How to Get Your Idaho Psychologist License in 2026
Want to stand out as a psychologist? An Idaho psychologist license might be your best bet. Idaho stands among just seven North American jurisdictions that let licensed psychologists prescribe medication. This makes Idaho an attractive choice for psychology professionals.
The path to getting your psychologist license in Idaho takes about 10 years, but the career prospects look bright. Idaho psychologists earned an average of $93,890 yearly in 2023, while clinical and counseling psychologists made around $77,070. Psychology jobs in Idaho are projected to grow by 8% between 2020 and 2030. The state ranks 42nd in mental health care quality across the United States, showing a real need for qualified practitioners.
The Idaho Board of Psychology Examiners manages all psychology licenses in the state. You must finish your education and work under supervision for at least one year after your degree. The application fees range from $200 for examination applications to $250 for endorsement applications.
This detailed guide will help you navigate each step to get your Idaho psychologist license, with specific focus on 2026 requirements.
Educational Pathways
A licensed psychologist’s education in Idaho starts after high school. You’ll need several academic achievements and advanced graduate education rather than medical school training.
Your educational path begins with a bachelor’s degree. This takes four years or about 120 credit hours. You can choose any field, but psychology or related subjects give you a better foundation. Students who don’t have psychology degrees usually need extra prerequisites before they start graduate programs.
A standalone master’s degree in psychology could be your next step. While not required for doctoral programs, it comes with clear benefits. Idaho lets you work as a service extender under licensed psychologist supervision with this qualification. Most master’s programs need 30-40 credit hours and take two years.
The foundation of psychological practice in Idaho is the doctoral degree. Most licensed psychologists here have either a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Psychology Doctorate (Psy.D.). These degrees are quite different:
- D. in Psychology: Universities award this after advanced study and original research projects. It emphasizes scientific contributions to the field.
- D.: Universities or professional Schools of Psychology award this degree. It focuses more on clinical practice than research.
Doctoral programs take 4-7 years based on their structure. Your doctoral degree must come from a program with specific accreditation standards for Idaho licensure. American Psychological Association (APA) accredited programs automatically meet Idaho’s requirements. If your program isn’t APA-accredited, you must prove it meets similar standards.
The Idaho Board wants doctoral programs to include three academic years of full-time graduate study. You must spend at least one year physically at the degree-granting institution. Programs must also include supervised practicum and pre-doctoral internship components. Pre-doctoral internships should happen at Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers sites or places with equivalent standards.
Your doctoral curriculum must cover these ten core areas:
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior
- Social Bases of Behavior
- Individual Differences
- Scientific and Professional Standards and Ethics
- Research Design and Methodology
- Data Analysis Techniques
- Psychological Measurement
- History and Systems of Psychology
- Multiculturalism and Individual Diversity
Psychologists who want prescriptive authority – a unique feature in Idaho – need extra training. You must get a master’s degree in Psychopharmacology after your doctorate.
Idaho State University plans to start a new Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program in Fall 2026. This social-first program aims to prepare psychologists who serve rural and underserved communities. Students will mix academic study with hands-on clinical training and get supervised clinical experience from year one.
This educational foundation sets you up for the next licensure steps, including supervised experience and examinations.
Supervised Experience Requirements
Your Idaho psychologist license journey continues after completing your doctoral education. Professional supervision is a vital next step. The Idaho Board of Psychology Examiners has specific requirements that are several years old.
You need two years of supervised experience to qualify for licensure. Each year must have at least 1,000 hours. These hours should spread across 12 to 36 calendar months. The experience follows a specific timeline. You can start your first year after completing one year of full-time graduate study. The second year must come after your doctoral degree.
Your supervision quality plays a big role. Licensed psychologists in good standing must supervise your work. You’ll need an hour of one-on-one supervision for every 40 hours of practice. This setup will give a solid foundation as you build your professional skills.
Your supervisor will submit a written evaluation on a Board-approved form once you complete the experience. The Board uses this evaluation to check your supervised practice’s quality and scope. Remember that hours where your supervisor finds your performance unsatisfactory won’t count toward your required total.
Idaho’s licensing framework has a unique feature – certification for prescriptive authority. This needs more supervised experience. You must complete two years with at least 2,000 hours of successful prescribing under a licensed physician’s supervision. During this time, you need to treat at least 50 different patients using medications from the established formulary.
Working with pediatric or geriatric populations requires an extra year with minimum 1,000 hours of supervised prescribing. This can count as one of your two required years for general prescriptive authority. Pediatric prescription certification needs work with at least 25 patients. Ten patients should be 12 or younger and another ten between 13-17 years old.
Supervised experience bridges your academic knowledge and independent practice. This phase helps you develop practical skills to serve Idaho communities well as a licensed psychologist.
Licensing Examinations
Your path to becoming a licensed psychologist in Idaho reaches a crucial point with the examination process. A passing score proves you’re ready to practice professionally.
Idaho requires you to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This nationwide standardized test checks your psychology knowledge through computer-based testing centers.
The Idaho Board of Psychology Examiners must approve you before EPPP registration. Here’s what you need to do:
- Submit a completed application form (notarized)
- Pay the $25 exam administration fee to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL)
- Ensure DOPL has received your official transcripts
After approval, you can register with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). You’ll then receive an Authorization to Test valid for 60 days. Book your slot quickly since testing centers fill up fast.
