How many Board members are required to agree to revoke a psychologist's license for a violation?

In Georgia, the Board of Psychology requires a simple majority of its members to agree in order to revoke a psychologist's license for a violation. This means that more than half of the Board members must vote in favor of the revocation for it to proceed.

A simple majority is a standard practice in many decision-making bodies, allowing efficient management of cases while ensuring that there is enough support among the Board members for such serious actions as revoking a license. The process protects the rights of psychologists by ensuring that a significant number of Board members believe that a violation has occurred that warrants revocation, rather than an arbitrary or unilateral decision.

Using a different threshold, such as a two-thirds majority or a unanimous decision, would raise the bar for action, potentially making it more difficult to revoke licenses when it might be warranted. Conversely, a simple plurality (where the highest number of votes wins, but not necessarily a majority) would not provide the same level of consensus needed for such serious matters. Therefore, understanding the requirement for a simple majority helps clarify the procedural safeguards in place for both the Board and licensed psychologists.