
10.Struggle in today’s managed care environment
Reasons why you would want to be a LEP!
C. Burned Out C. Independence
B. New Career GoalsA. Financial
Location, location, location!!!
The office may be as impressive as this castle...
But it serves no purpose if your clients can’t get there!
Locate
• Near the area in which your clients live or work (no more than 20 minute drive)
• Close to freeway exits or mass transit
• Have adequate free parking
• Good street lighting at night
Home Office
• Pros– Little Overhead
– Tax write off
– Best if contracting out
• Cons– Privacy Issues
– Not as professional
Maximizing the Home Office
• Have an outside entrance if seeing clients
• Use technology– Answering Service
– Voice Mail
– Fax
– Internet
Leasing an office
• 5 year contract• Month to month• Sublease office space• Lease 1 day per week• Executive suites• You are responsible
for the entire overhead
Joining a group practice
• Terms of Contract: employee or contractor• Paycheck: salary, full fee or percentage split• Office Space: private or shared• Rent: included or charged• Other Expenses: secretary, billing, phone
Church/Private Schools
• Religious Schools• Academies• Prep Schools• Montessori• Trade/vocational• Job Corp.• Pre-Schools
Agencies
• Governmental Agencies or Contractors– Regional Center: evaluations– County Mental Health: AB 27.26– Justice System: court schools, camps, prisons– Head Start– Others?
Industry
• Personnel/Human Resources
• Employee Assistance • Fed. Employment
Education Programs• Other?
Public/NPS Schools
• Public Schools– Three year re-evals.
– Speciality (ie: HOH)
– Behavior Analysts
• Non-public Schools• Non-public Agencies• Colleges/Universities
Scope of the LEP licensea) Educational Evaluation, diagnosis, and test
interpretation limited to assessment of
academic ability, learning patterns,
achievement, motivation, and personality
factors directly related to academic learning
problems.
b) Counseling services for children or adults for
amelioration of academic learning problems.
c) Educational consultation, research, and
direct educational services.
Educational testing
Educational counseling/guidance
Advocacy
What can I do as an EducationalPsychologist???
Expert witness/Independent Evaluations
Gifted testing
Preschool Assessment
Psycho-Educational Evaluations
College testing
Career guidance
EEG/Biofeedback
ConsultationProgram Development
What can I do as an Educational
Psychologist???
What can't I do as an EducationalPsychologist???
Activities that are outside of the scope of the license:
Non-Educational
Therapy
Psycho-analysis
Hypnosis
Unless you have another license that covers these areas.
Fees• By the test: IQ=$125• By the evaluation: $300
to $1,000+• By the hour: $40-
$100+• Charge what the market
will allow• Stay in your comfort
zone• Allow for expenses &
taxes
Billing
Collecting FeesAsk for fee at the end of every session.Charge it!Payment plan:1/2 when testing done, 1/2 when report done.
Use a collection agency
Liability Insurance
American Professional Agency1 (800) 421-6694 or www.americanprofessional.com
Forrest T. Jones1 (800) 821-7303 or www.ftj.com
National Professional Group or www.npginc.com1 (312) 280-5600
NASPCAMFTAPA
There is currently no group policy for LEPs.
Liability Insurance
• Make sure policy is for “Educational Psychologists”
• Don’t get lost in the red tape of the policy
• Term insurance• Adding a tail
Forms
Intake: Address/PhoneAuthorization for testing, counseling and treatmentFee DisclosureArbitration Agreement