The costs you should plan for:
- EPPP examination fee: $600 (as of 2013)
- Additional testing center fee: approximately $80
Important: The EPPP examination fee goes directly to the examination authority, not the Idaho Board. The $25 Idaho administration fee cannot be refunded.
The EPPP features 225 multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge of core psychology domains. You need a scaled score of at least 500 to pass. The Idaho Board receives your results automatically after completion.
If you don’t pass your first try, you can retake the test. However, after two failed attempts, you must:
- Wait one full year before trying again
- Ask the board’s permission for another attempt
- Complete any additional study the board requires
You can use the EPPP practice examination to prepare better. This helps you understand the test format and types of questions you’ll face.
Passing the EPPP and completing your supervised experience requirements brings you closer to full licensure. This exam marks a key milestone in your professional growth as you move toward becoming a licensed psychologist in Idaho.
Application & Licensure Process
Your journey to becoming a licensed psychologist in Idaho reaches its final phase after completing your education, supervised experience, and required examinations. The Idaho Board of Psychologist Examiners needs a complete application package to process your request quickly.
The process starts with the Board’s Application for Psychology License form. You must pay a $175.00 fee plus a $25.00 administrative fee. The total fee rises to $300.00 for endorsement applications. You need to sign a statement that confirms you have read and will follow Idaho regulations and the APA code of ethics.
Your application package must include these supporting documents:
- Official transcripts sent directly from your graduate institution
- Completed Evaluation and Accreditation of Supervised Practice forms from your supervisors
- Reference letters using standardized forms provided by the Board
- Verification of passing EPPP scores
The Board needs all materials at least seven days before their scheduled meeting to review your application. They meet quarterly and post upcoming meetings on their calendar.
The Board will notify you within two to four weeks after the meeting reviews your completed application. Note that independent practice can only begin after you receive official confirmation of licensure.
Idaho offers alternative licensing routes beyond standard examination. Psychologists with licenses in other jurisdictions can apply for endorsement based on specific credentials. These include National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology registration, American Board of Professional Psychology certification, or Certificate of Professional Qualification. A modified process exists for senior psychologists with at least 20 years of licensure who have practiced actively for five of the previous seven years.
A lapsed license under five years requires reinstatement through a renewal application. You must pay all back renewal fees plus a reinstatement fee and show proof of completed continuing education. Licenses lapsed over five years need a completely new application.
Idaho stands among seven states in North America that give prescriptive authority to psychologists. Licensed psychologists who want this certification must submit a separate application, pay extra fees, and document their completed provisional training.
You can get verification of your Idaho license through your Online Services account. Options include a free Letter of Good Standing or a Certified Licensure History Letter that costs $10.00.
Continuing Education
You need to keep up with professional development through continuing education (CE) to manage your Idaho psychologist license. Licensed psychologists in Idaho must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. This helps you stay current with developments in psychological practice throughout your career.
The 30-hour requirement includes at least 4 hours focused on laws and ethics. Your continuing education experiences must meet professional standards appropriate for psychological training, according to the Idaho Board of Psychologist Examiners.
Psychologists with prescriptive authority face additional requirements. They must complete 30 extra hours in psychopharmacotherapy every two years. This brings their total CE requirement to 60 hours per two-year period.
Your license needs annual renewal, but CE hours are counted over two years. You must keep documentation of completed continuing education for three years. Random audits happen regularly, so accurate record-keeping is crucial.
Graduate-level coursework that relates to psychological practice counts toward CE requirements. Each credit hour equals one CE hour. Your courses must come from institutions with accreditation from regional organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
New psychologists get special treatment. The Board considers you compliant with CE requirements for the rest of the year when you first get your license.
A lapsed license can be reinstated. Licenses lapsed under five years need a renewal application, all back renewal fees, a reinstatement fee, and proof of completed CE.
The Board lets you choose your own CE activities without pre-approval. You get to pick relevant education that builds your professional knowledge. This flexibility helps you line up CE opportunities with your practice areas and growth goals.
Special State Variations
Idaho offers unique features that set it apart from other states in psychology practice. The state participates in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). Licensed psychologists can provide telehealth services and temporary face-to-face care to patients in other Compact states.
One of the most important distinctions is that Idaho is among only seven North American jurisdictions where licensed psychologists can get certified to prescribe medication. Psychologists need a master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology to qualify. The certification process requires at least 400 hours of clinical experience with a minimum of 100 patients.
Licensed psychologists must follow specific federal regulations to prescribe opioid-controlled substances. They need to cooperate with the patient’s licensed medical provider when prescribing medications.
The American Psychological Association’s “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct” (effective January 2017) serves as the state’s ethical foundation. This code guides professional conduct for all practitioners.
Licensed psychologists in Idaho can delegate specific tasks to service extenders. These extenders must have doctoral degrees in psychology or master’s degrees in mental health fields. A formal supervision agreement that outlines specific activities and weekly supervision schedules is mandatory.
Idaho has special provisions for psychologists seeking senior status. The requirements include having a license for at least 20 years and active practice for five of the past seven years.